Maizy the Bear Charmer(Diving Creek Ranch 16)(119)

Amelia sighed and then hugged Maizy for no apparent reason. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Eventually your father will pull that big stick out of his ass and decide to have fun with the rest of us.” Maizy blinked at her mother and looked like she was about to burst into laughter.

George growled. “Woman.”

“Pfft. Appearances and public status are nowhere near as important as our children and our grandchildren, and the people who love them.”

George cleared his throat and said, “I think it’s time we went home and left the partying to the young, Amelia.”

“Why don’t you go ahead, dear. I was just about to ask Spencer for a dance. Can you dance, Spencer?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh, wonderful. I think it’s sad when young people don’t know how to dance.” She gave her husband a peck on the cheek and then dragged Spencer toward the dance floor, where another couple was dancing now that a DJ was playing music. “Tell me, Spencer, do you know how to do any of the newer dances? I want to learn something new.”

Cody watched as another opportunity for the three of them to talk to her privately slipped away. Heath walked up just then and Maizy introduced him to her father. Heath put his hand out and left it out there until George finally shook it and said, “Mr. Lindsey.” He turned to his daughter with a long-suffering sigh and said, “I think I should go.”

Maizy hugged her father and said, “Good-bye, Daddy. I wish you’d stay but I understand. We’ll be here for a while if you change your mind. You could eat with us.”

George shook his head and then leveled his gaze at Cody and Heath again. “Mr. Welsh. Mr. Lindsey. Good-bye, sweetheart.” He kissed her cheek and slipped away.

Maizy crossed her arms under her beautiful bust line and said, “That man. He’s so pigheaded sometimes. He drives me crazy.”

“Maybe you should try poking him in the chest,” Cody said, suddenly seeing the humor in the situation. Heath snorted.

She laughed when it dawned on her what he was referring to and she said, “When you put it like that, maybe there’s hope for him after all. Would someone care to dance with me?” she asked as she cast a look around the gathering and then slid her arms around both of them and squeezed them.

“Sure, angel. I was hoping to catch Spencer after he finishes dancing with your mom so we could talk to you. What are they doing?” he asked, squinting at Spencer and Amelia on the dance floor.

Heath turned to look, tilted his head, and said, “Oh, he’s teaching her how to do the Dougie…kind of.”

Maizy giggled as they watched and asked, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Well, we needed Spencer—”

“Maizy! Can you help us for a second?” Grace called out, “They’re about to cut the cake and we need help serving.”

Maizy patted his chest apologetically. “I’ll sneak away as soon as I can, Cody. I’m sorry.”

Heath stood beside him as they watched her walk away. At least the view was nice. Heath murmured, “I guess we didn’t factor in that she’d have responsibilities today.”

“That’s okay. We’ll catch up with her when the moment’s right. I’m gonna go hold a baby.”

“Me, too.”

They wound their way through the crowd until they arrived at Camilla’s table. Ben and Quinten were currently holding James and Joshua, surrounded by women of all ages, admiring the infants. James had just started fussing in Ben’s arms as Heath came over and said, “Aw, here, gimme Jamie-boy and I’ll get him settled down.”

Ben sighed and said, “He’s sleepy and fussy. Camilla just nursed him so it shouldn’t last long. I’m gonna go dance with my wife, if that’s okay,” he said, lifting her hand from the table.

She smiled up at Ben and then winked at Cody and said, “When we need babysitters I’m calling you guys.”

“Crap, why didn’t I think of that? I could be dancin’ right now,” Quinten said as he rose from his chair holding Joshua.

Cody reached for Josh and said, “They’re cutting the cake. Why don’t you go get some for Camilla. I’ll hold him for you.”

They got the infants settled and were comparing them to each other when they noticed all the women still standing there staring at them with their mouths open. One young woman looked over at her friend and then back at them and said, “They handle them pretty well, don’t they?”

“Yup. They don’t look nervous at all. Wait until one of the babies starts crying though.”