Maizy the Bear Charmer(Diving Creek Ranch 16)(19)

“Are you still belly dancing?” Spencer asked and she felt her cheeks go a little warm at his unwavering gaze.

Maizy shook her head negatively. “No. That night at the Dancing Pony was the last time.”

“Why?” Heath asked, sounding surprised. That fact warmed her heart. She wished she’d known them back in October.

“It was your ex, right?” Cody asked with a knowing look in his eyes.

Maizy nodded. “Chaz was worried that people might talk about it. He has aspirations for a seat on the school board. Last month, when word got out about Lucy, Patrick, and Beck, he got wind of it and that was…”

Spencer had been leaning on his elbows, his attention on her, but then he sat up and growled, “You’re kidding.” She shook her head and he continued. “He broke up with you because of the lifestyle your brother chose?”

“I think it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He was disappointed I wasn’t planning to work my way up the school district ladder, plus I was belly dancing, and then Patrick’s engagement came up. When you combined all those…He broke up with me shortly after he found out about the engagement.” She was just grateful the breakup had occurred during summer vacation so she had time to grieve the relationship in private.

“Did you love him?” Cody asked softly, stroking the top of her hand with the backs of his fingers.

Maizy watched his hand, cognizant of how gentle and comforting his touch was. Her body responded with a deep, growing ache. She nodded. “For my part I did…or thought I did. It still hurts to think about it but I’m okay with it. I wouldn’t want to be married to him if my brother’s lifestyle made that big a deal to him. Lucy thinks he’s a jackass. Actually, I think she thought that even before we broke up. And I know Patrick never cared for Chaz.”

“Chaz?” Heath asked with a bit of a sneer. “Chaz Edwards?”

“Yes, you know him?”

All three men nodded and then shared a grin. Heath said, “He comes into the Twisted Bull on a semiregular basis. He likes to impress everyone with stories of his glory days as a high school quarterback.”

Cody said, “Yes, evidently he was a big hero and led the team to two state championship playoffs.”

Maizy giggled when all the men rolled their eyes. “Too bad we didn’t win either of them. I’m glad I don’t have to hear that story all the time anymore. Of course, the school board is very impressed with him. Glad to have his name on the sports roster.”

“Do you have to see much of him during the school day?” Spencer asked, suddenly looking as protective as a pit bull.

“No. The primary grades have their own physical education teacher. I see him at staff meetings and functions, and at lunch, if I eat in the cafeteria, which is seldom. My helper supervises the kids so I can get a little quiet time at lunch. She’s wonderful.”

“Good,” Cody said as he put his forearm around the back of her chair. She unconsciously lifted the mass of curls from her back and flicked it over his forearm so it wouldn’t get pulled and she noticed the way all three of them smiled. Cody let out a soft sigh that made her curious.

“What?”

The three men exchanged a look and Spencer was the one who spoke. “That move is how I knew it was you, Maizy. The way you flicked your hair back.”

Maizy giggled. “The way I touch my hair? Really?” The men all chuckled.

“Yes, really,” Cody murmured in his deep, gritty voice. “You’re not just touching it.”

Heath shook his head. “Yeah, the way you use your hands is sensual, like you enjoy touching your hair, or that’s how it seems. If you don’t believe me, look at Cody’s arm. You gave him goose bumps.”

“Really?” she asked in disbelief as she turned her gaze to his bare forearm behind her. The movement brushed her hair over his arm and more gooseflesh sprang up at the movement, and he even shuddered a little. She bit her lip as she looked up at him and whispered, “Wow. That’s how you knew it was me?”

“I can only speak for myself,” Heath said. “But I relived your dance in my mind all the time and that’s exactly how I remembered you touching your hair. It’s very sexy.”

Her cheeks heated again at the mention of him thinking about her dance over the last several months. She wondered if Heath had fantasized—if they all had—and her cheeks went red hot.

Cody seemed to understand as he chuckled, leaned toward her, and kissed her flaming hot cheek. “We’re so glad we finally found you.”

Maizy grew so warm she felt sweat break out on her skin as she fumbled for something to say. “Can you tell me about your work?”