The Way To A Man's Heart - Frankie Love Page 0,100

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