“I won’t have it, young lady. Patrick is divorced, with a son to raise. His situation is completely different from yours.”
“Dad, that’s ridiculous. You make it sound like he’s somehow settling for second-best, when the truth is that Lucy is the best thing that ever happened to him and PJ. If you don’t stop this, when it’s my turn to get married I’ll elope to some tropical island and you can just stay home and pout. I think if you’re going to be critical, you should just go home, before anyone else offends you with their polyamorous leanings.”
“Young lady, I didn’t raise you to be disrespectful to your elders.”
“Thanks, Dad. You did a great job. But you and I are on equal footing now as adults and this is what it looks like when one adult calls bullshit on their peer’s bullheadedness. You and I have already had this conversation. I love you with all my heart but you’re risking our relationship if you continue.”
Cody hid his smile, recognizing the steely tone in her voice.
Maizy’s demeanor softened instantaneously when she saw her mother. “Hey, Mom! I see you found Spencer.” Maizy wrapped her arms around her mother and Cody saw the “save me” look in Spencer’s eyes. Spencer hated family confrontations and arguments, probably because of his history in foster care. He’d definitely drawn the short straw of all of them with regard to the homes he’d lived in. The woman kissed Maizy’s cheek, and then got big eyes as Cody joined their group.
Maizy smiled up at him when he slid his arm around her waist and squeezed her gently. She slid her hand up his back and said, “Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Cody Welsh.” She cast a warning glance at her father, who didn’t seem to intimidate her at all. “Cody. This is my mother, Amelia, and my father, George. My sisters Roberta and Rhonda were around here earlier. I wanted to introduce them to you but I don’t know where they’ve gotten off to.”
Amelia smiled up at him graciously and when he put out his hand to shake hers she pooh-poohed the gesture and put her arms out for a hug. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Cody. I was just telling Spencer how much I wanted to meet you and Heath. Maizy has been so preoccupied with the wedding lately and the two of you have been so busy working that I haven’t had the opportunity to meet you yet.” She slipped her hand back around Spencer’s elbow and patted his arm. “But that doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed getting to know Spencer. We understand each other very well. Sometimes just because someone doesn’t have much to say doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have opinions.” As she spoke, she looked at her husband, not with accusation but with humor.
Maizy nodded and smiled as she turned to Cody and said, “Up until recently, my mom was chronically ill with a number of health complaints. When she changed doctors, they discovered the underlying issues and she had surgery. She’s been making up for lost time ever since. We’re very proud of her.” She looked at her dad like she wanted to stick her tongue out at him. “Isn’t that right, Dad?”
George glowered at Maizy but Cody just barely caught it when he gave her a half wink and then looked at his wife who was smiling at him and tilting her head toward Cody. Mr. Owen looked him in the eye, nodded succinctly, and said, “Mr. Welsh.” He turned to Spencer with a raised eyebrow and said, “Mr. Ketchum. We meet again.” No pleasantries, but Cody was okay with that and he knew Spencer didn’t give a crap. He’d mentioned meeting Maizy’s father at the rehearsal dinner the night before but hadn’t elaborated beyond mentioning that her father hadn’t said much during the meal and had left early. It was obvious that Mr. Owen held his daughter to a high standard but that subtle clue he’d given Maizy as he winked at her let Cody know that he wasn’t completely cold…just set in his ways. Like concrete.
Amelia sighed and then hugged Maizy for no apparent reason. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Eventually your father will pull that big stick out of his ass and decide to have fun with the rest of us.” Maizy blinked at her mother and looked like she was about to burst into laughter.
George growled. “Woman.”
“Pfft. Appearances and public status are nowhere near as important as our children and our grandchildren, and the people who love them.”
George cleared his throat and said, “I think it’s time we went home and left the partying to the young, Amelia.”
“Why don’t you go ahead, dear. I was just about to ask Spencer for a dance. Can you dance, Spencer?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, wonderful. I think it’s sad when young people don’t know how to dance.” She gave her husband a peck on the cheek and then dragged Spencer toward the dance floor, where another couple was dancing now that a DJ was playing music. “Tell me, Spencer, do you know how to do any of the newer dances? I want to learn something new.”
Cody watched as another opportunity for the three of them to talk to her privately slipped away. Heath walked up just then and Maizy introduced him to her father. Heath put his hand out and left it out there until George finally shook it and said, “Mr. Lindsey.” He turned to his daughter with a long-suffering sigh and said, “I think I should go.”
Maizy hugged her father and said, “Good-bye, Daddy. I wish you’d stay but I understand. We’ll be here for a while if you change your mind. You could eat with us.”
George shook his head and then leveled his gaze at Cody and Heath again. “Mr. Welsh. Mr. Lindsey. Good-bye, sweetheart.” He kissed her cheek and slipped away.
Maizy crossed her arms under her beautiful bust line and said, “That man. He’s so pigheaded sometimes. He drives me crazy.”
“Maybe you should try poking him in the chest,” Cody said, suddenly seeing the humor in the situation. Heath snorted.
She laughed when it dawned on her what he was referring to and she said, “When you put it like that, maybe there’s hope for him after all. Would someone care to dance with me?” she asked as she cast a look around the gathering and then slid her arms around both of them and squeezed them.
“Sure, angel. I was hoping to catch Spencer after he finishes dancing with your mom so we could talk to you. What are they doing?” he asked, squinting at Spencer and Amelia on the dance floor.
Heath turned to look, tilted his head, and said, “Oh, he’s teaching her how to do the Dougie…kind of.”
Maizy giggled as they watched and asked, “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Well, we needed Spencer—”
“Maizy! Can you help us for a second?” Grace called out, “They’re about to cut the cake and we need help serving.”
Maizy patted his chest apologetically. “I’ll sneak away as soon as I can, Cody. I’m sorry.”
Heath stood beside him as they watched her walk away. At least the view was nice. Heath murmured, “I guess we didn’t factor in that she’d have responsibilities today.”
“That’s okay. We’ll catch up with her when the moment’s right. I’m gonna go hold a baby.”
“Me, too.”
They wound their way through the crowd until they arrived at Camilla’s table. Ben and Quinten were currently holding James and Joshua, surrounded by women of all ages, admiring the infants. James had just started fussing in Ben’s arms as Heath came over and said, “Aw, here, gimme Jamie-boy and I’ll get him settled down.”
Ben sighed and said, “He’s sleepy and fussy. Camilla just nursed him so it shouldn’t last long. I’m gonna go dance with my wife, if that’s okay,” he said, lifting her hand from the table.
She smiled up at Ben and then winked at Cody and said, “When we need babysitters I’m calling you guys.”
“Crap, why didn’t I think of that? I could be dancin’ right now,” Quinten said as he rose from his chair holding Joshua.
Cody reached for Josh and said, “They’re cutting the cake. Why don’t you go get some for Camilla. I’ll hold him for you.”
They got the infants settled and were comparing them to each other when they noticed all the women still standing there staring at them with their mouths open.
One young woman looked over at her friend and then back at them and said, “They handle them pretty well, don’t they?”
“Yup. They don’t look nervous at all. Wait until one of the babies starts crying though.”
As if on cue, Jamie’s little face puckered up and a shrill cry emitted from him. Heath chuckled and said, “Did someone pinch you, Jamie-boy? There now.” He turned the infant and cuddled him against his shoulder and Jamie let out a prodigious belch.
The women all nodded approvingly as though Heath had just passed some test. Cody noticed a couple of them giving him and Heath rather appraising looks until Grace’s sister, Charity, came over and said, “Wipe those silly looks off your faces, girls, they’re both already claimed. Justine, can you come help us?”
“Sure,” one of the teenaged girls said as she separated herself from the group and followed her mom. A few at a time the women started dispersing.
Spencer found them a few minutes later, Amelia evidently having gone off to find Maizy, and Heath let him hold James for a little while before taking him back. Quinten returned with enough cake for the whole group.
When they had relative privacy, Quinten asked, “How’re things going with Maizy?”
Heath snorted. “Great, if we could get a minute or two of her time.”
Cody nodded as he gently patted Josh’s back. “She’s been busy with bridesmaid responsibilities all afternoon.” He looked across the gathering to where Maizy stood serving wedding cake to the guests. She laughed and chatted with them as she worked, looking in her element. She nodded her head and her hair swayed with her movements. It was beautiful, with part of it held up with tiny little sparkling pins and the rest falling in billows of curls down nearly to her waist. He couldn’t even tell how it stayed in place.
“To be expected,” Quinten said. “She looks happy. Don’t worry, you’ll get time with her eventually.”
“Just so long as she has fun, we can wait,” Cody said as he swayed with Josh asleep against his chest.
“She sparkles,” Heath said, his eyes also riveted on Maizy.
Spencer nodded, his eyes following her every move. “I thought it was just me.”
Quinten started chuckling with a mouthful of cake and waited until they all looked at him before he finally spoke. “I wish you three could see your sappy faces. I think the bears have been charmed by the belly dancer.”
With a grin, Cody looked over at Spencer and Heath and they looked at him. Heath nodded. “Yup.”
“Here comes your belly dancer now,” Quinten said. “You’d better get while the gettin’s good, gentlemen. Let me have the guys and you go have fun. Don’t look at me like that. Do you think I’ve never held them both at once before? Sheesh.”
Quinten accepted both little guys from them and grinned as they headed straight for their woman. This was their moment and Cody wasn’t letting it slip away.
Spencer said, “If we have to grab her and go hide somewhere for a few minutes, I’m all for it. Can’t get a word in with a wedge around here.”
Maizy’s warm gaze was on them as they approached her near the dance floor. Cody took her hand and got Charity’s attention and quietly asked her, “Is there anywhere around here we can go to be alone with Maizy for just a few minutes? We just need to talk to her, in private.”
Charity grinned and replied just as quietly. “Well, I’m partial to the pantry in Grace’s kitchen but I think there are catering workers in there right now. The SUV is already decorated so I’d say the front porch is a safe bet.”
Cody nodded and they made a beeline for the side of the house, waving at people who called out to them but kept going.
“Guys? What are you up to? I can’t leave the reception this early.”
“Not leaving, baby,” Cody said.
“We just want to talk, Maizy,” Spencer said as he put his arm around her waist and steadied her on the steps when she nearly tripped.
Cody’s heart was pounding as he walked with her to the rocking chair at the far end and urged her down into it. He was so damned nervous his palms were clammy and sweat was trickling on his brow.
Maizy craned her neck, looking up at him with eyebrows raised, and then looked at Spencer and Heath who looked just about as nervous.
Words deserted him…again.
Finally, Spencer nudged Cody. With his heart pounding like a heavy metal drummer was doing a solo in his chest, Cody did what he’d been thinking about doing all day. He got down on his knee in front of Maizy’s rocker. Spencer and Heath followed suit on either side of him so she didn’t have to strain her neck anymore—and because this was what a man did when he proposed.
Maizy leaned forward and brushed the tops of her knuckles on his cheek. “You’re pale, Cody. Is everything all right?”
Cody took in a deep breath and the butterflies doing aerial maneuvers in his stomach finally eased off and his heart rate settled a bit. “Yeah, angel. I’ve never been better. Just a little nervous.”
“Nervous? You? What’s the matter?”
“I’m nervous because I’m used to being in control, and I feel like I’m anything but in control right now. I’ve finally found the woman who would complete me for life and I don’t want to mess up proposing to her.”
“You what?”
Heath put his hand on her knee and said, “You heard him, baby. We want you with us, not just for now, but forever.”
Spencer took her hand and folded it into his. “We love you, Maizy, and we know it won’t always be easy but we’ll do everything we can to make it worth it. No matter what you decide to do about your job, we’ll be there for you, and we can take care of you. You won’t be alone anymore…and neither will we. Marry us?”
Cody smiled as he listened to his brothers’ words. He put his hand over his chest and said, “They said it better than I could’ve, angel. Marry us?”
She rocked forward on the edge of the seat and Cody chuckled when he noticed Spencer stroking her ankle and her instep. Biting her lip, Maizy said, “Spencer? This is what you want?”
He nodded and gave her a big smile. “Marry me, Maizy.”
“Heath?”
“Marry me, baby.”
“Cody?”
Cody removed the white velvet box from his suit jacket pocket and opened it, revealing the diamond engagement ring inside. “Angel, please marry me.” They’d visited Clay Cook Jewelers while Maizy had been at Madeleine’s and Lily Cook had helped them pick out the perfect ring. A one-carat, round-cut diamond solitaire in an ornate platinum setting, custom-made by Clay himself.
Going by her sudden inhalation and the way her eyes grew round, they’d done okay in selecting her ring. “Oh, Lord, you’re serious.”
The three of them broke into laughter and nodded. “Yes, angel,” Cody murmured as he lifted her right hand from her lap and kissed her ring finger. “We’re very serious. Can we put this ring on your finger?”
She chuckled softly as she looked from one man to the next and then nodded, tears in her eyes and her voice caught as she said, “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.” A sob escaped her and they crowded close, kissing her cheeks and her lips.
Heath murmured, “No crying, beautiful baby girl.”
“I’m so happy, I can’t help it. You want to marry me?” She rose from the chair and they closed in around her and Cody removed the ring from the box and placed it on her finger. “You want to marry me.”
Their lips on hers, on her throat and her bare shoulders as she shared kisses with all of them, was their response. Cody took her lips first, growling when her tongue stroked against his. Placing his hand over her pounding heart, he kissed her until his body throbbed with need. Then he released her lips so his brothers could have the same from her. She purred happily and he growled back, determined to inspire that sound from her as often as possible, as soon as possible. Heath and Spencer folded her in their arms one at a time and took their time with her as well.
Rather than walking her back to
the reception, Cody wanted to scoop her up, load her in the truck, and take her home. Unfortunately, he and Spencer had to leave for work soon.
“When can you leave the reception, baby?” Heath asked. “I can hardly wait to see you in that belly dancing outfit.”
She stopped them at the end of the porch. “But I thought the two of you had to work. I want all of you to see it at the same time.”
A rumbly sound came from Spencer. “When can you leave?”
“The bride and grooms leave at four, but I was planning on staying to help clean up.”
“It’s nearly four now,” Cody murmured. “Come with me, angel.”
He could see the confusion in her eyes and just smiled. Maizy was a doer, always helping everyone else. This one time, he was going to change her plans for her and hope she understood.
He found Lucy sitting in Patrick’s lap, being fed cake by Beck as the photographers snapped pictures. He appreciated Lucy’s carefree spirit, wishing that Maizy could have the same freedom on her wedding day, knowing well that public acceptance hadn’t come easy for Lucy. She’d had her fair share of difficulties from some of the same people who would undoubtedly go after Maizy when their relationship went public, no matter how careful they were.
Lucy grinned happily when she saw the four of them approaching with him in the lead. “Wow, Cody. You look like a man on a mission.”
Beck chuckled and said, “All three of them look like that. What’s up, lovebirds?”
Maizy giggled behind his back and he had to smile. “Maizy has had a change in status and would like to know if you’d mind if she left here with us after the three of you take off.”
Lucy frowned. “A change in status?”
Cody pulled his and Maizy’s linked hands out from behind his back and displayed her ring for Lucy.
Maizy the Bear Charmer [Divine Creek Ranch 16] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 32
