The Way To A Man’s Heart
Books 1-10
Frankie Love
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.
Contents
Pizza My Heart
Pizza My Heart
Chapter 1
Mirabella
2. Matt
Mirabella
3. Matt
Mirabella
4. Matt
Mirabella
5. Matt
Mirabella
6. Matt
Mirabella
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
Muffin Compares To You
Muffin Compares To You
1. Josh
Jessa
2. Josh
Jessa
3. Josh
Jessa
4. Josh
Jessa
5. Josh
Jessa
6. Josh
Jessa
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
You Guac My World
You Guac My World
1. Kaden
Kourtney
2. Kaden
Kourtney
3. Kaden
Kourtney
4. Kaden
Kourtney
5. Kaden
Kourtney
6. Kaden
Kourtney
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
DON’T GO BACON MY HEART
Don’t Go Bacon My Heart
1. Vance
Valerie
2. Vance
Valerie
3. Vance
Valerie
4. Vance
Valerie
5. Vance
Valerie
6. Vance
Valerie
7. Vance
Valerie
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
Made Pho You
About
1. Trent
Trista
2. Trent
Trista
3. Trent
Trista
4. Trent
Trista
5. Trent
Trista
6. Trent
Trista
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
You're Waffle-Y Cute
You’re Waffle-Y Cute
1. Billy
Bailey
2. Billy
Bailey
3. Billy
Bailey
4. Billy
Bailey
5. Billy
Bailey
6. Billy
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
One In A Melon
About
1. Grady
Georgina
2. Grady
Georgina
3. Grady
Georgina
4. Grady
Georgina
5. Grady
Georgina
6. Grady
Georgina
7. Grady
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
Hey Sweet-Tea
Hey Sweet-Tea
1. Major
Myra
2. Major
Myra
3. Major
Myra
4. Major
Myra
5. Major
Myra
6. Major
Myra
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
My Butter Half
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
A Serious Relation-Chip
About
1. Beckett
2. Brittany
3. Beckett
4. Brittany
5. Beckett
6. Brittany
7. Beckett
8. Brittany
9. Beckett
10. Brittany
11. Beckett
12. Brittany
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
More Food Pun, Insta-Love!
About the Author
About The Collection
Dear Reader,
You know what they say … the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach! And this ten book collection is packed with all heart-warming happily-ever-afters you crave!
With over 600 pages of make-you-melt goodness, you’ll have a serious book-hangover. But don’t worry, you can always flip back to the beginning because I’m guessing you’ll want a second helping of this insta-love, high-heat series!
xo, frankie
Pizza My Heart
Way to A Man’s Heart Book 1
When I walk into Sugar and Slice Pizzeria, I don’t expect to leave so damn hungry.
But the moment I lock eyes with Mirabella, I’m craving so much more.
Her curves, her cute-ass smile, and the dark curls in her hair… she’s everything.
She may be taking my order but I’m ready to tell her exactly what to do.
I don’t want her behind that counter — I want her in my bed.
Now and forever.
Dear Reader,
This is a one-slice situation.
Short and filthy-sweet, it’s the perfect 1-hour lunch break read!
Matt and Mirabella want this HEA as badly as you do.
It’s got extra cheese and it’s hot from the oven!
Can ya handle the heat?
xo, frankie
Chapter One
Matt
After the long workout this morning, my stomach is growling. But first I gotta cleanup. I’m dripping with sweat.
“You killed it today,” my buddy Josh says. “But next week I’m coming for you.”
There’s a group of us, ten of us guys, that all work out together a few times a week. This week I’m on the top of the leaderboard for my time. I finished a few minutes ahead of Josh and I know how much he hates to lose.
“We’ll see about that,” I say with a grin as I grab a towel to head to the locker room. “A lot can happen in a week.”
Josh shrugs. “True. I have a date this weekend with a girl who works at that new bakery on 4th Ave. You never know. She may be the one.”
I chuckle. “Since when are you looking for the one?” All of us guys are single — living the bachelor life. It surprises me to hear Josh say he might be ready for something more because the truth is, I’ve been feeling the same way. I’m ready to put down roots, make a life with someone… but like Josh says, it would have to be the one. No pressure.
“You’d have to see her to understand. She’s like nothing else.” Josh’s eyes practically glaze over and I laugh, shaking my head.
“Make sure you invite me to the wedding,” I say with a chuckle.
After my shower at the CrossFit gym I decide to walk the long way home. With my Air Pods in, I pull up some feel-good, old-school music, getting nostalgic as I breathe in the fresh air. KC and JoJo belt out All My Life and I laugh to myself, thinking maybe I’m a lot more ready than I thought. I su
ppose love must be in the air.
While I want to get home and relax for a few hours before I head to work, my stomach is begging for attention. So, when I turn the corner and see a pizza shop, I slow my pace. Sugar and Slice Pizzeria has a sandwich board outside advertising a mid-day special and I can’t resist the pull of melting cheese. I head inside this unfamiliar establishment ready to order a whole damn pie — but the woman behind the counter has me wanting to order something else.
Something to go.
Her. In my arms.
I step closer, glad I showered, and I want to know everything about her. Because what I see… it seems too good to be true. She’s behind the counter on a step stool, stacking cardboard pizza boxes on a shelf. Wearing a red apron, accentuating her tiny waist and lush hips. In a pair of tight blue jeans, she’s got an ass that makes my cock twitch. Full and round and pretty perfect. Squeezable.
Her curly black hair hangs down her back, and when she turns, flashing me a smile, I see dimples in each cheek, deep brown eyes, and a nose that is utterly kissable.
Damn. I’ve never once in my life looked at a nose and thought that.
Then again, I’ve never once in my life seen her.
Mirabella
This guy isn’t just checking me out… he’s full-on staring. Heat rises through my body at the attention, and I bite back a laugh. Obvious much, mister?
But then, as I step down the ladder to help him, I realize I’m being pretty obvious too. He’s gorgeous. And the closer he comes to the counter, the more I see that. He is tall, hot and more than handsome… and he’s got muscles covering him. My belly flip-flops. Whoever he is… he knows exactly who he is. He’s got confidence. Swagger. And he’s not cocky… just powerful. He gives me a smile that sends a prickle of excitement over my skin, making me flush that much more.
“Um,” I say, licking my lips and running my hands over the front of my apron. “Can I help you?”
He lifts his eyebrows, a half-smile on his face, and he nods ever so slowly. “You can certainly help me all right.”
I swallow. Hard. “And what is it that you’d like? We have pizza by the slice or…” I exhale, feeling his eyes level with mine.
“Not sure what I want you to serve me is a slice of pizza.”
“No?” My voice is three octaves higher, but his gaze unnerves me in the most delicious way.
He shakes his head. “I think I’d like something else from you.”
“Like what? We have calzones… but they take fifteen minutes to warm up.”
He laughs, his hands on the counter. “I don’t want a calzone. I want a date.”
“A date?” I snort. Then, mortified at the noise I’ve just made, I cover my face. “God. Um. Look, I don’t —”
“What? Don’t date?”
“I don’t even know you.” I look over my shoulder, sure my brother Tony is going to be back any minute.
“I’m Matt. What’s your name?”
“I’m Mirabella,” I say softly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “And I just think… maybe you should…”
He crosses his arms, giving me a teasing grin. “Give you my number?”
I laugh nervously. Wishing my life were different. But knowing Tony’s take on any man who tries to flirt with me. And Matt isn’t just flirting. He asked me out. At least, he sort of did.
I hear the back door open and Tony whistling. “I’m sorry,” I say, “but I have to get back to work… maybe I’ll see you around?”
“Just like that? Not even gonna pretend you’re not interested?”
“I am… but…”
“But what?”
Tony calls out to me. “Hey, Mirabella, come unload these groceries.”
“Bye,” I say softly, spinning around and walking away. Matt calls after me, but I’m long gone, and Tony gives me a scowl before heading to the front of the pizzeria.
I wanted to stay and talk to Matt.
But girls like me don’t always get what they want.
I grab a slice of pepperoni, folding it in half and taking a bite, leaning against the fridge, doing my best to listen in on whatever Tony is doing to ruin my chances with a man who looks like a serious piece of pie.
Chapter Two
Matt
When this burly-ass dude walks out with tats and slicked back hair, I know exactly what kind of guy he is. Not the kind I take too kindly to, especially since he has Mirabella clearly freaked out.
I clench my jaw, wondering what their connection is, my stomach popping as I fear the worst. One look and I decided she was mine… but what if she’s already someone else’s?
“Did she get ya yer food?”
I’ve totally lost my appetite, but I’m not ready to leave this pizza shop. “Just a slice of pepperoni,” I manage to say.
He rings me up and I give him some cash, adding a twenty to the tip jar in case it’s Mirabella who gets the money at the end of the shift. He hands me a plate with my order and tells me to come again. “And sorry, my sister gets weird with customers sometimes. She’s too shy for her own good. It’s why I usually have her in the back making dough. She gets nervous.”
I nod slowly, taking in his words. “Sister?”
“Yeah,” he says with a shrug.
“She didn’t seem shy.”
He laughs. “Yeah? Well you musta won her over. She’s shy and she’s fragile.”
“Fragile how?”
“Not like a flower, like a bomb.”
My eyes widen. She sure as hell didn’t seem like a grenade.
“She’s been through hell is all. And so, I make sure to look out for her.”
“Okay…” I say. “Do you think I could talk to her? I—”
He cuts me off. “Look, it’s a bad idea, okay? Just leave well enough alone.”
Frustrated, I shake my head. “If she’s in the back room, can’t she at least be the one to—”
“Fine. Mirabella, you here? This guy wants to talk to you,” he calls out. No answer. “See, she’s not interested.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” I say, dropping the plate in the trash, wondering what the hell is this guy’s deal. I walk to the door, pissed.
As I turn to go, I hear him mutter under his breath. “She’s been hurt enough already. Don’t need a guy like you adding to her trouble.”
Mirabella
I listen to their conversation, up until Tony tells Matt that I’ve been through hell. Tony thinks he’s protecting me, but it just makes it worse. I have been through the wringer, but it’s my story, not his.
I leave through the back door, climbing the fire escape stairs and crawling into our second-floor apartment. Suddenly exhausted. It’s not glamorous — our life — but it’s all we know. We grew up in this apartment and unless Tony kicks me out, I’m here for good.
Sitting in the window seat of the street-facing window, I look out below. I see a crow sitting on the power lines, then it takes flight. My heart flutters, wishing I was able to leave this nest. But it’s not easy when my overprotective brother thinks he knows what’s best. I’ve learned it’s better not to argue.
But that was before my eyes locked with Matt’s, before my heart stirred in a way it never had before. Matt and I spoke for what, a few minutes? But in that space of time, I felt hope. And I haven’t felt hope in so long.
I watch the street as Matt leaves the pizzeria, shaking his head, putting in earbuds, and walking away. I wish I knew what he was listening to, wish whatever song was stuck in his head was stuck in mine too. Because all I have to go off of is his name and the fact that he wanted my number.
Why didn’t I take a chance and just give it to him?
The Way To A Man’s Heart: Books 1-10 Page 1
