Page 34 of Maizy the Bear Charmer

“Can you take a break?” she asked as she glanced back at the girls, who all watched with avid curiosity and smiles.

“That’s why I’m here. Would you like to dance?”

“I’d love to.”

He held her hand as she slid out of the tall chair and looked up at his broad, muscular back as he led her to the dance floor. He emanated such strength. Everyone around them seemed oblivious that she was dancing with him after dancing with the others and then she giggled to herself. Ding-dong, it’s a nightclub. People dance with each other. Big shocker. She wished real life was as easy to explain.

Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” was just finishing as they reached the dance floor. The opening chords of the next song registered and she wobbled inside a bit, recalling her conversation with Grace from a couple of weeks before. The four of them had gotten together to have supper and work on plans for Lucy’s wedding. The same song, “Crash My Party” by Luke Bryan, had been playing in the restaurant and Maizy had agreed with the girls about loving it. She’d wondered out loud what it would be like to have a man who’d drop everything just to spend time with her, as the lyrics of the song suggested. Someone for whom she’d be the high priority for a change. At the time, she’d been thinking of the way her ex had treated her and now here she was with Spencer.

Maybe it was like the girls said. The bears had believed they’d find her. Maybe she could believe that it would work out. She looked back at Grace and her friend gave her a nod and a thumbs-up. She must’ve remembered, too.

On the dance floor they turned to each other. She wrapped both arms around his waist, not caring about proper two-stepping form as she snuggled close to him. His scent was a combination of his own essence, something woodsy, and laundry detergent. She couldn’t seem to get close enough as she breathed him in. She felt his deep chuckle as he squeezed her tight.

His fingertips absently stroked her curls as they danced mostly in place, just swaying together. She let out a long, happy sigh and smiled when she felt his warm lips on the top of her head. She felt positively tiny wrapped up in his arms. Swaying with him, she could feel the solid strength in his muscular thighs and the sizable bulge at his groin.

She looked up at him but couldn’t speak as he gazed into her eyes and finally said, “Keep looking at me like that and I’m going to kiss you. I don’t care what Cody said.”

Maizy was held a willing captive by Spencer’s warm golden-brown eyes as she said, “I wish I could have your kiss right now, too.”

“Does that mean I get kisses later?”

She nodded with her cheek against his chest again. After a minute, she said, “This is our song.”

Another chuckle reverberated in her ear. “It’s a good choice.”

When the song ended and he returned her to her table, the girls were just vacating their seats. Grace said, “I’m taking the party girls home, Maizy. You still planning to go with the guys?”

Maizy nodded, and Spencer kept hold of her hand. “I am. They said they’d get me home.”

Lucy hugged her and whispered, “Call me if you need me, okay?”

“I will. You go home and get some rest. I had fun tonight.”

Lucy grinned and the other girls said good night and made their way out of the club. She turned to Spencer and he stroked her hair as he said, “Let me take you to Cody. We have chairs up front. I don’t want you sitting by yourself over here.”

“I won’t be in the way?”

“We rarely sit while we work. The club is too busy. And you’ll be right where he wants you, I’m sure.”

“Has it been an eventful night for the three of you?”

“Pretty typical, work-wise, but having you here has been nice.”

“Can I ask you about something?”

Spencer glanced at her as the crowd parted, moving out of his way. “Sure.”

“Who in the hell is that hanging all over Cody right now?” she said pointedly as she stared at the blonde rubbing her boobs against Cody’s arm while he carded a group of people who had just come in the door.

Spencer looked up front and then groaned. “Her name is Presley Ann. She used to be a regular at the Dancing Pony but since she found out we work here she’s been coming in…a lot. Her sister is sweet as pie but that one…She’s persistent. I think she saw us with you and she’s giving it her best shot. She left her sister, Leah, to sit all alone,” he added with disgust in his voice.

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