Maizy the Bear Charmer(Diving Creek Ranch 16)(7)

“If there’s nothing I can do for you, gentlemen, I need to get to school.” Shoot! Don’t share personal information with strangers, not even hot, gorgeous strangers!

The tallest of them, a veritable giant, with eyes so dark brown they looked nearly black and wavy black hair that reached past his shoulders, stepped a little closer. “We didn’t mean to frighten you, ma’am.”

“You didn’t frighten me,” she replied quickly. The quirk of his eyebrow, which had a slight tilt to it because of an old scar, told her that he knew the truth. “Well, maybe a little.”

The handsome giant smiled and her heart lurched. She was willing to bet his bedroom eyes got him laid—a lot. “Then let me start over. I’m Cody Welsh.” He gestured to the blond giant who was only slightly shorter than him. “This is Heath Lindsey.” The blond giant nodded and gave her a smile that was almost shy, but he took her captive with the heat in his exotic pale green eyes. “And this is Spencer Ketchum,” Cody said as he gestured to the dark-headed giant on his other side. Spencer’s dark brown hair was close-cropped, and the same color as his neatly trimmed goatee. His eyes were the color of melted gold. She took a step toward them as she slid the pepper spray back into her purse and held out her hand.

“Hi. I’m Maizy Owen.”

Cody glanced at her outstretched hand and then back into her eyes. She was about to retract her hand when he took it gently between his. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maizy.” Instead of shaking her hand he brought it to his lips and her jaw dropped.

No one had ever kissed her hand. No one. She clamped her trap shut and glanced at the two others. They both looked at their friend with mild surprise, but he just looked pleased.

Cody finally released her hand and heat coursed up her arm from the point where his lips had touched. Static filled her brain as she searched for something to say. “You’re standing in the rain.”

Good one, Captain Obvious!

Heath, the blond giant, squinted up at the sky and then shrugged. “It’s not as bad as it was and we…we really wanted to meet you. We’ve…” He looked at Cody, who just kept staring at her as if he wanted to do that all day. “This may sound crazy but we’ve been looking for you for a while.”

The dark-haired giant, Spencer, nodded and she thought she saw relief in his eyes. It was also clear in the long sigh he let out. He didn’t seem like the type that showed vulnerability to anyone.

“You have?” She glanced at her watch again.

Cody pulled his wallet from his back pocket. It was a nice wallet, in direct contrast to his scruffy attire. “Could I give you my card? We don’t want to make you late for work but we’d really like to talk to you.”

She accepted the card and looked at it. The Twisted Bull Nightclub and Chantilly’s Steakhouse. Then she looked at the three of them, a little confused. Did they want to sell her some steaks?

Cody grinned and said, “We’re not dressed for work right now. We’re house painting today.”

“Oh?” She glanced at the card again, noting Cody’s name at the bottom, listed as club and restaurant security.

Heath spoke up. “We recently bought a house in dire need of painting.”

Maizy grinned. “Was it bad?”

Heath nodded and she felt drawn by his hypnotic pale green eyes as he winked and said, “Unspeakable.”

She laughed and then grew quiet as they all stared at her again like they wanted to…eat her or something. But she didn’t get a creepy vibe from them. No, in fact, her inner vixen was doing a happy dance, judging by the damp condition of her panties. She even felt a little swollen down there since Cody’s lips had touched her hand.

Cody glanced at his friends and then said, “This is a little crazy, I know, but I hope you’ll call me. Us.”

“Why? Are you drumming up business?” she asked, looking at the card. “I don’t need any steaks and I’m not in need of having any security work done.”

“This isn’t about business,” Cody murmured. “I hope you call me.” He frowned as though at himself, and then gestured to her car. “Sorry if we made you late.”

Several emotions crowded her thoughts. He hadn’t satisfied her curiosity about why he wanted her to call him and by nature she was too inquisitive to let that go. She was also concerned that she’d given them the impression she was brushing them off, which she should probably do but for some inexplicable reason she couldn’t.

“You haven’t made me late, Cody. I’m just confused. I like for things to be put to me in black and white. This all seems a little mysterious.” She looked at her watch. “I’ve got ten minutes before I have to walk into my classroom to prepare for the day. It takes me four minutes to get to school. We can talk but you’re getting soaked.”