Maizy the Bear Charmer(Diving Creek Ranch 16)(36)

“Then let me thank you on Beck’s behalf. His bees will love visiting your yard. Do you have trees in the back as well?”

Spencer nodded, “Yes, lots of live oaks all the way to the back fence.”

Cody pulled up behind his truck in the driveway and cut the ignition. It was quiet in the interior for just a second before the three of them opened their doors and climbed from the truck. Since he was closest, Spencer lifted her down.

She thanked him and then turned to look at the house. “It’s nice. I like the deep porch.”

Spencer nodded. “Plenty of room for a swing and some chairs out there.”

Cody closed his door and turned to her. “Baby, I hope you’ll keep in mind that the house is still a work in progress.”

Heath nodded as he came over to stand with them. “We work on it every spare minute we can but it’s not perfect inside yet.”

Maizy reached out and stroked Heath’s biceps. “I don’t mind that, Heath. I came over to talk, not to critique your work in progress. But I hope you’ll give me the tour anyway.”

“Sure,” Cody said as he gently tugged her along with him to the front entry and unlocked the door for her.

They’d left a few lights on and Spencer watched her face and felt relieved when she smiled as she stopped in the entry.

The three of them led her from room to room. Heath grinned big when she complimented the work done in the kitchen and she seemed impressed as they showed her the rest of the house.

She paused for a long moment in the master bedroom, which was empty since they’d ordered all new furniture for it. She commented on the large windows and Spencer told her they looked out on the pool. That got a smile from her and he couldn’t wait to take her out back. A soft sigh escaped her when she saw the new tub still wrapped in a drop cloth to protect it, and she looked like she was sizing it up. He glanced at the guys and Cody seemed very pleased with himself for suggesting that change. She even caressed the thing.

They took her out to the back porch and she exclaimed over the pool and asked lots of questions about his plans for the deck. She seemed so enthused about it that he decided to put extra work in to finish it early, just for her.

Once they went back inside, Cody got the three of them beers and offered her a glass of iced tea before they drew her to the couches they’d recently moved into the living room.

“How do you like the house?” Heath asked, trying for casual but Spencer knew he was eager for her opinion.

“Well,” she said before sipping from her tea. “For a work in progress, it’s wonderful. I think it needs a little color though.” The three of them started laughing. “What?”

Cody said, “You should’ve seen it before we painted. Every room was a different color.”

Heath nodded. “Think Skittles.” Spencer shuddered at the memory.

“Oh, no,” she giggled. “I just mean art on the walls, pictures, books, things like that. You must’ve thought I was crazy saying that, huh?”

“We took pictures,” Heath said, handing her his phone and they chuckled as she flipped through the “before” pictures and winced at the original color scheme.

“Goodness.”

She handed the phone back to Heath and settled back in the couch, with Cody beside her on one side and Spencer and Heath in the opposite love seat.

Heath grunted and shook his head, and then got up and pushed the coffee table off to the side, clearing the space separating them. Spencer helped him pull the couch closer so they weren’t across the room from her but also weren’t crowding in on her from every side.

Her hair had become a little tousled from the high humidity and the wind that had kicked up while they were outside, and he wanted to stroke her silky curls some more. She still seemed a little on edge, and hoping to help her relax, he reached out to take one of her cowgirl boots off. At first she looked up at him and seemed unsure but when he tugged at it she smiled and allowed him to remove it and its mate.

He knew he’d done right when she sighed happily as she pulled off the socks, too, and tucked one calf underneath her. Spencer smiled when he saw that her toenails were painted blue and decorated with little daisies. His hands itched to hold and stroke her foot. She was adorable and he was her sap. He was in serious danger, here. He’d do just about anything she asked. As long as she didn’t ask him to let her go.

He let out a slow breath and said, “Baby, can I ask a question?”

She turned her gaze on him and whispered, “Sure.”

“The first time, well, actually the second time, I saw you, when we were at the coffee shop, you got my attention while you were standing in line.”