MY BUTTER HALF (The Way To A Man's Heart Book 9) Read online

  My Butter Half

  The Way To A Man’s Heart Book 9

  Frankie Love

  Contents

  My Butter Half

  1. Logan

  2. Lucia

  3. Logan

  4. Lucia

  5. Logan

  6. Lucia

  7. Logan

  8. Lucia

  9. Logan

  10. Lucia

  11. Logan

  12. Lucia

  13. Logan

  14. Lucia

  Epilogue 1

  Epilogue 2

  The Way To A Man’s Heart Book 10

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2020 by Frankie Love

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  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 all.

  “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.

  I’ve spent my life being picky when it comes to men because I’ve always known what I want. How I want my life to look… Mirabella was right when she said I wanted acreage and a bunch of babies. And no, it’s never entered my mind to date a man from the corporate world — but the moment I saw Logan, something inside of me snapped. Not in half — snapped to life.

  And I want to see where that snap, crackle, pop might take me.

  Chapter Five

  Logan

  I leave work early and go for a long run. It feels good to stretch my legs, and besides, I have lots of energy. Ever since I laid eyes on Lucia this afternoon, I can’t stop thinking about her… our date. Her cute upturned nose and her adorable laugh… God, I want to run my hands through her hair so damn bad.

  So instead of focusing on that, I focus on my pace. At the five-mile mark, I decide to stop by my daughter’s place on the way back home from my run. When I round the corner to her street, I’m happy to see her outside, planting flowers in her window boxes.

  “Hey, Dad,” she says, pulling off her gloves. “This is a surprise. Since when do you leave the office before five o’clock?”

  “I’d give you a hug, but…” I laugh, my
tee shirt is sweaty.

  “I get it. You know, you should join the CrossFit gym where Kaden works out. A bunch of guys meet up for workouts and get drinks after.”

  “Not sure my son-in-law would want me hanging around,” I say with a laugh.

  “Kaden loves you. Everyone loves you. And besides, you never go out. It might be good for you now that Billy and I are out of the house.”

  “I go out,” I say, following her around the house.

  She laughs. “Sure, Dad.” The garage door is open and she tells me to wait a sec. She comes back out a few seconds later with bottles of water and hands me one.

  “I do too go out. I even have a date tonight,” I say, testing the waters.

  “A date?” Her jaw drops open.

  “I wanted to tell you,” I say honestly. “I haven’t dated anyone since your mother died and—”

  “No, Dad, it’s great. Billy and I have been saying that for a year. And now you’re in that big house, all alone.” She smiles. “So tell me, who is this woman?”

  “Her name is Lucia. And she works out at Nettle Bank Farm.”

  Kourtney’s eyes widen. “Wait. What?” She shakes her head.

  “Lucia,” I repeat. “I met her at your friend Valerie’s diner, actually.”

  “Hold up,” Kourtney says. “I just want to be sure we’re talking about the same Lucia.”

  “You know her?” I frown, not expecting that. Kourtney’s worked as a receptionist for the last few years, as far from a farm as possible. It’s a shock to even see her out planting flowers right now. She was never an outdoorsy girl.