Page 46 of Can't Help Falling in Love
Setting her mug down, her mom got up from the stool.
Will stretched his arm out, a sweet smile on his gorgeous face. “Mrs. Danby, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Her mom’s cheeks pinkened, her gaze happy as she shook Will’s hand. “Please, call me Gwen. It’s so wonderful to meet you. Lexi’s never brought a boy home. Though I guess you’re not a boy. You look like a male model on one of my romance books. Though, these days, more and more of the covers are illustrated, which I love.” Gwen trailed off, dropping Will’s hand to clasp her hands together.
Lexi groaned and Will laughed.
Will’s hand settled on Lexi’s lower back. “I’ll take that as a compliment. I think you and my sister Kyra share an affinity for the same books.”
“Oh, I mean it as one,” Gwen said. “Can I get you something to drink, Will? We have coffee, orange juice, soda, and water.”
Lexi’s gaze widened. What the hell—Gwen was playing hostess?
“I wouldn’t say no to coffee. Black, please.”
A wave of dizziness washed over her when her mother all but pranced to the cupboard to get a mug.
Will leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. “Relax, Alexandria.”
Fuck.The way he said her name made shivers race over her skin, making it hot and uncomfortably tight.Relax. Yeah. Okay.
“So, Will, tell me about yourself.”
Lexi watched with low-key fascination as her mother served Will his coffee and listened intently while he told her about his two sisters, his grandfather, and Grand Babies, all of which he clearly loved.
“Oh!” Gwen clapped both of her hands together under her chin. “I bought from there when Lexi was a baby.”
Will smiled, winked at Lexi. “My family would be happy to hear that.”
“What are you two up to today?” Gwen asked.
Lexi hadn’t seen her mom filled with this much energy in months and months.
“I thought I’d take Lexi apple picking,” Will said, finishing up his coffee.
“How fun.” Gwen tapped her fingers on the counter before adding, “If you bring back some apples, I’ll make a pie.”
Grateful she wasn’t drinking anything because it would have been spewed all over the counter, Lexi gaped at her mom. “You will?”
Gwen tipped her head to the side. “Sure, sweetie. Don’t you remember how good my piecrust is?”
Nodding, not sure why her throat felt tight, Lexi could only stare. Of course she remembered. That and a whole lot of things. Piecrust, pumpkin carving, holiday parties, after-school snacks full of protein, her mom at track meets. She’d placed memories of that Gwen in a box labeled:BEFORE DAD LEFT US.
“I’m going to go look up a recipe right now. Will, it was wonderful to meet you.”
“You too, Gwen. Truly.”
When Gwen left the room, Lexi stared after her, still dazed.
Will squeezed her shoulder. “You okay?”
She turned to him, tipped her head back. “We never have visitors. Just Maisie. I haven’t seen her like that in a long time.” Her chest felt tight but in a good way.
He smiled, pulling her closer with a hand on her waist. “That’s a good thing, right?”
Lexi narrowed her gaze. “Are you magic, Will Grand? Some sort of sorcerer?”
Will laughed, lowered his head so their noses almost touched. “No, but I’m happy to let you think so.”
