“No,” he answered honestly.
“But it does. Doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Jayne stroked the back of her neck and a slight flush came into her cheeks. “Opposites attracting doesn’t have to mean having oppositional personalities. Seth and I are opposites but it’s very seldom that we clash. When we do, it’s over important things. Don’t worry about Maizy handling your lifestyle, or adjusting to it. And don’t worry about fitting into her world. I can tell by your thoughtfulness why you stand out from the crowd for her.”
“We don’t want to make life hard for her at the school.”
Jayne shrugged and looked around the library. “Because I’m not in a ménage, I have a different dynamic, but it wasn’t altogether easy when I married Seth either. Some people were supportive, and others wanted to judge. If you want my opinion, I don’t think she had things all that easy at school to begin with. Were you planning to deliver the book yourself today?”
He explained briefly that they were being careful about which of them she was seen with publicly and then voiced his other concern. “She’s already had two deliveries today. I think me showing up would be over the top. I was going to let Heath give it to her tonight.”
“But it was your idea. You should give it to her.”
“But the three of us care for her equally. It would be from all three of us.”
“What if I play delivery girl for you? I’ll be done here at two o’clock. You could go by the bookstore and pay for the book and have Violet gift wrap it and I’ll swing by and get it and deliver it for you.”
“Would you?”
“I’d be delighted.”
* * * *
Maizy sat at her desk and looked at the roses in their pretty round vase, reaching out to stroke a tender hot pink petal. Those men. They were something else. Even with the lid closed, she could smell the sweet buttercream icing that decorated the cupcake nestled in a tissue-lined box on her desk. It was so beautiful she didn’t have the heart to eat it.
Continuing the first card’s theme, the card that came with the cupcake was written in the same sure, masculine hand and said,
Really amazing…
-S.C.H.
She opened the book in her lap, marveling at it most of all. Jayne had just delivered it during her afternoon conference period. As she left, Jayne had said, “Turn to Sonnet 116. Spencer told me he left the card there.”
Sitting there alone, she looked down and read the words on the page.
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! It is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken”
With trembling fingers, she gently tore open the envelope and removed the plain white card.
Was last night a dream? If it was, please don’t wake me.
-S.C.H.
Wishing she could feel his strong arms around her, she took out her phone and sent a quick text to Spencer. “You’re going to make me cry. I love my book and I miss you.”
His reply was swift in coming. “Please don’t cry. I want you to smile. You make me smile. Did you like it?”
“I loved it. Shakespeare’s Sonnets are my favorite, especially 116.” Her heart palpitated as she scanned the words to the beautiful poem once more. “I’m a big fan of William’s…and yours. Please tell Heath and Cody thank you for me.”
“I’ll tell them. Did you receive the others?”
“Yes. You three sure know how to surprise a girl! I wish I could kiss you.”
“Me, too. Have fun tonight.”
“I will.” She was about to text, “I love you,” when her classroom volunteer led the children back in from PE. They were sweaty-headed and breathless, giggling and rambunctious as they took their seats. She replaced her phone on her desk and proceeded with the last segment of the day before they went home. If she was lucky, she could tell him she loved him in person before he left for work.
Fifteen minutes later, she had her students lined up in a row with their backpacks on and lunch boxes in hand, ready to be picked up by bus or parent. One by one, they departed and she counted the minutes until the last one was safely on his way. Maizy waited as the last kindergartener’s parent snaked forward in the long line of cars and stood with him near Jan, who was corralling her first graders. After asking Jan’s permission, Michael Martinez came over and gave her an affectionate hug.
“I hear that congratulations are in order, big brother,” she said as she stroked his tousled head. “How is little Isabella doing?”
Like a proud big brother, Michael grinned and said, “She’s fine. She keeps waking me up at night but I don’t mind. Mom said she would settle down when she gets a little older.”
“Give her a kiss from me,” Maizy said, and squeezed his shoulder. He nodded with a twinkle in his eyes, gave her another hug, and then went back to playing with his buddies.
“So…” Jan said with a grin, as she watched her group of first graders like a hawk. “Lots of excitement for you for a Monday, huh, Tinker Bell?”
Maizy chuckled. “You could say that again.”
“All from the same person?”
“Yes.” She didn’t know which gifts Jan knew about and wanted to keep those special moments as private as she could. The cards were all safely tucked in her wallet and locked in her desk drawer so any Nosy Parkers couldn’t go snooping around her desk and find them out in the open.
“That’s really nice. I’d love to meet him.”
“If he comes around, I’ll introduce him. But after my experience with Chaz, I plan to keep my personal life completely separate from my work life.”
“Totally understandable. Did you hear he’s dating again? Some tart from Madeline’s Day Spa, or so I heard.”
Maizy shrugged, and tried to hide a smile. “He’s entitled. We’re both single.” If she’d heard that news a week or two earlier, it might have upset her. Whoever was willing to date Chaz could have him. She was probably perfect. Perfect personality. Perfectly acceptable reputation. Perfect family. Perfect body. Maizy would take her amazing men and what she had with them over Chaz any day.
Jan leaned toward her and whispered, “You be careful. They’re all assholes as far as I’m concerned.”
Maizy knew Jan was still hurt from Jimbo leaving her. It’d take a while before she could trust any man again. She nodded but said nothing more as she escorted her last student forward to his mom’s car and greeted her. She patted Jan’s shoulder as she made her way to the front entry of the school and set about tidying her classroom and preparing for the next day.
At four o’clock, Maizy juggled car keys, her purse, her tote bag, and a copy paper box containing the flowers and gifts as she pulled her classroom door shut and locked it. She hoped to catch Cody and Spencer before they left for work, so for once she was leaving at four on the dot.
She was halfway down the hall when her key chain slipped from her hand and hit the floor. She was crouching, trying to not lose her purse and tote bag from her shoulder and hold the box level so the water wouldn’t overflow from the vase when she heard footsteps hurry forward.
“Here, here. Let me help,” Mr. Ambrose said as he stepped out of the reception office and picked up the key chain for her and held it out to her. He glanced at her armful and smiled. “Quite a load you have there, Miss Owen. Let me help you with the door,” he said as he tweaked at his bow tie.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Ambrose. I appreciate that.”
He squinted as they stepped out into the afternoon sun and adjusted his glasses. “Quite a bit of excitement in the office over all of your deliveries today, I must say.”
“Oh,” she murmured, smiling, hoping he didn’t plan to fuss about that. “Yes, sir. I hope it wasn’t too much of a bother.”
“A bother, cert
ainly not. A bit of a distraction for the ladies. You know how they like to talk.”
“Yes, sir. I suppose.”
Mr. Ambrose looked at her and began to speak and then seemed to think better of it. “I wish you well, Miss Owen. Please be careful on the steps. May I carry that for you to your car?”
She smiled but shook her head. “No, but thank you, sir. I think I’ll be all right. Thanks for the help with my keys and the door. Have a good evening!” she called before she continued on down the sidewalk to the parking lot.
The drive out to the bears’ home seemed to take forever, or that may have just been her nerves. She breathed a happy sigh as she turned into their driveway and saw all three vehicles still parked out front.
“Yeah!” she crowed to herself as she parked behind Heath’s truck.
She was lifting the box out of the passenger seat when big, gentle hands circled her waist and she squealed and turned.
“Baby,” Heath murmured with a big smile as he took the box from her and slid it onto the roof before pulling her to him. Burying his nose against her throat, he sent wonderful shivers up her spine as he nuzzled her and said, “I missed you all day. I’ve been listening for the chug-chug-chug of your Bug since three o’clock.”
“Hi!” She threw her arms around his neck and giggled when he lifted her so she was draped against his thick, muscular body. “I missed you, too.”
His green eyes sparkled like peridots as he smiled at her and laid a sweet kiss on her lips that turned white-hot as she sank her fingertips into the short hairs at his nape. “You’re all mine tonight, baby.”
“I know. I’ve been looking forward to tonight as well. Where are Cody and Spencer? I was hoping to catch them before they left for work.”
“Right here, Maizy,” Cody said, sounding amused as he added, “If Heath will stop mauling you and share.”
Heath turned with her still in his arms and said, “Hey, if you were holding this luscious little angel you wouldn’t want to put her down either.”
“Little, my ass,” she said through a giggle.
Still holding her to him, Heath turned bedroom eyes on her and said, “Your ass. Mmmm, maybe not little, but certainly luscious.” The way he said the last word made her think he wanted to take a taste just to test the theory. He set her down and she turned to Cody.
“Thank you so much for my gifts, Cody. I was so surprised. They caused quite a stir in the office.”
Cody caressed her cheek and lifted her chin for a kiss. His dark brown eyes gazed into hers. “Any problems there?”
“None. Lots of curious coworkers but that’s to be expected. We don’t get that many deliveries at the school,” she said, caressing the side of his head. His shoulder-length hair was pulled back in a low ponytail at the base of his neck and he had on a snug black T-shirt, leathers, and boots. “You look sexy as sin, Cody. I’m so glad I caught you before you left for work.”
“I am, too. We leave in just a few minutes. What do you have there?”
Heath lifted the box down and grinned. “It looks like all her goodies.”
“I didn’t go home before coming over and I don’t want my beautiful flowers to wilt. My cupcake is also in there.”
“You didn’t eat your cupcake?” Cody asked, as he kissed her again, spinning a web of sensual delight around her, making her regret she’d have to let him go soon.
“Huh? Oh, the cupcake. It’s so pretty I couldn’t.”
“But you should eat it while it’s fresh.”
Heath growled and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll eat it off of her bare sexy torso tonight for dessert. I might even share a bite with her.”
Maizy giggled and kind of hoped he did just that.
Once inside the house, she found Spencer, in the steamy bathroom down the hall. “Hello, beautiful,” he murmured with a soft smile as she came to him.
He stood there bare-chested in his unbuttoned black leathers. She bit her lip as she stroked his furred chest and kissed the hollow at the base of his throat before curling into his arms. “You’re so wonderful,” she whispered. “Thank you so much for everything. Jayne told me the book was your idea. I love it.”
He squeezed her and she rubbed her nose against his chest hair and took in a deep breath of his fresh, soapy-clean scent. His body wash had a hint of something woodsy, like teak or cedar, and it suited him well. He kissed the top of her head and said, “I thought about you a lot today.”
He didn’t say anything more and she looked up at him. The soft desire in his eyes said everything she needed to hear. Spencer didn’t necessarily need words to convey what he was thinking.
The heat growing inside her increased as he brushed his lips against hers, licking and tasting her before exploring deeper, sliding his tongue against hers in a gentle assault that made her weak in the knees and wet between her thighs. She’d never known men who had such finesse in the kissing department. “We have to leave soon. Have Heath show you the work on the deck. Did you bring your swimsuit?”
“I did. I packed it this morning just in case.”
“Have fun,” he said, his warm, citrine-colored eyes sparkling with humor. “Or should I say have fun trying to keep the suit on. Heath has been an eager horndog all day.”
He yawned as he walked her down the hall after pulling a black T-shirt over his head and tucking it into his leathers. She yawned sympathetically and they both laughed.
“Did you get any sleep last night?” he asked as he slung his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her to him.
“I tossed and turned. You?”
“The same. I finally gave up around five and got back to work on the deck. I think you’ll be surprised when you see how much progress we’ve made. I wish we could stay and show you but we need to get to the Twisted Bull.”
Heath had her box unloaded in the kitchen and was sniffing the opened cupcake box. When he saw her, he made a growling sound and said, “You and me, baby. Dessert.”
“We’d better go,” Cody said as he leaned into her on the barstool and tipped her chin up. “Have fun and be careful going home.” He punctuated his statement with a long, hot kiss that left her dazed. His eyes even looked a little unfocused as he backed away.
Spencer took his place and she stroked his hairy chest through the T-shirt again as he said, “Be a good girl.”
She smiled up at him. “I will. The only way I could be better was if you were all three here.”
“Tempting us,” Cody murmured as they walked to the door and left her alone with Heath.
Heath lifted one of her curls from her shoulder, kissed it, and said, “Hungry?”
“I’m good for a while yet.” She was much more interested in what he had in mind for the evening.
“Good.” He stripped his T-shirt off. It was then that she noticed he was wearing swim trunks. He said, “You’ve got five—no four—minutes to get changed into your swimsuit. I’ll get the sunscreen. We’ll see how long the suit stays on.”
Chapter Seventeen
Heath watched as Maizy sauntered down the hall in her sleek, black one-piece swimsuit. He imagined peeling it off of her and desire tingled in his groin. She grinned when she saw the tube of sunscreen in his hand and said, “You really think we need that?”
Chuckling, he said, “Yes, indeed we do, baby. It’s the heat of the day with a few more hours of sunlight to go. It pays to be careful…and I plan to be thorough as well.” He nuzzled her shoulder with his scruffy beard and smiled when she shuddered and gooseflesh sprang up on her arms.
“I–If you say so,” she replied in a husky voice as she looked at him from under her lashes.
He went to the entertainment center and flipped a switch and punched a couple of buttons on the stereo, then turned up the music.
She must’ve recognized Thomas Rhett’s “It Goes Like This” because she smiled and said, “Hey, that’s our song.”
His already semierect cock surged as he said, “I plan to make love to
you later while it plays.”
She stopped in the living room as he kept walking. He grinned and tugged her hand, watching as her cheeks glowed and her warm molasses-colored eyes went warm with desire. She licked her lower lip and then bit it as she caught up to him. “When. Now?”
“No. Later. I’m not rushing things tonight. I have plans for you and we have the whole evening ahead of us.”
“You’re going to torture me some more, aren’t you? I’ll die,” she mewled weakly, rubbing his biceps with her cheek.
His little inner sadist chuckled evilly and rubbed his hands together as Heath said, “Don’t think of it as torture, baby. Think of it as extended arousal.”
“I’ll try,” she replied as they stepped out the back door. She smiled and turned to him and said, “The music is out here, too. You wired the backyard with speakers?”
“No, that was already done, we just upgraded to better speakers.” He pointed to the already-framed deck and said, “If we’re going to spend a lot of time out here it seemed like a good investment.”
“Wow!” she exclaimed when she saw the current work in progress. “Have the three of you been working around the clock on this?”
They’d started it early the morning before, after she’d left, and frankly, even Heath was surprised by the progress. He supposed that came from having a good plan, courtesy of Spencer, and solid workmanship, courtesy of all three of them. It was hard, hot work, but sometimes Heath missed construction work and had enjoyed the project.
He led her over to the new construction and showed her the multiple levels that followed the curve of the land. The part nearest the house would have a partial roof and the section that would be reached by three gradual steps higher up the incline would be partially enclosed as an open-air room, with wooden slats overhead allowing for partial shade or to supply a support for an arbor.
Maizy the Bear Charmer [Divine Creek Ranch 16] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 20