Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

your words, Mr. Calm-Cool-and-Happy.”
I frown at her. “That’s how you see me?” Try Crazed-Hot-and-Bothered.
She shrugs and returns her focus to Pazza. “I’m starting to figure out there’s
more to you than that sunshine smile.”
“And what’s that?”
Pazza comes barreling our way, and skids to a sandy halt at our feet as she
drops the ball. Tipping her head, she glances between the two of us, her tongue
lolling happily out of her mouth.
Frankie sweeps up the ball from the sand and tosses it softly into the air,
catching it as she walks by me. “A bashful, dorky, sweetheart. I pity the women
of Los Angeles when this gets out, Ren.”
“Wait.” I scramble to catch up to Frankie, which isn’t hard. She moves
slower in the morning. She’s also not using her cane, so she favors her left leg
and walks carefully. “Frankie, just to be clear, I want my personal life to be just
between me and friends.”
Frankie stops at the bottom of the steps up to my deck. “So, we’re friends,
are we?”
“You said so the other night.”
She lifts an eyebrow. “True. But if my hazy weed memory serves me
correctly, I made you impersonate a tomato when I said it.”
I scrub my neck. “You caught me off guard. I didn’t know you liked me
enough to call me a friend.”
Frankie’s smile disappears. “What?”
“No, wait.” I swallow nervously. “That came out wrong. I-I need coffee.
Let’s go inside, and I’ll try that again.”
Frankie leads the way, but Pazza stops, blocking my progress as she looks up
and gives me an incredulous look.
“Trust me,” I mutter to the dog. “Ryder’s told me all about it. I’m the king of
sticking my foot in my mouth.” Pazza huffs, then trots off ahead of me.
After Frankie hoses off Pazza’s paws and her feet, we settle into the kitchen.
The sound of a dog lapping up her meal is the only noise in the room as Frankie
stands at the island and grins at me over her coffee. I swallow a scalding gulp
and try to formulate my thoughts. I’m so infuriatingly clumsy with my words
around her.
Setting down my coffee, I narrow my eyes at her amused grin. “Enjoy
watching me squirm?”
Frankie’s grin deepens and out comes the dimple. “I can’t lie, Zenzero, it’s
entertaining. You’re usually so chill.”
I turn my coffee mug slowly, clockwise. “I’ve learned things go better for