Page 12 of Tiffanie

Tiffanie didn’t need to ask questions to understand. Anytime you dealt with the public, problems could happen. Before she could say anything in response, the waitress delivered their food.

“Wow. This smells amazing,” Tiffanie said, leaning forward to inhale the grilled burger aroma. This was so much better than Ivan’s cooking. They hadn’t eaten out in forever to save money and energy. She snagged a fry and munched happily.

“No ketchup?” Phineas asked.

“I’m usually a fry purist,” she said, shaking her head. She lifted another fry and hesitated. His gravy looked amazing, though. What would a fry taste like dipped in that creamy sauce?

“Go ahead.”

“What?”

“Try it.”

“You know what I was thinking?” she asked.

“Fries dipped in gravy are amazing. Have you ever had poutine?” he asked, taking her hand and guiding the fried treat over to his plate. “You’ll find the combination delicious.”

“But you haven’t even had a bite yet.”

“Go for it. I’m waiting to see if you like it.”

Impulsively, she grabbed another fry from her plate and handed it to him. “Only if you’ll try one with me.”

Phineas accepted her offering with a smile. “On the count of three. One. Two. Three.”

Tiffanie didn’t hesitate. She dunked her fry into the thick white gravy on his plate and popped the coated treat into her mouth. “Oh my God. That’s amazing.”

He chewed with obvious appreciation. “That might be the best gravy I’ve ever tasted on a fry. On anything. Have more. I can’t eat this entire plate.”

She couldn’t resist enjoying her new favorite food again. A moan of delight slid from her lips as she wiggled with happiness on the seat. “Sorry. But that’s amazing. Here, have some more of my fries,” she offered, scooping up a pile and setting them on the side of his plate.

“Thank you, Little girl. We’ll share. I don’t have a cold or illness I can give you. I’m healthy.”

His statement wasn’t strange—normal to say to someone you’re sharing food with. For Tiffanie, the reminder of the battle she fought brought reality thundering down on her. The weight of all the medical tests and treatments crashed down on her. Overwhelmed, she couldn’t get out of the booth to make an excuse to escape. Bowing her head, she hid her reaction.

“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.