“Adam has her and PJ upstairs playing. She’s dressed but she didn’t want to keep the tights on, baby. When Adam helped her use the potty, she took them and her shoes off and refused to put the tights back on.”
Looking resolute, Grace turned to them and said, “I’ll go get the flower girl and the ring bearer and be right back down.”
Jack stopped her at the first stairstep with a hand on her hip and said, “Pick your battles, darlin’.”
Grace smiled, looking a little weary, and said, “I know. It’s not that big a deal. None of us is wearing tights or panty hose either. I just wanted her to look nice. I’ll be right back.”
Jack watched her ascend the stairs and then turned to the girls. “Rosie’s gonna be lucky if she makes it through the terrible threes. That girl’s got a mind of her own.”
Charity scoffed and said, “It might help if she didn’t have three big daddies wrapped around her chubby little fingers.” Jack elbowed her and grinned and she added, “That’s okay. If Grace keeps establishing who’s in charge, she’ll get it eventually.”
Maizy took advantage of the opportunity to peek out the back windows at the section of the backyard beyond the swimming pool. Ancient oaks arched over the area, which was lined with rows of white folding chairs, providing a pastoral backdrop for the wedding ceremony. Off to the side, the tables for the reception were set up and waiting for the chairs to be moved over to them, and the portable stage, which was set up for the ceremony, would be cleared and used for a dance floor. Every seat was filled, or about to be filled, as a few guests still moved around.
Her heart jumped as she caught sight of Cody, Heath, and Spencer, who were standing to one side talking with Ben Lawrence.
“Holy moly,” she whispered to herself.
Cody’s long black hair was pulled back in a leather tie and he was dressed in a gray suit with a red dress shirt opened at the throat. Heath was Mister Sexy Summer personified, dressed in a pair of white linen pants and a white linen tunic with the drawstring loose and untied at the throat. Spencer was dressed in a white button-down and pair of khaki slacks. He had his mirrored shades on as he surveyed the crowd and then looked back at the house. She moved away from the window, not wanting to spoil her surprise.
Individually, her bears were enough to stop any girl in her tracks, but collectively, they were overpowering, sexy, and irresistible. And they were hers.
She shook the hormonal daze from her head when she heard six-year-old PJ’s strident voice combined with the enthusiastic chirping of Grace’s three-year-old daughter as they bounded down the stairs, followed by Grace and Adam.
PJ, who was dressed in a pint-size black tuxedo, grinned when he saw her and ran to her with his arms reached out for a hug. “Hey, Aunt Maizy!” Before he reached Maizy, he froze and his eyes popped as he turned to Lucy. He’d run right by her and hadn’t recognized her. “Mom?” Maizy didn’t mind that she no longer had her nephew’s admiring attention as he fell under Lucy’s spell.
Lucy bit her lip as she knelt down to him, her eyes shiny. “Hey, honey.”
PJ went to her and whispered, “You look like the queen of the world.” He reached out a tentative hand to stroke the veil attached to the underside of her updo and said, “Dads are gonna flip out.” Recently, he’d begun referring to his dads in plural form when he was around family and friends.
Lucy smiled and kissed the top of his head and then stood. “Think so?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Maizy giggled when she noticed Rose Marie modeling her little violet-colored satin and lace-trimmed dress for the others. “I’m a princess. Daddy Adam says so.”
“Yes, you are, honey,” Grace replied softly. “Ready to be a flower girl?”
Rose Marie nodded and Maizy noticed that she was bare-legged, except for lace-trimmed socks that Grace must’ve put on her before buckling her dress shoes back on her. She picked up her bucket of red rose petals and said, “I’m a bridesmaid flower girl, Mommy.”
“Okeydokey,” Grace replied, rolling her eyes as they herded the kids to the back door. Adam kissed Grace’s temple, whispered something to her that made her smile, and then slipped out, followed by Jack, who winked at his wife and gave her a soft wolf whistle.
Rachel poked her head in the back door and then let Lucy’s mother and father in as she said, “We’re ready when you are, Lucy.”
Mr. and Mrs. Carter both greeted Jayne at the door with hugs and kisses. Charity handed Lucy her bouquet of fresh blue hydrangeas and ivory roses, and the girls their bouquets of blue and purple hydrangeas as Lucy said, “Give me just a minute and I’ll be ready, Rachel.”
“Take your time. The guys are looking a little nervous but they’ll be fine,” she added with a giggle.
Her mother and father both had tears in their eyes as they looked Lucy over. Her dad arched an eyebrow as he stared at Lucy’s hemline but he smiled at her and carefully kissed her cheek and said, “Honey, there’s still time. I have the SUV right outside. We can be gone in a couple of minutes.”
Lucy giggled with her mother and whapped her dad on his forearm. “The only SUV I want to ride in is the white one out there that screams ‘Just Married,’ but thank you Daddy for having my back.”
“We brought you something, honey,” her mother said as Mr. Carter handed Lucy a velvet box. Maizy could plainly see that both Lucy and Seth shared their unusual eye color and jet black hair with Mr. Carter. Both of her parents were also quite tall and it was obvious Lucy had inherited her curvaceous figure from her mother.
Lucy whimpered when she opened the box. “Great-grandma’s silver locket!” Her voice caught on the last syllable as she stroked the antique jewelry and then carefully lifted it from its bed of white satin.
“She told me years ago to give it to you on your wedding day as your ‘something old,’” Mrs. Carter said, tears in her eyes and her own voice catching a little. She gently took it from Lucy’s trembling hands and clasped it around Lucy’s throat. Charity and Jayne fanned Lucy’s face as she flushed and tears welled in her eyes.
Lucy’s parents hadn’t been too surprised to discover that their daughter had fallen for Patrick and Beck. They’d spent enough time in Divine, visiting their grown children and their grandchild, to get to know some of the ménage groups. Once they’d seen evidence of the deep, abiding commitment between the members, they hadn’t been all that shocked. Although Maizy knew her mom would cheer Patrick on in finding his own happiness, Maizy lamented that her dad wasn’t as accepting of the lifestyle Patrick had chosen. She knew she probably wouldn’t be able to look back on a sweet memory like the one she was witnessing, if she was ever in Lucy’s shoes.
“Okay, sweetheart. Ready to go strap on a ball and chain?”
Lucy burst into laughter. “Daddy!”
He gestured with a thumb in the direction of the front door. “There’s still time. Just sayin’.”
Grace ushered Rose Marie and PJ onto the back porch as she whispered encouragement and instructions to them. With the door open, Maizy could hear soft guitar music playing as the kids and Grace took their places at the bottom of the steps. Before long the kids found something to squabble about.
The adults all burst into restrained laughter when they clearly heard Rose Marie yell, “You’re not the boss of me, PJ! You hush up! Talk to my hand, ugly boy!”
Charity chuckled and said, “Clearly taking after her Auntie Charity, there.”
Because PJ delighted in bossing Rose Marie around, which inspired wall-eyed fits in the young lady, it had been decided that Grace would escort the young attendants up the aisle. Lucy had been happy because she’d wanted to include Grace in the ceremony all along and Grace had been excited as well. Now all she had to do was get the warring youngsters down the aisle.
On cue, they began the processional with the change in the music and the wedding got under way. When Grace and the kids reached the halfway point, Maizy stepped onto the porch at Rachel’s direction and m
oved forward. This was the hard part for her because taking her time in the slow methodical march down the aisle didn’t feel natural. She tended to hurry wherever she went. She breathed deep and thought of her men, wondering what they’d think when they saw her, and tried to get into the spirit of the occasion and enjoy the ritual.
She looked up as she came within view of the assemblage and smiled when she caught Rose Marie sticking her tongue out at PJ and he returned the gesture. He seemed to enjoy pushing her buttons.
Maizy scanned the crowd and spotted her bears when they turned in their seats and all three of them reacted to her appearance. Spencer jerked his sunglasses off and stared with intense golden eyes. Heath grinned and looked like he wanted to get out of his seat and go to her as he lifted his smartphone to take her picture. A slow, sexy smile crossed Cody’s handsome face as he licked his lower lips and his bedroom eyes told her exactly what he was thinking. If her lipreading skills were any good, Heath said, “Baby, dayum!” before he shook his head like he was dazed.
She wanted to toss her bouquet in the air and run to them right then but she kept moving forward, passing within a couple of feet of them on the aisle. Her entire backside felt very warm as she moved up the center aisle, envisioning them staring at her ass and her legs. She wondered if Spencer had noticed her heels yet. He seemed to get a charge out of seeing her in high heels and she enjoyed indulging him.
She made eye contact with Patrick and smiled at him, feeling for the poor guy. They’d kept him and Beck, who looked ready to pass out, waiting a few extra minutes, which must’ve been nerve-wracking for them.
Maizy took her position next to Grace and the kids. She reached out to PJ and he slipped his hand in hers. Hopefully he’d be distracted enough by the ceremony and wouldn’t be antagonizing Rose Marie. He patted his vest pocket, where the wedding bands were all located, and gave her a gap-toothed grin.
Jayne followed Maizy up the aisle, smiling when Toby loudly squealed, “Mommy!” from his father’s arms and waved at her. “Pretty, Mommy!” Seth looked like he was fighting laughter as he put his finger to his son’s lips.
PJ tugged Maizy’s hand and whispered, “You’re really pretty too, Aunt Maizy. I meant to tell you that earlier.”
She winked at him and blew an air kiss as she turned to look out at the guests.
Spencer was snapping a picture of her with his phone, while Cody kept his gaze trained on her, and Heath bit his lower lip like he wanted to eat her up. Warmth filled her at their attention. Rachel and Charity slipped into seats with their husbands and a hush descended over the group as the processional music changed and swelled in volume.
She watched Patrick and Beck and knew the second Lucy made her appearance because their reactions were so clear. Beck’s jaw dropped and his eyes went wide. Patrick blinked and stared as he swayed on his feet for a few seconds. Beck whispered something and Patrick put his hand to his mouth to cover his reply to Beck. Maizy couldn’t understand what he said but it was clear both men were enthralled as Lucy strolled up the aisle on her father’s arm as if she had all the time in the world.
A triumphant smile curved Lucy’s lips as she watched her men. Her wedding dress was made of ivory silk topped with lavishly embroidered and beaded lace. Her pearlescent skin showed through the long lace sleeves and shoulders of the high-waisted dress, which dipped to a deep V at the neckline. The hemline of the dress barely reached midthigh, with the luxuriant lace extending in a scalloped edge beyond the hemline a few inches. Topping the short skirt of the dress was a billowing tulle overskirt that reached the ground and floated diaphanously around her legs with each step, parting occasionally in the center to reveal her long, shapely legs and her ivory satin platform pumps. The silver locket glittered at her throat in the dappled sunshine.
The guests stood as Lucy and her dad reached the center aisle and Maizy turned her attention back to Patrick and Beck as they watched their bride approach. If it was possible for peace and passion to both reside in a person’s mind at the same time, that’s what she saw in her brother’s eyes as he gazed at Lucy.
She felt for Beck, having to restrain himself for the sake of those guests who were not necessarily privy to the polyamorous nature of their relationship and not being able to be an active participant in the outdoor ceremony. He would have his moment soon. This ceremony, performed by a minister, married Lucy to Patrick. The binding ceremony that would occur under the guise of wedding photographs in the house would be conducted by Ethan Grant minutes afterward, binding the three of them together.
Lucy’s father escorted her to the edge of the portable stage as the minister and Patrick moved forward to meet her there.
Mr. Carter presented his daughter to Patrick, did his part in the ceremony, and then gave her a kiss on the cheek and joined his wife at their seats. Patrick took a second to whisper something to her. In her heels, she was eye to eye with him. He stroked her temple and gazed at her for a second before they followed the minster back to the center of the platform. Jayne stepped forward and Lucy handed her the bridal bouquet before she turned to face her husbands-to-be.
Witnessing the adoration in Patrick and Beck’s eyes, and despite all the worry and struggles she was going through, Maizy prayed fervently that someday she might reach a similar moment with her bears. As the minister spoke to the assemblage, Maizy made eye contact with Cody, Heath, and Spencer. Warmth filled her at the combined heat of their gazes and she wondered what they were thinking.
Chapter Twenty-Five
At Rachel’s request, Cody, Heath, and Spencer finished moving all the white folding chairs to the tables so the guests could find a seat, while the more intimate binding ceremony was being performed inside the house.
Warmth filled Cody’s chest and his stomach felt like butterflies were practicing Blue Angels maneuvers inside it when he saw Maizy walking toward them across the grassy expanse of the yard. The blue lace dress floated on the breeze as she moved.
Cody struggled to string words together as Maizy joined them under the arching branches of the tall oak trees. Tears still shimmered in her eyes and she looked more beautiful than he could find words to describe. He didn’t like feeling so inept but she seemed to do that to him on an increasingly regular basis.
Spencer nudged him and nodded when he looked at him. Cody swallowed and said, “Angel, we wanted to talk to you about—”
“Has anyone seen Maizy?” Charity called out and then spotted her and waved. “Hey, Maizy! Grace needs you inside!”
Maizy smiled at the three of them and patted his chest. “Let me find out what she needs, Cody. They’re running a bit behind schedule. I’ll be right back.”
Cody and the others nodded, and Spencer growled as she walked away, his eyes riveted to her legs. “Damn, she’s fine…and she’s ours. Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
Cody sighed and then shrugged. “I don’t know, I was trying to get the words out…”
“And you got nervous?” Heath asked incredulously and then smiled. “Nah. Impossible. I’m gonna go see if I can help with anything. I’ll grab her next time I see her.” He walked off toward Rachel and Maya Warner, who looked like they were directing traffic. The kids crowded around Rachel’s husband, Eli, and Ethan as they sat together in folding chairs, playing guitar instrumentals. Guests milled around and visited with each other while the food was set up.
Cody joined a conversation with Ace Webster and Kemp Whittier and their wife, Summer. He discovered that Kemp and Ace were also big Dallas Cowboys fans and Summer rolled her eyes as the conversation devolved into a bullshit session about whether the team’s leadership was worth a shit or not.
He noticed that wedding guests were sitting down to the tables and eating, and wondered if Maizy was hungry. He looked around for her and discovered her near the dance floor, talking with Margot Redman and one of her men, Gil James.
Gil was a foreman at Chance and Clayton Carlisle’s Rockin’ C Ranch, a large cattle operation
in the area, and Margot was co-owner of Discretion Boutique, one of the ladies’ favorite places to shop. He wondered if Maizy had been in there yet and turned to Summer, who was her sister’s partner.
“Summer, do you ever have any men who come in your shop, and ask for help…I mean, do they ever ask you for advice…”
Summer patted his arm. “Do they ask me for help as a personal shopper?”
She understood. Cody nodded. “Exactly.”
She grinned and gestured at the gathering. “I’ve helped at least half the men here, honey, at one point or another. Discretion serves a unique clientele with diverse interests. It can be a little intimidating for the uninitiated. Do you need some help?”
“Well, I was just wondering if Maizy has ever been in, and if there’s anything she likes.”
Summer nodded her head, her eyes lighting with merriment. “Yes, she’s been in to shop with Lucy before. If you came in, you wouldn’t have to worry about guessing her sizes because I have them on file.”
“That was one of my concerns. I’ve heard good things about your place but I’m not sure I’d know where to begin.”
Summer nodded. “I’ve heard that from several of the men. I take the guesswork out of it because I keep a list of their women’s preferences and they can make a wish list too, if they want.”
Cody nodded, thinking that had possibilities. “Does Maizy have a wish list?”
“Yes, she does. Lucy talked her into making one. You should come see it. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind,” she added with a smile.
Ace and Kemp got Summer’s attention, wanting to take her to get something to eat. Cody nodded and looked around for Maizy. He spotted her across the gathering, talking with a tall man dressed in a black suit. Something about the man’s stern expression drew Cody in Maizy’s direction at a rapid pace. He looked over and saw Spencer in conversation with an older woman who was tugging him in Maizy’s direction as well.
The woman patted Spencer’s arm as she spoke and looked like she was used to ordering around men twice her size. She was roughly Maizy’s stature and wore her curly white hair up in a pretty twist that was doing its best to come loose. He smiled, realizing this must be Maizy’s mother, in which case, the man must be Maizy’s father. He was currently lecturing her, judging by his body language and his tone as Cody approached. With her back to him, Maizy hadn’t seen Cody yet.
Maizy the Bear Charmer [Divine Creek Ranch 16] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 31
