Page 9 of Tiffanie

“People who spend their lives working. How else are you supposed to meet people? Church? The gym? Online dating has all those fake profiles. This, at least, is in person. You can kick someone’s shins if they’re an awful person.”

“Now, now, Essie. You can’t resort to violence if you want your business to succeed.” Zander’s deep voice made them both turn toward the doorway.

Tiffanie smiled at the handsome man leaning against the wooden frame. Zander was perfect for Essie. When they were together, the steamy looks they exchanged could set Ferguson’s Folly on fire.

“Zander,” Essie said, standing and walking over to hug him. When she lifted her lips for a kiss, Tiffanie busied herself with gathering her supplies.

Oops. Time to go.

“I’d better get back to the carriage house to check on supplies,” Tiffanie announced aloud without glancing up. Standing, she hoisted the large container of samples with her.

“Oh!” she gasped as the bulky handle slipped from her fingers. Crap! She hated having no strength and energy. Tiffanie never knew when her reserves would suddenly evaporate. That last effort had left her shaky.

“No way, Tiffanie. Let me carry that out to Ivan’s truck for you. He can drive that heavy organizer home for you. Do you need a ride home?” Zander asked, studying her face too closely.

“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.”