Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“Hey. Are you okay, Tiffanie?”
She couldn’t answer. Tears coursed down her cheeks as she struggled to get herself under control. His hand wrapped around her leg. The heat of his touch made her lean automatically toward the comfort he offered.
“Little girl. Look at me.”
Tiffanie shook her head and dashed away her tears. “Sorry. I’ll be fine in a minute. Please. Go ahead and eat.”
“I don’t give a damn if I never enjoy another bite on this plate. I need you to look at me, Tiffanie.”
His hand cupped her jaw, and he gently lifted her chin until their eyes met. “What’s going on?”
“I have cancer, Phineas. You shouldn’t waste your time with me. If you’ll let me out, I’ll get out of your hair.” She fumbled for her purse to grab money to cover her meal.
“I will not, and you won’t. I will also pay for this meal and every other date you allow me to take you on until we’re old and gray.”
She met his gaze in complete shock. He spoke like they’d enjoy years together. A sliver of hope blossomed inside her at his conviction they’d have a future. Still, she had to be realistic.
“It’s okay, Phineas. You don’t have to pretend. Thank you for being nice to me. I’ll return the books to the library soon,” she promised. She could always catch a glimpse of him in his office or maybe run into him in the stacks again. She could remember the spark of attraction between them.
“Fuck that. I don’t pretend. I don’t know what assholes you’ve run into, but I’m not a jerk who’d run from a woman I’m 99% sure is my Little girl.”
The curse word coming from Phineas made her pause and glance up. A second later she absorbed that he’d used the phrase, Little girl. His eyebrows were drawn together in frustration. She couldn’t doubt that he believed his statement. The emotion was raw on his face. “You think I’m your Little girl?” A flare of hope blazed through her. She’d given up on finding her Daddy. Especially now.
“I do.”
The reality of her situation rebounded into her mind. “You should find another one, Phineas,” she whispered.
“Not happening, Little girl. Are you attracted to me?” he asked, holding her gaze. The hubbub of conversation around them in the busy diner faded into the background. Her world shrunk down to include only the two of them.
She paused, debating how to handle this. Finally, she nodded and whispered, “Yes.” She couldn’t lie to him.
“Then we’ll figure this out. I don’t plan on going anywhere. We will talk more about what’s happening with you when you’re ready to share, but for the moment, we’re going to enjoy each other’s company. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said, hopeful for the first time since the doctor had stopped her treatment.
“Then let’s eat.” He dipped one of the fries she’d placed on his plate in the gravy and held it out to her with a smile.
Something clicked into place inside her. She needed to pay attention to this magnetic man. He was important. Tiffanie reached out to take the treat he offered. Popping the coated fry into her mouth, Tiffanie chewed happily.
“How’s the food, folks?” their server dropped by to ask.
“Amazing,” Phineas answered. “Could you bring us an extra cup of gravy? We’ve discovered the joy of dipping everything in that goodness.”
“You’ve got it, sir.”
When she disappeared from view, Phineas asked, “What’s your favorite color, Princess? I want to learn all about you.”
“Blue,” she said, savoring their normal conversation.
He stared into her eyes for a few long seconds. She couldn’t tear her gaze from his as he told her, “You know, suddenly I love blue as well.”
Chapter Six
Phineas watched her carefully as they left the diner. When Tiffanie stumbled, he wrapped his hand around her elbow, stabilizing the precious woman at his side. This was different from her nervous lack of coordination earlier. Exhaustion etched itself into her features—lines around her mouth and circles under her eyes. “I’m going to take you back to the carriage house.”
“Oh, that’s sweet. I’m fine. I can drive.”
“Not happening. Keys,” he said, holding out his hand.
“You have to go back to work.”
“I’ll get there. I’ll call a rideshare from your house and come pick up my car.”
“Really, I can make it home.”
“I’m going to release my hold on you. If you can stand steady next to me for sixty seconds, I’ll let you decide.”
Tiffanie nodded confidently. He lifted his hand. As if not expecting him to release her so quickly, Tiffanie took a couple steps from Phineas and threw her hands out to the side to balance herself. Her eyes widened and rolled up as if she would pass out. Her fingers tangled in his polo shirt as she held on tightly. Damn, he liked the feel of her against him.