Songbird (A Sinclair Story #1)

by Jaymin Eve

  Nathan leaned down close to her ear. “Get that look off your face, this is a celebration.”

  Melodee gave him a jab in the ribs with her elbow. He just laughed and kissed her on the cheek before moving further into the room to greet everyone.

  “Jewel,” Charles exclaimed, holding out his arms. “My favorite girl in the world.”

  Nathan deposited her in Charles’ arms.

  “You assholes should really learn to knock before you enter, I could have been naked,” Nathan said as he slapped hands with each of his brothers.

  “We were hoping Melodee would be… ” Luke started to say, but was cut off by his brother’s arm around his throat in a headlock.

  “Don’t say it, Luke, I’d hate to have to kill my brother at Christmas.”

  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.”

  Nathan growled. “Who cares,” he said. “It’s my house. I should just kick them all out.”

  “Jewel,” Melodee reminded him. Some of the lust died from his eyes as he reached around and grabbed the body wash.

  “Alright, let’s hurry up and go get our girl,” he said as he started to gently wash her clean.

  Melodee dried herself while Nathan left to grab some clothes for her. He was back in moments.

  “You didn’t have much to choose from,” he said, handing her jeans, a black sweater and matching black underwear.

  Melodee smiled. “I don’t need much.”

  Nathan moved into his room to dress, and Melodee shrugged on her outfit. Stepping to the mirror she combed through her dark hair, securing it back with a tie. She was glad that the only evidence of her breakdown was a slight redness to her eyes. She hurried out now, wanting to get to Jewel. She hated that she had cried in front of the little girl; hopefully she hadn’t upset her. Nathan was dressed. He reached out and captured her hand and they left the room together.

  Charles was jiggling Jewel in front of the Christmas tree, the lights that changed on a timer keeping the happy girl occupied. She squealed when she saw Melodee and Nathan. Her chubby little arms extended and Melodee scooped her up.

  “Hello, my beautiful Jewel,” she said as she tickled her tummy, “are you getting hungry now, baby?”

  She moved toward the kitchen. Nathan was already mixing up her organic formula. Rose stepped forward with a smile.

  “She should eat food too,” Rose declared. “I make her some vegetable purée.”

  Charles brought forward the high chair which had been against the back wall, so far unused.

  “You hear that, Jewel?” Melodee said. “You’re going to get real food.”

  Everyone crowded around the chair. One of the men grabbed Nathan’s complicated looking camera, with the massive lens. It had been used for photos of Jewel recently. Rose handed Melodee a small silver spoon with a tiny amount of something orange. Carrot maybe. Jewel opened her mouth straight up and Melodee scooped in the food. Luke laughed as he clicked away on the camera. Jewel’s first reaction had been to screw her doll-like face up. But now she had her mouth open for more.

  “Just a few spoons to start,” Rose said. “Until her little tummy gets used to solids.”

  While Melodee continued feeding Jewel, the others scurried around setting and filling Nathan’s long, white dining table with mounds of delicious-looking food. Melodee’s stomach grumbled just looking at it, and when the smell hit her … damn.

&nb
sp; “Everyone at the table,” Rose ordered. “Time for eating.” She emerged from the kitchen with a massive turkey on a wooden platter. “Matty, you’re the eldest, you can carve.” She nudged the tall, brooding man over to the table.

  Jewel was done with food now, so Melodee took her seat and gave the little girl her bottle. Cradling her, she smiled as a tiny hand came up and latched on with a strong grip to her finger. Then Jewel’s blue eyes closed and she sucked the formula down and went to sleep.

  “Do you want me to put her to bed?” Nathan asked. “So you can enjoy the use of both hands to eat.”

  Melodee tended to nurse Jewel when she napped during the day.

  “I’d like to put her in her swing so she’s here with everyone,” she said.

  Candice smiled. “That’s a great idea. Go and get it, Matthew.”

  Nathan grinned as his brother shot Candice a dirty look. There’d always been too much tension between those two. “Matt’s busy,” Nathan said. “I’ll grab it.”

  He was back in a few minutes and helped Melodee shift Jewel. Her beautiful baby face was relaxed as she snuggled into the soft padded chair. Nathan reached out and switched on the slow swing and soft music. Melodee liked that they’d all be together for her first real family dinner.

  Chapter 9

  The meal started out perfect: grace was said, along with a few moments of silence in remembrance of the two people who had lost their lives a few days ago. After that, mouths were too full for conversation. But then the questions started and Melodee just kept praying that nothing was thrown her way that she couldn’t answer.

  “So what do you do, Dee? And how did you meet Nate?”

  Bam. Difficult questions straight up from Candice. They’d all adopted Nathan’s nickname. She hoped they would never use it with her last name. Dee Lee, how ridiculous.

  She cleared her throat, finishing off her forkful of mashed potato before answering. “I was in a car accident on Nate’s property out of town,” she started. “Nate helped Jewel and I until the storm was over.”