A Little Bite of Magic (Little Magic) Read Online Free PDF Page A

softly, but it was true. Dom’s behavior had him on edge.
    “There’s this guy I met at the market last week. He said he comes here Friday nights sometimes.”
    Frankie snorted. “Oh, now I see. I’m a safety blanket. Thanks, dude.”
    Dom elbowed Frankie. “I’m looking out for both of us! I thought maybe you could get some action too. Exactly how long has it been?”
    “Shut up.” Frankie rolled his eyes.
    “That’s what I thought. Beaujolais?”
    “Sure.”
    Dom flagged the bartender down and ordered Frankie’s glass and a basket of herbed cheese straws. Frankie sipped at the wine and slouched on his stool. He hadn't realized how tired he was until he'd sat still. It was the first night he’d let himself take a break from the restaurant since it had opened. They usually closed right after dinner, but he often stayed late doing accounting, working on recipes. The work really never ended. L’Osteria’d had a good first two months, despite the harsh review from the Chronicle’s critic The Phantom Foodie, which had deflated him for days.
    Even though things had gone well so far for the most part, Frankie was bone-deep exhausted. It would’ve been nice to flirt with a guy, or perhaps even more, but the effort wouldn’t be worth the—
    “Hi, can I please have another glass of the Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris?”
    Frankie felt him without even turning around. Seriously. Whether it was his hereditary sixth sense or just a strong reaction to that sexy molasses voice, Frankie’s entire body burst into waves of pleasure. He inhaled and picked out something woodsy and fresh with a touch of sandalwood…and saltwater? He saw candles flickering in a beach house and flashes of sleeping in with the window open so salt air could flow in over their naked backs… Wait a second. Their? What the—
    Frankie had to turn around. He ditched Dom in the middle of a sentence and swiveled on his stool to come face-to-face with the palest set of blue eyes he’d ever seen. The other man looked surprised. Frankie was as well. He hadn’t meant to get right in the stranger’s face. But that was the odd part—the man didn’t feel like a stranger. Frankie didn’t know him, was pretty sure he’d never even seen him before, but those eyes. They were so…
    “Hello,” Frankie said. He mentally chastised himself for such a lame opener.
    “Um, hi.” Blue Eyes smiled hesitantly. His awkwardness made Frankie melt.
    “What’s your name? I’m Frankie.” He stuck out his hand. Frankie could’ve been accused of lots of things, but shyness wasn’t one of them. Good thing, because the gorgeous guy who smelled like heaven looked like he had his voice stuck in his throat.
    “Addison,” he finally choked out. “My name is Addison.” Then he reached his hand out to shake Frankie’s.
    The touch felt like a puzzle piece falling into place. Perfect. Frankie saw the possibility of how good it could be between them all in a flash in that one odd moment—the house he’d never seen, sleepy Sunday mornings in bed kissing, a Dalmatian curled at their feet. A Dalmatian? Frankie smiled. He’d always wanted a dog. He wanted all of it.
    Addison looked at him with wide eyes. Frankie shook out of his momentary cloud. He didn’t want to scare this one away.
    Frankie cleared his throat. “Addison, huh? That’s unique.”
    He got a wry smile for his efforts. “Sometimes I hate my mother.”
    Frankie laughed. He couldn’t help it. That low voice was sexy and self-deprecating, and he wanted to hear more. “Me too.” He gestured at himself. “Francois.”
    “Ouch.”
    They chuckled together. The bartender brought Addison his wine, and Frankie panicked for a moment. Shit. Come up with something brilliant so he doesn’t walk away . Frankie turned to Dom, but he’d disappeared while Frankie was busy trying to get his pounding heart to calm down.
    “Your friend is over there.” Addison pointed. “Were you looking for him?”
    Frankie