Maizy the Bear Charmer(Diving Creek Ranch 16)(152)
“I am too, sir. And thank you for understanding about my not wanting to pursue another year with the school district.”
Mr. Ambrose smiled down at her and nodded his head. “Believe me, I do. I wish there was some way I could adequately convey how sorry I am that you were put through that whole experience. I feel I let you down by not protecting you somehow from that threat. Fear, I guess…” He glanced into her eyes and tugged at his collar.
“Fear, sir? Why do you use that term?”
He chuckled dryly and said, “Because that’s what it was. It was a shock, the day those photographs arrived. Mrs. Dumphrey was so outraged. She just dumped them on my desk. I felt like a fraud…”
“A fraud? Why?”
Mr. Ambrose chewed his lip for a moment, looking to the side and then back at her. “See the lovely woman clad in lavender, sitting at the table over there, with the man in the black suit beside her?”
She looked and saw the couple in question. Oddly, they were both looking at her already, and nodded and smiled at her. “Isn’t that your brother, the owner of Divine Print, and his wife?”
Mr. Ambrose smiled as he led her in the dance and murmured, “Yes. My brother and my wife as well.”
He smiled as her eyes popped open wide and she gasped softly. “Mr. Ambrose.”
He nodded and kept his eyes averted. “Now you see why I say I was a fraud. Am a fraud. I didn’t help to protect one of our own like I should’ve. I’ve kept that secret for decades. Decades. And in that time, only a handful of people have ever been privy to that knowledge. I suppose by telling you, I’m trying to convey how deeply sorry I am…but you can count on me in the future.”
She gently squeezed his hand as they danced and said, “The sentiment is mutual, Mr. Ambrose, and I don’t hold anything that has happened against you.”
“I brought something I wanted to give to you, a surprise of sorts. You’ll find it on the gift table.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve recently taken an interest in rose propagation and I’ve grown you an antique rosebush from a cutting. One of my first successes, actually.”
Maizy gasped in delight. “What kind?”
“Zephirine Drouhin. It’s thornless so you won’t have to worry when you work with it. The original bush belonged to my mother and grows out at our family cemetery on our land. I thought you might like it for growing on a trellis or trained on a fence.”
Maizy had to fight tears yet again, as she remembered what she knew of that particular rose. “Lovely lemon-rose scent and coppery new growth. I’ll love it, sir. I already know exactly where I’ll plant it.” Spencer had started a rose bed for her recently, near the outdoor room in their backyard. She could picture it growing on a trellis in the center. “Thank you very much.”
With slightly flushed cheeks, Mr. Ambrose nodded and then greeted the elderly white-haired lady who approached them. “Maizy, I think I’ve monopolized enough of your attention on your wedding day.”
She kissed his cheek. “Thank you again, Mr. Ambrose.”
Maizy smiled at Jean Goodman as the tiny little woman reached for her and pulled her into a tight hug. Maizy’s eyes leaked a little as Jean said, “Maizy, from the moment I heard about you, from all three of them, I knew you were perfect for them. I like the fact that you don’t let Cody boss you around too much.”
Maizy stifled a giggle, recalling that he’d divested her of her panties at the first opportunity. It was for that very reason that she’d purposely worn them beneath her wedding dress that day.
“It’s all about give and take, isn’t it?” Jean asked with a bright smile and twinkling eyes.
Yes, while I’m giving him my panties, he thinks he’s taking them.
“And be mindful of Heath when he’s being Mister Funny Man, okay? Sometimes he’s covering deeper feelings with all that kidding and joking around.”
“I promise you I will, Jean. I’ve noticed that about him at times.”
“And that Spencer. Honey, he loves you so much. I can just see the worship in his eyes. You must be one hell of a woman to have captured all their hearts so completely.”
Maizy blushed and hugged her again. “I love them very much, Jean, and I promise I’ll take good care of them.”
Jean nodded and looked deeply into her eyes and said, “And you know, they’re very strong men. You let them take care of you, too.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now, they all keep looking over here at us like they miss you. Maybe you’d better go see what they’re up to.”