Songbird (A Sinclair Story #1) (12 page)

It
was at this point Melodee noticed the fourth person standing with the group. A
stunningly beautiful woman, with long, very straight and thick blonde hair. She
had large brown eyes and was very olive in complexion, which contrasted so
lovely with her hair.

“Hey,
asshats,” the woman said, interrupting their play wrestling, “is anyone going
to introduce me to Nate’s girls?” She glared at each of them, her hands on her
hips. It was clear that while she looked perfect and sophisticated on the
outside, she was pretty down-to-earth.

Melodee
was not shy or retiring, so she simply shoved the men out of the way and moved
up to the blonde.

“Hi,
I’m Melodee, and the gorgeous baby girl is Jewel – and for the record, we
aren’t Nate’s girls.”

Nate
threw his arm over her shoulder and pulled her closer. “Not yet anyway, Candy,
but I’m working on them.”

“My
name is Candice – you’ve known me for twenty years, Nathan. Maybe it’s time to
drop the stupid nickname.” She had fire and Melodee liked her. Which was
strange. Usually women did nothing but annoy her.

“Candy
was our neighbor growing up in the rich kid hood,” Charles joked. “None of us
had great family, so we all stuck together.”

“I
hope you don’t mind me crashing. I know none of the Sinclairs would have
thought to mention me.”

Melodee
smiled. “It’s Christmas, the more the merrier.” According to the television
shows anyway.

A
knock sounded on the door then and Nathan checked the security monitor screen
before hauling open the heavy wooden door.

“Rose,”
he exclaimed pulling a tiny, Spanish-looking woman into his arms. Melodee could
see that she was in her late-fifties and had lovely laugh lines, the signs of a
life filled with joy.

“Nate,
my boy, I come here to cook you Christmas lunch.” She patted his arm before
being swept up by Luke.

“Thank
God you’re here, Rose,” Luke said. “I’m starving and no one cooks like you.”

“Rose
was their housekeeper for many years,” Candice explained to Melodee. “The boys
love her like a mother.”

Rose
hugged each one before she shooed them away and moved to Jewel.

“And
who is this precious little bambino?” Charles lowered Jewel so Rose could kiss
the baby on both cheeks. “Ah, you warm this old woman’s heart.”

Melodee
and Candice got the same two cheek-kisses treatment before Rose took her place
in the kitchen, bustling around, pulling out turkey and breads, flours and
spices. Melodee had never cooked, she was never given the opportunity, but with
shoulders squared she bravely stepped up and offered to help.

Rose,
who was even shorter than Melodee, regarded her in silence for a moment before
reaching out and grasping both of her hands. “You are exactly what my Nate
needs,” was all she whispered, before pulling away and handing Melodee an apron
and large knife.

“Stuffing,”
she ordered.

Melodee
scurried around the kitchen trying to figure out what each spice and ingredient
was as Rose barked out her instructions. Candice perched on one of the bar
stools, offering helpful advice.

“Shoosh,
you.” Rose waved her flour covered hands at her. “You not know cooking either,
you have personal chef.”

Candice
stuck her tongue out at Rose. “I know, and I hated him. Everything was sprouts
this and greens that.” She screwed up her perfect nose. “I always loved your
cooking the best, Rose.”

“Amen
to that,” said one of the men. They were in the living area watching Jewel, who
was on her hands and knees starting to rock back and forward. She was very
close to crawling. They were all trying to get her to move toward them. Even
Matthew had cooled his attitude, although Melodee had still seen a few glares
in her direction.

Candice
grinned. “Amazing that such a tiny little lady can hold the attention of the
Sinclair brothers.”

“So
what do you do, Candice?” Melodee didn’t know why she asked that, because
invariably then the same question came back at her.

“Please
call me Candy. I hate Candice even more than my silly nickname.” She smiled,
her teeth white and flawless. “And I run a local charity. We provide food and
shelter for runaways and homeless women and children.”

“That’s
wonderful,” Melodee said. She was a little surprised, but schooled her features
to hide it.

“It’s
the best part of being rich. Daddy’s a senator so he loves the positive
publicity. He gives me all the money and freedom I need to keep us running.”

So
Nathan’s father and hers must be in politics together. No doubt they’d wanted
to marry her off to one of the Sinclairs.

“Money
does not equal happiness,” Rose said, not looking up from where she was making
cranberry sauce from scratch.

“Happiness
and love were not big priorities in our home,” Candice agreed. “Probably the
reason my parents encouraged any hobby that kept me out of trouble and out of
their lives.”

Melodee
didn’t say anything, because unless their parents left them in a swamp that was
ten miles from civilization, with just one knife and a small flask of water,
then there was no real comparison. Rich people problems were not the same as
assassin parent problems. But she had long ago realized that there weren’t many
people who’d lived the life she had. It was not like there was a Facebook page
she could join.

When
she had finished helping Rose with the stuffing, bread and dips, Melodee
excused herself. Having spent most of her life in solitude, she was slightly
overwhelmed by the people here and
 
needed a brief time-out. Marching
through the apartment, she chose Nathan’s room. He had a large double door
balcony that stared out over the city. She shivered as she slid the silent
doors open. It was just above freezing, and everything was covered in a sheet
of ice. She had on socks but no boots. She wouldn’t be able to stay out here
long, just enough to clear her head.

Standing
on top of the world like this was strangely clarifying, and Melodee realized
something: despite her minor freak-out, this was one of the best days she’d
ever had. She might have actually made a friend in Candice, and the condo was
filled with so much warmth, laughter and food. Exactly how she had always
imagined Christmas.

Nathan
had given her this. It was as if someone picked the most perfect, beautiful
angel they could find and sent him here for her. But if Melodee knew anything
of angels, they were for people much more deserving than her.

With
a deep breath, the cold burning her lungs, she turned away from the view, ready
again to join the family. She stopped suddenly. Nathan was standing on the
other side of the glass doors – not in a weird stalker way, but as if he’d come
to find her and had decided to let her have her moment. The look on his face
stole away whatever breath she had left. He was gorgeous, his broad shoulders
filling out the long-sleeved fitted shirt, his blond hair tousled. Always those
aqua eyes stripping away her pretenses and seeing to her soul.

Nathan
lifted one hand and rested it against the glass. Melodee couldn’t stop herself
from moving toward him and resting her hand against his. A moment passed
between them. Nathan didn’t smile or shift as his eyes caressed her features.
Then with one last look he turned and left the room. Melodee stayed with her
hand pressed against the glass. She couldn’t move, the trembling flood of
emotions rushing through her was almost unbearable.

When
the few stray tears had stopped rolling down her cheeks, she stepped inside,
brushing off the frozen ice from her face. Nathan was going to kill her if he
continued with this kindness. She wasn’t equipped to deal with it.

“There
you are.” Charles was in the doorway, Jewel in his arms. “Someone has been
looking for you.”

The
little girl held out her hands and suddenly Melodee burst into tears. She had
not shed more than a handful of tears for ten years, and now a baby girl and a
man with a big heart had reduced her to an emotional mess. She fought the urge
to run away, hide her weakness. Tears could and would be used against you at
all times. She didn’t want anyone to have that sort of power over her.

“Nate,”
Charles bellowed over his shoulder.

And
then he was there, his arms and warmth surrounding her, which only made the
emotions worse. She started to struggle, choking on her sorrow, pushing him
away. It was too much; she couldn’t handle the feelings any longer.

Nathan’s heart was breaking.
He would have put his fist through the wall if he didn’t think that would be
completely useless in stopping Melodee’s tears. He still held her arms, but had
pulled back from comforting her. He was only making it worse.

She
lifted her head. The sapphire pools were filled with sadness as the salty tears
overflowed and trailed down her cheeks. “Help me,” she sobbed. “I can’t make
them stop.”

“Listen
to me.” Nathan gently gripped her cheeks in each hand, his thumbs brushing away
the stream of pain. “This is not a weakness, you’ve held back your tears for
too long. They need to be free.”

She
shook her head, struggling again. He held her tighter until she stilled against
him. Her long lashes fluttered down as she closed her eyes, the wetness
continuing to seep out from under them. Normally Nathan would hope that this
emotional release would work as a cleanse for Melodee, but from what he knew,
her life held more serious shit than just one cry worth. She felt like ice
against him, so he lifted her into his arms before moving into his shower.
Nathan turned all of the water heads on to just below boiling, and still
cradling her he stepped in.

“Your
clothes,” Melodee protested, shivers starting over her body.

“I
don’t give a shit, baby.” He lowered his head to rest his forehead on hers.

“Did
everyone see me fall apart?” she whispered.

He
shook his head. “No one but Charles, and he would never say anything. He
understands wounds and sorrow.” He kissed her lips. “We all understand
heartache. Maybe not to the level you’ve experienced, but don’t think you’re
alone.”

“I
love showers.” She opened her eyes. “Washes away everything.”

They didn’t speak for a few
long minutes. Melodee was amazed that she felt better. For the first time she
had not been alone to deal with the massive well of pain and loneliness inside.

Reaching
up, she pulled Nathan’s face down to meet hers. Their kiss was sweet and short,
to start, before the fire between them caught hold and with a flick of his
tongue the flame exploded. Melodee moaned as she pulled back. “Everyone is
waiting for us and Jewel.” She barely got the words out, Nathan was kissing
down her neck. “Can we be quick?” she breathed.

“We’ll
be quick,” he promised, and Melodee knew if he continued to kiss down her body,
she’d be damn quick.

Within
moments their clothes were gone, the steam and water surrounding them as Nathan
ran his huge hands down her arms and across to hold the weight of her breasts.
His left hand continued lower, while his mouth licked and sucked each nipple
until they were hard buds. Melodee gripped his hair, urging him to continue,
needing him to move lower. And he was much obliged to help her out.

Nathan
dropped to his knees, his tongue trailing down her body until he reached the
junction of her thighs.

“Holy
shit,” Melodee gasped, as his tongue flicked out and hit her clitoris. He
continued this flicking motion, until her knees were about to collapse under
her. “Nathan,” she growled in warning.

He
laughed against her. “I definitely love it when you’re bossy.” He stood, and
Melodee was glad he was strong enough to haul her up with no effort. Protection
on, he was inside her and she was slammed back against the thick glass wall.

It
was hard and fast, no barriers, no holds. Nathan’s eyes never left her face.
She watched as their color darkened from light aqua to this tumultuous sea of
blue. Melodee could feel the sensations low but building up, and knew she wouldn’t
last much longer. Threading her fingers through his hair again, she pulled his
head down to meet her lips, and the moment their tongues intertwined Melodee
cried out, her orgasm ripping through her with the force of light or speed or
something equally intense. Nathan groaned deeply as he thrust into her a few
more times, slowing down to draw out those last precious seconds of pleasure.

Melodee
threw back her head. It thudded against the glass stall and she let the laughter
tumble from her. “And that’s how you stop a woman from crying.”

Nathan
gave her his gorgeous grin, half turned up on the sides. “And while I never
want to see you sad cry again, I do like the means of bringing back the happy.”

He
let Melodee slide down his body, his mouth descending to kiss her again, as if
he couldn’t stop himself. With a grin, she pushed him back.

“Stop
now or we will never get out of here. Everyone will think we’ve drowned.”