Maizy the Bear Charmer(Diving Creek Ranch 16)(12)

“Fine. Well, I just hope you’re not buying into their choices. The less time you spend around them the better.”

Maizy could feel her food turning to concrete in her stomach.

“Prissy, I love Patrick, Lucy, and Beck, and they have my full support.”

There was no reply to her last message so she put the phone away and finished her lunch. Roberta was probably pouting, waiting for her to message with an apology. She’d be waiting until hell froze over. Roberta had always been a prudish, judgmental nag. She’d only gotten worse with age. Maizy giggled, imagining Roberta’s reaction to those three big men all being interested in her.

At three fifteen, she had her students lining up in the classroom and marching down to the designated pick-up area.

Cody, Heath, and Spencer’s cautious and mannerly approach in Divine Drip’s parking lot came to mind. The gentle way Cody had folded her hand between his and kissed it, Heath’s twinkling eyes and sexy grin, and Spencer’s quiet concern about her driving in the rain. The memory tugged at something deep inside her that she couldn’t pinpoint.

She knew she should cast aside the idea of talking further with them. She was a kindergarten teacher in a small town. Those three men represented a disaster waiting to happen. She should toss that business card in the trash, but the thought made the tugging a little painful.

Their hopeful eyes flashed again in her memory. They hardly knew her and she didn’t know them at all, so why should she feel such a connection to them already? She should let the notion go but it had already taken root.

Lucy showed up and hung out until the last kindergartener was loaded in their parent’s vehicle or onto a school bus.

Maizy turned to her and whispered, “I need to talk to you.”

Lucy darted a glance around her. “Want to talk now?”

“Not here.”

“Come over to our house for supper. You can help me cook.”

To be around Lucy with Patrick and Beck would probably be a good thing. It might help her have a better frame of reference for deciding if she wanted to spend time with Cody, Heath, and Spencer. She gulped when another thought occurred to her.

I want to watch them, so I can see how “it” works…not so I can decide. I’ve already decided.





Chapter Four




Lucy chuckled and removed the knife from Maizy’s hand. “Hon, there’s a fine line between bite-size pieces and minced to bits.”

Maizy looked down at the large cutting board in front of her and erupted into laughter. She’d turned the crisp head of lettuce into confetti. “I’m so sorry!”

Lucy handed her the salad bowl. “It’s not that bad. We’ll use it as a garnish with a slice of tomato.” Lucy peered across the open expanse of the house as the guys went out onto Beck’s covered porch. A few seconds later the porch door swung shut. “Okay, spill.” She put a big glass of sangria in Maizy’s hand.

Maizy took a long sip of the iced, fruity-sweet wine and sighed. “I met some people today.” How did she explain three guys? Lucy wouldn’t be shocked but how did she put a voice to it?

“Well, that tells me a lot. Male? Female?”

“Male.”

Lucy’s tone changed and she smiled. “Oh, yeah? Do I know them?”

“I think so. They…um.”

“Who is it?”

“Cody Welsh, Heath Lindsey, and Spencer Ketchum.”

Lucy went still and her eyebrows rose, but then she sighed and looked down at her hands. “Where did you meet them?”

“Divine Drip. Can you tell me anything about them?”

Lucy studiously washed the tomato she was about to slice. “What do you want to know?”

“Um…well…” She couldn’t believe the way she was hesitating. This was Lucy, member of a ménage trio. She’d understand. “Are they nice guys?”

Lucy smiled and nodded and kept her eyes on the tomato as she sliced. “Yes. They’re very nice guys. They work security at the Twisted Bull in Morehead. Seriously good at their job. They have to be because the Twisted Bull and Chantilly’s Steakhouse are a big draw in the area. I know the owner and she’s known them forever. You won’t find better guys, but…” Trepidation took hold as Lucy hesitated.

“So if I wanted to go on a date…”

Lucy turned sad eyes to Maizy. “I wouldn’t go there, Maizy. You’ll only get your feelings hurt.”

I’d get my feelings hurt? But they asked me out. “Why?”

“It’s kind of complicated. I’ve gotten to know them this year and like I said, they’re fantastic guys but they…”