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)
“Thanks, Zander. I’m here to run Tiffanie to the carriage house. I need to grab a few tools there,” Ivan said, as he slid around the couple in the doorway to rescue the dropped case. “You don’t mind coming with me, do you, Tiffanie? I had something to chat with you about.”
She smiled gratefully at Ivan. He always rescued her. Thank goodness Phineas hadn’t seen her drained of energy. He wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her to the front door.
“No early meetings tomorrow,” Essie called after them. “Promise.”
“Whenever you need me,” Ivan called back.
“Thank you!” Essie said.
As Ivan closed the door, Tiffanie heard Zander say, “I think we should return to our room to adjust your attitude….”
Maybe someday she could find someone to care about her like Zander did about Essie. Or the hero in that book Phineas had recommended. Tiffanie missed being touched most of all. Since she’d gotten ill, everyone treated her so kindly—but as a fragile person. She missed having a man who ravished her on the couch because he wanted her too much to wait until they reached the bedroom. Fingers crossed she’d recover and get lucky to find someone who would be interested in that too. An if snuck into her mind, and Tiffanie chased it away. When she regained her strength.
Chapter Five
Waking up in the afternoon, Tiffanie felt much stronger. After splashing water on her face to chase away the last of her nap, Tiffanie curled up on the couch to read. She raced through the pages, loving the steamy romance between the two characters as much as she had last night. When she closed the book a couple of hours later, Tiffanie studied the tattered cover with a knowing nod.
No wonder everyone reads this over and over.
She pulled up an online bookseller and ordered a paperback copy of her own. Tiffanie wanted to have this on her shelf to enjoy whenever she wanted a fun escape. And by the look of the library’s copy, this novel wouldn’t hold together much longer.
As she thumbed through the book, rereading her favorite scenes, Phineas’s card dropped onto her lap. Before she could stop herself, Tiffanie typed out a text to his cell.
Phineas,
Thank you for brightening my day with your book recommendation.
Tiffanie
A few seconds later, her phone buzzed.
Thank you for brightening my day with your sweet text. Would you meet me for lunch tomorrow? The diner at 1?
Tiffanie hesitated for a moment. She hadn’t driven for a while. Ivan was so good at escorting her wherever she wanted to go. Suddenly, Tiffanie didn’t want to depend on him. She needed to take back her life.
I would love to have lunch with you. Fair warning, I steal fries.
My fries are yours. See you tomorrow.
Staring at his message, Tiffanie smiled. Her heart, beat faster in her chest as she looked forward to having Phineas to herself—even if that was in a busy diner. An image of Phineas loomed large in her brain—his handsome face with those green eyes that seemed to see so much. His body rocks as well. She couldn’t wait until tomorrow. A laugh bubbled through her lips.
“That’s a good sign,” Ivan said from the doorway. “I was afraid you’d done too much today.”
“I slept and read my book after coming home,” Tiffanie said, waving her paperback at him.
“Oh, you found a funny scene?” he asked.
“No. I mean, yes, the novel was awesome. That’s not what I was laughing about. I’m going to lunch with Phineas tomorrow.”
Ivan pulled out his phone to check his schedule. She guessed he was scrambling to figure out how to move things around to make time to take her.
“I’m going to drive myself,” she told him.
Surprise showed on his face as he studied her. “Really? Do you have the energy for that?”
“Yes.” Tiffanie didn’t know whether or not she would, but she was determined to go. Even if she was a bit nervous about driving, she wouldn’t miss spending time with Phineas. Crossing her fingers, she hoped Ivan wouldn’t point out all the possible problems with her plan.
“Okay. Call me if you need me.”
Relief cascaded over her. “Thanks, Ivan.”
“Frozen pizza for dinner?” he asked, offering one of their favorite meals.
“Extra cheese?” she asked.
“You got it, sis.”
The next day, Tiffanie refused to waste her energy by changing her clothes repeatedly to decide on the perfect outfit. After choosing one of her favorite combinations, she checked herself out in the mirror. The knee-length blue skirt and the floral T-shirt looked nice but not too dressy for the diner. And she could wear her comfortable flat sandals.
Her face was thinner than usual, but she had color in her cheeks today. Tiffanie dabbed on light pink lip gloss to give her mouth a hint of shine. “This is as good as it gets,” she whispered to her reflection.