Wooing Lexi's Heart by Delia Latham & Love at Heart's Haven

Author:Delia Latham & Love at Heart's Haven [Latham, Delia & Haven, Love at Heart's]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heaven's Touch Books
Published: 2024-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

~ Chapter Seven ~

LEXI COULD NOT RECALL EVER having such a wonderful time. The four of them talked and laughed non-stop throughout the meal—which tasted heavenly, despite Rina’s warning about her cooking. Afterward, the men shocked her by jumping in to help with the clean-up so they could all take a stroll on the Angelina Trail.

Outside their trellised gate, Derek and Rina joined hands and set off together, leaving Ben and Lexi to follow. Somehow, she wasn’t surprised when a big, strong hand took hers. Her cheeks warmed, and she prayed the darkness would cover that immature response. He placed himself between her and any traffic that might come along, and she told herself he’d taken her hand as a safety measure. Always a gentleman, Ben’s nature dictated that he be protective.

But then his arm slid around her waist, and her tidy summation went right out the window.

His voice dropped to a near growl. “You gonna be okay tomorrow?”

Her teeth clamped down on her lip hard enough to hurt. He’d brought up the one subject she’d avoided thinking about for weeks. Even her trip to the senior care center the day before had been an act of desperate insistence on familiar routine...even knowing she’d make the drive again tomorrow.

“Lexi?” He stopped and turned toward her, using the arm around her waist to pull her close. With his other hand, he gently lifted her chin. “Mother’s Day is bound to be difficult for you. If you’re going to Gentle Winds, and if you’d like company, I’d love to come along.”

Unexpected tears stung her eyes, and she turned her face away, mortified. When had she become such a crybaby?

“Lexi…sweetheart…please let me be there for you. I want to help you through this.”

She forced herself to meet his gaze again, but only briefly. Then she leaned into his embrace and rested her head against his broad chest. This wonderful man wanted to be strong…for her. Not since she lost her father had she been offered that kind of support. Ten-year-old Lexi had been mercifully unaware that Daddy’s would be the last genuine masculine affection she would experience for decades.

Now she stood trembling in Ben’s arms, overwhelmed by his desire to be for her what her own husband never once tried to be. And without so much as a hint on her part, he’d picked up on something Lexi had difficulty facing even in her private heart of hearts.

She wanted nothing more than to lose herself in his embrace and let Ben buffer all the pain she’d been pushing away. Mother’s Day had become a source of such intense dread that she’d refused to acknowledge its approach by so much as shopping for a gift.

“You two coming?” Derek’s voice carried through the still evening.

“We’ll be right there.” Ben answered without breaking his hold on Lexi, then pulled her a little closer, held on just enough to take her breath away. “I’m coming with you tomorrow.”

“I’d like that,” she breathed.

His lips brushed against her forehead—a soft, sweet, all-too-brief touch.

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