Page 126 of Maizy the Bear Charmer

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.”

---