The Way To A Man’s Heart: Books 1-10

by Love, Frankie

  I pull her to her knees, and she gets on all fours, her swollen belly resting on a pillow as I run my fingers over her slick folds and then ease my cock home.

  “Oh yes,” she moans as I fill her up. I grin. My cock is hungry, but my heart is damn near satisfied.

  Myra is more than my sweet-tea, more than my sunshine. She’s my goddamn heart and soul.

  Epilogue 2

  Myra

  Five years later…

  I exhale a sigh of relief.

  Every picnic table is filled, the weather is gorgeous, and everyone is ordering extras.

  A smile spreads across my face as I look around my restaurant. My restaurant! Who would have thought? Well, maybe Grandma Maylene. I feel like the luckiest girl to have all my dreams come true.

  But as I look around the outdoor seating, I see table after table of true love stories, ones that happened before our very eyes. Georgie and Grady, my old boss, are here with their newborn daughter. Trista and Trent are sitting with Bailey and Billy. Vance and Valerie are here too, which means a lot. Valerie owns a local diner and she gave me lots of pointers when I started planning this opening.

  “Looks like your gym buddies all made it,” I say to Major as he pauses to give me a quick kiss. He is holding a stack of menus and a tablet to take orders. I must admit this hulk of an athlete looks pretty damn cute in an apron.

  “What are you smiling about?” he asks, squeezing my ass.

  “I was just thinking about how lucky we are.”

  “Damn right, baby. But I got to go get these sweet tea orders filled. And you better get your ass in the kitchen, I just put in four more orders for your famous fried chicken.”

  I laugh. “Didn’t realize you were so demanding.”

  He lifts he eyebrows and chuckles. Leaning in, he says, “Well, I remember how demanding you were in the bedroom last night.”

  Heat rides to my cheeks. “I needed to let off steam. I’ve been a nervous wreck about this grand opening.”

  “And look, all that worry for nothing. Sweet Tea and Sunshine is off to a perfect start, wouldn’t you say?”

  I smile, on my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around my husband for a lingering kiss even though I know there is plenty of work to be done.

  “I love you, Major. Thank you for all the support — on the floor and in the bedroom.”

  “You did the same for me when I started my podcast a few years ago.”

  I nod, remembering how jittery he was to take the leap and start a sports podcast. He doesn’t need to work — we are lucky that his career in the NFL provided us with so much — but he loves talking football, and it’s a great job considering we have two rambunctious boys who need their daddy’s attention.

  “Maybe when we get home tonight I can help you relax… you’ve been on your feet all day,” Major says, his hot breath on my ear.

  I lick my lips. Nothing sounds sweeter than that.

  Just then, Grandma Trudy arrives with the twins, and they run up to us with bright smiles on their faces. Granger and Gordy beam up at me and my heart swells.

  “We brought you roses, Mama,” Gordy says, offering me a bouquet.

  “Grandma said to say we’re proud of you,” Granger adds, wrapping his arms around my legs.

  I laugh, ruffling their hair. “The roses are perfect. And they’re my favorite kind.”

  Trudy gives me a warm hug of congratulations. “Now don’t you mind us,” she says. “Pretend we’re customers.”

  I laugh, knowing I need to get back to the kitchen. I left Georgia with nothing — no family, no faith in love — and I found it all right here.

  I give Trudy another hug, thanking her for watching the boys, and I’m grateful she is healthy. She’s been in remission for five years now.

  Then Major takes my hand, pulling me to the kitchen. I pass the display case of lemon pies topped with whipped cream. I want to pull him into the supply closet and have my way with him.

  Later, I will. With I smile, I think I’ll bring the whipped cream into the closet with us. Why should sweet tea get all the fun? With Major and me, there is sugar damn near everywhere.

  My Butter Half

  The Way To A Man’s Heart Book 9

  By Frankie Love

  I’ve spent my life in the stuffy corporate world.

  So when I see Lucia delivering milk and butter from a local farm, she’s the breath of fresh air I crave.

  But this darling farm girl is wholesome in ways I’m not.

  And I want to do more than butter her biscuit. I want all of her. Forever.

  I may be twenty years older than this sweet thing, but I say butter late than never.

  I want to make her my butter half. Now.

  Dear Reader,

  Logan is all grown up with one thing on his mind: Lucia.

  He’s ready to spread the love because he knows they’re butter together than a part.

  You ready to melt, babycakes?

  xo, frankie

  Chapter One

  Logan

  “Having a good day, Mr. Barton?” Valerie asks, pouring me a cup of coffee. I’m at a table for one in Hot Spot, the local diner, eating biscuits and sausage gravy.

  “Logan,” I say. “Call me Logan. And if you see my daughter, will you tell her to give her old man a call?”

  She laughs, placing a hand on her pregnant belly. She recently married a local cop, Vance, and later this year they are expecting their first child. “Old man? Mr. Ba— I mean, Logan, you’re hardly old.”

  I run a hand over my jaw. “Turned forty last year.” The woman at the table next to me keeps trying to make eye contact, but I couldn’t be less interested.

  She’s eating her avocado toast in expensive workout clothes, with so much Botox she can hardly smile, looking like a cookie cutter of every divorced woman in this part of town.

  Valerie lifts her eyebrows. “None of my business, but do you ever think of dating? I have lots of customers who would be interested in going out with a man who owns a house in the Hills, drives a brand-new Audi, ran a marathon last month, owns a massive company, and—”

  I cut her off. “Thanks but I’ll pass.” The woman next to me turns her body toward us, clearly listening in, and now clearly interested.

  Truth is I do want someone. Badly. But not just anyone. Certainly not a woman after my money.

  “All right,” Valerie says. “I won’t bug you anymore, and I’ll tell Kourtney you were asking about her.”

  I go back to my breakfast, focusing on my food, not wanting this woman to ask for my number. I pay my bill with cash and get up to leave. Dreading the thought of going back to the office. I should be enjoying my prime. I’ve built an incredible life for myself, but what good is that if I don’t have anyone to share it with?

  I haven’t taken a day off in months. Not even when my kids, Kourtney and Billy, each got married earlier this summer. They planned ceremonies on Saturdays and so I kept putting on a suit and tie each day. Paid for my two grown kids to have exotic honeymoons, meanwhile I haven’t gone anywhere.

  I just want to meet someone who stirs my heart, makes me feel alive in a way I never have before. Is that too much to ask? Probably.

  The bells on the door of Hot Spot jingle as a woman awkwardly pulls it open. In her arms is a loaded crate. Her face is blocked by jugs of milk.

  “Oh, Lucia,” Valerie says. “Let me help.”

  “No way, Hot Mama,” the woman says, huffing as she loses her grip. “Vance would be horrified at you lifting weight.”

  “Here, let me help,” I say, jumping in. I lift the bottom of the crate, taking the weight off her hands, and take it from her. The woman is gorgeous. One look and my heart knows. It’s her.

  She’s the one I have been waiting for.

  Chapter Two

  Lucia

  His eyes meet mine and I take a sharp inhale, surprised at what I see. He’s so handsome, flecks of green in his light blue eyes, tall, with broad shoulders and
the perfect amount of scruff on his jaw.

  “It goes in the kitchen,” Valerie directs the man holding my crate.

  “You got it.” He takes directions, carrying her crate to the back.

  I turn to Val. “Who is that?”

  She smiles. “Logan. Why?”

  I purse my lips. I don’t know Valerie all that well. I just know that she’s good friends with Mirabella, who happens to be my brother’s wife.

  “No reason,” I say. “I’ll just go back in the kitchen and grab the crate, if you don’t mind?”

  A large group enters the diner and Valerie grabs a stack of menus. “That’s great, thanks so much. Those eggs you’ve been bringing are the bee’s knees.”

  I smile as I turn, wanting to catch another glimpse of this man, Logan. One look at him and my belly flipped with butterflies. Pushing through the kitchen door, I smack right into him.

  “Oh, I’m sorry!” I say as he takes a step back. I fall smack against his chest.

  He takes hold of my arms, helping me get back on my feet. “It’s okay,” he says. “I got you.”

  I swallow. He certainly does.

  I never get like this with guys. All hot and bothered. But one look at Logan, in his suit and tie, and I don’t think he’s a guy at all. He’s a man.

  “Thanks Logan,” I say, stepping toward my crate of milk and butter. “For catching me.”

  “You know my name?” He walks around the stainless steel island, both of us ignoring the cooks in the kitchen. His eyes are on mine and mine alone. The intensity surprises me. I like it… but I’m not familiar with it. “It’s Logan Barton, by the way.”

  “Oh, well, Valerie mentioned it.” I swallow. “Um, anyways, I was just coming back here to grab my crate.” I start unloading the milk and butter, aware of the fact he is watching me.

  “Can I help?” He’s in slacks and a tie, but begins rolling up the cuff of his dress shirt to pitch in. His forearms are huge, muscular, and it makes me wonder what the rest of his body looks like.

  “Sure,” I say, feeling flustered.

  “Were you going to tell me your name?” he asks, setting the milk and butter on the counter.

  “I’m Lucia,” I tell him.

  “And you’re a milkmaid?”

  I smile. “Something like that.” We finish unloading the crate and I press my palms together. “I work for Nettle Bank Farm, it’s about twenty minutes outside of town.”

  “I know what place you mean. Beautiful out there. There’s a tree about a mile from that property.”

  I nod, smiling. “That massive oak at mile marker thirteen?”

  He grins. “You know the one then.”

  “I love that tree. I always thought it would be the perfect tree for a swing.”

  “I’ve thought the same thing.” He’s about to say more, but the line cook hollers at us.

  “You two, out of my kitchen. Go flirt on the sidewalk.”

  My cheeks turn hot, but Logan simply takes the crate from the counter before pushing open the kitchen door. “Come on,” he says. “You heard the man. We gotta get outside so I can ask you out.”

  Chapter Three

  Logan

  Everything about Lucia interests me. The way the freckles fall over the bridge of her nose. The way her cheeks turn pink. The way her honey blonde hair falls to her waist, and the way her overalls hug her hips.

  “Come out to dinner with me,” I say. “Tonight.”

  We’re standing outside Hot Spot, she’s leaning against a turquoise, vintage pick-up truck, looking like she was made to live in a field of sunflowers.

  “Really?” She laughs softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Squinting as the sun hits her face. I step closer, blocking it so I can see her better. “I just don’t think I’m your type is all.”

  I run a hand over my jaw. I’m guessing that’s on account of my age, but she keeps talking, clarifying.

  “Like you said, I’m a milkmaid. And you’re…” She waves her hand in the air, at me, as if that explains anything. “You’re a grown up. Who wears a tie. I’m a part-time farm hand.”

  I smile, liking her honesty. Only thing is, she has it all wrong. “But we like the same oak tree. That counts for something, surely? At least one dinner.”

  She bites her bottom lip. “Okay. But I don’t get off until six. And then I have to shower and change. I live at the farm so I’d have to drive back to town, and—”

  “I can come get you.”

  “Yeah?” She asks it like it’s a question. It’s not.

  “Seven o’clock, I’ll be at Nettle Bank Farm.”

  She hesitates. “All right.”

  “You want to do this, right? You can say no.”

  She shakes her head. “Oh, I want to. I mean, you’re just so incredibly handsome is all. I was surprised.”

  I chuckle, stepping closer. Her back’s against the truck, and I pin her in. “I’m glad you find me attractive because Lucia, I find you enchanting.”

  Chapter Four

  Lucia

  Enchanting.

  He called me enchanting.

  In all twenty-two years of my life, never has a man called me that.

  But I find myself thinking about it the rest of the afternoon. On my drive back to the farm, I stop at my sister-in-law’s pizzeria, Sugar and Slice, to say hi, and tell her about this unexpected turn of events.

  “So who is he?” she asks, running her hand over her very round baby bump. She is due any day now.

  “Logan Barton. I don’t know anything else about him, actually. He has these incredible eyes though, and—”

  She cuts me off. “Logan Barton? Like, Kourtney and Billy’s dad, Logan Barton?”

  “Wait, what?” I take a slice of pizza from the grab and go rack, folding it in half and taking a delicious bite.

  “Yeah, that’s their dad. Does he have dark hair, clear blue eyes? Tall, fit? Old?” she asks, emphasizing the last word.

  “Old?” I frown. “He’s not old. He looks amazing and... Oh. Wait. He’s like, their father?”

  Mirabella snorts. “Yeah. He’s like forty.”

  I shrug. “So? He’s hot.”

  “He owns his company. He’s massively well-off. Guess he has a big house and everything.”

  “I don’t care about all that,” I say, waving my hand. “The interesting thing is that he asked me out. And yes, he is probably way out of my league. He was so… put together… but I haven’t gone out on a date in forever. And he made me all dizzy. In a good way.”

  “You sound all lovey-dovey after one conversation,” she says, laughing. “But I know you, Lucia. You want a big old farm in the middle of nowhere and a gaggle of babies and fifteen goats. Logan is like, corporate. And besides, his kids are grown. You’re in two totally opposite places in life.”

  I twist my lips, trying not to get in a fight. I want her to be happy for me. I’ve had a hard year, I was laid off all winter and am just trying to keep my head above water. My days are not that exciting — I spend all morning in a barn milking cows and all day in a field picking tomatoes. A man asking me on a date feels special. I don’t want her cynicism to take that from me.

  “Well, I’ll let you know how it goes,” I say, downplaying my excitement. “Just wanted to pop in and say hi. Tell Matt his little sister loves him.”

  “Will do, sweetie,” Mirabella says, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “And I’m not trying to be negative, I just—”

  I nod, telling her I get it. “You are acting like my brother always did, trying to protect me. Take care of me. And I appreciate it. I’m so lucky to have you.”

  Before I leave the shop, Brittney from Grady’s garden shop comes through the door. I know her from my deliveries and she and Mirabella have become close friends. “Hey, Britt,” I say. “What are you up to?”

  She groans. “I just put in my notice. Is that insane?”

  I grimace. I know Grady has a lot going on, just getting married and a
ll.

  “Did you get the nanny job?” Mirabella asks, sliding her a slice of pepperoni. News to me, I had no idea Brittney was looking for something else.

  “Thanks sweetie.” She folds the pizza in half and takes a bite. “I did! And the dad… he’s single.”

  “Yeah?” Mirabella lifts her eyebrows. “Single and sexy?”

  Brittney laughs. “His name’s Beckett. The interview was via a Zoom call and the connection was awful.”

  “Well I hope he isn’t a weirdo,” Mirabella says.

  Brittney laughs. “I don’t think he is. He’s friends with Matt.”

  “Huh, I’ve never met him. I’ll ask Matt to give us a full report. But seriously, congrats,” Mirabella says. “You can finally put your degree to use.”

  “What degree?” I ask.

  Brittney explains she has her associate’s degree in early childhood education. “Eventually I want to get my teaching degree, but I have a few more years for that. In the meantime, at least I’m in the right field.”

  “Well congrats on the step in the right direction,” I say. “How did Grady take it?”

  Brittney laughs. “He is so insanely in love with Georgina I don’t think anything could sour his mood.”

  Nothing could sour my mood either. I am so looking forward to this date tonight. I tell the girls goodbye, wanting to have enough time to get ready.

  As I drive to the farm, I unroll the windows, turning up the radio, thinking about my conversation with Mirabella. I’m lucky to have a sister-in-law and brother who care. But at the end of the day, they have one another. And I don’t have anyone.