Maizy the Bear Charmer(Diving Creek Ranch 16)(27)

Lucy nodded. “Patrick is that way, too. And a little bossy. I’ll bet Cody is bossy.”

Maizy felt a blush heat her own cheeks. “I think I’d let him boss me. And Heath is such a tease. His eyes sparkle when he talks to me. I think sometimes he does that to make me feel comfortable with the three of them.”

Grace said, “He reminds me of Ethan sometimes. He’s good at reading people which feeds into his need to take care of people. Heath was sure all along that they’d find you, Maizy. He follows his gut. Being like that makes him good at his job,” she said, pointing to where Heath stood behind the bar watching the club. At that moment, he looked right at Maizy, grinned, and blew her a kiss.

Grace said, “If I was single and in your shoes, I couldn’t resist that.”

Maizy sighed, knowing resistance was futile. “I know,” she said drawing out the last syllable and making the girls chuckle. “And Spencer. Something about him pulls at my heart. He’s the most reserved of them. I don’t know if that’s because he’s shy or because he’s been hurt.”

Grace shook her head slowly. “I’m not sure. Of the three I know the least about him, but I get what you mean.”

“When I see him, I just want to curl up into him, not just for my own benefit but for his as well. He makes me feel safe when he hugs me. They all do, but there’s something very comforting about him.”

Grace had rosy cheeks when she said, “I think I know exactly what you’re talking about. Great kissers?”

“Oh, boy,” Maizy said as she put her hands on her cheeks to cool them. “They turn me into a warm puddle of goo.”

Lucy said, “It sounds like you’ve decided to go home with them then?” Maizy could see the concern in her future sister-in-law’s eyes.

“I think so, Lucy.”

Grace reached out and patted Maizy’s forearm. “Cody, Heath, and Spencer wouldn’t rush you into anything.”

Lucy smiled. “I’ve known them for the shortest period of time of the three of us, and even I know that much. What about your work? Do they understand about all that?”

“That’s part of what we need to talk about tonight. I explained some of it to Cody just now but he said we could work it out tonight.”

Grace looked around the club and then peered at Jayne, who was bobbing her head to the music. “Hey, Tequila-Sheila, you ready for a dance?”

Jayne giggle-snorted again and nodded. “That’s funny. I’m gonna tell Seth about that one.”

Lucy chuckled and said, “We’re gonna have to watch her margarita count tonight or Seth will have my butt in a sling.”

Grace got up from her seat and excused herself. “Stay put, I’ll be right back.”

They watched as she sauntered across the nightclub. When Ben saw her making her way over, he came out from behind the bar and hugged her and they spoke for a moment or two. He nodded and went back to work and Grace grinned back at them before she sidled over to Heath, who must’ve been watching security monitors given the focused look in his eyes. He gave Grace an easy grin when she greeted him and put a friendly arm around her shoulders. As she spoke to him, Heath’s eyes came to rest on Maizy and he smiled.

“Wonder what she’s saying to him?” Maizy said as she waved at him and then searched the club, easily spotting Spencer visiting with a couple at the back entry into the club and then Cody who was at the door, talking with a tall dark-headed woman.

The woman seemed to know him well and Maizy wondered who she was. She had an easy manner with him and treated him like an equal. As she spoke, she put her hand on his shoulder and Cody nodded at whatever she was saying.

“Who is that woman Cody is talking to?” she asked, resisting the urge to point. She’d never experienced possessiveness over a man but the feeling in her gut must be it. She needed to dial that back. He works in a nightclub for Pete’s sake. He knows lots of women.

“I see that look in your eyes, sweetie, but you don’t need to worry,” Lucy said. “That’s the nightclub manager, Sylvan Anders. They’re coworkers. She’s very cool.”

Jayne patted her shoulder encouragingly. “They had access to any number of women but it was you they were looking for all this time, Maizy. I know how you feel,” she added with a sympathetic nod. “Seth gets a lot of attention from women. Some of them are downright blatant because of the industry he’s in. He doesn’t think I know, but I’ve heard women proposition him while he’s worked on their tattoos. I didn’t mean to overhear but that’s kind of hard to walk away from, you know?”