Songbird (A Sinclair Story #1)

by Jaymin Eve

  Candice shifted her stare to Nathan. “Is that the one with … Doug?” She hesitated before speaking his name.

  Nathan nodded, his brow furrowed. “Yes, Jewel’s mother and Doug were both killed. The Barrants didn’t want to hold the funeral on Christmas Day, so it’s tomorrow. Are you all coming?”

  There were nods all around the table. Melodee wished that she didn’t have to go. A funeral was no place for a little girl, and she barely knew Doug. But she wanted to offer moral support to Nathan, to just be there for him. That was all she’d ever wanted when she’d experienced loss.

  Candice changed the subject back to Melodee. “And you didn’t tell me what you do for work?”

  “Uh…” What the hell, they’d all find out eventually. “I fight, I make my money in underground cage fights.”

  Candice just stared at her blankly. Melodee couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped. The other girl looked simply dumbfounded.

  “She’s telling the truth,” Nathan said, as he reached out and took Melodee’s hand. “She kicked Charles’ ass all over Gramps’ place, while she was sore and injured from the crash. She’s the real deal.”

  Candice shook her head. “Okay. One: that’s awesome. Two: I would have paid you lots of money to see you kick Charles’ ass. And even more to pull the stick from Matt’s.”

  “Leave me out of this,” Matthew growled. “I’ve got your number this week, Candice, so don’t push me.”

  She snorted. “You have my number every week, let’s not get scary now.”

  She turned back to Melodee. “And three: I’m wanting to teach some of the mothers and their girls self-defense down at the shelter. Could you maybe come and teach sometime? I can pay you.”

  Melodee gave a slight smile. “I’m not sure how long I'll be around, but if I stay then I’d love to take a few classes.” She shook her head. “And you definitely do not have to pay me.”

  Teaching women to defend themselves and their children, that would be reward enough for Melodee.

  After dinner they crowded into the living room. It was time for presents. Nathan could see the panic on Melodee’s face. She was stressing because she hadn’t thought to get presents for anyone.

  “You didn’t even know we were going to have a big Christmas. You got Jewel a gift and that’s the only important one,” he said as he sat on the couch with her. “Besides, this day is about experience and family. Material things are not important.”

  “We don’t generally exchange gifts, anyway.” Charles crowded in on her other side, his long arm lying along the back of the couch. “But Nate wanted it done right this year.”

  “Yep, threatened to break our asses if we didn’t participate,” Luke added, joking.

  Nathan shrugged and Melodee laughed. “I love family time.”

  Jewel woke in time to play in the masses of colored wrapping, although she mainly just wanted to eat it. Every time Melodee open a gift she had to fight the urge to hand it back to the giver, but she could see that each and every one of them had tried to buy her something they thought she’d love. And she was probably the only one in the entire room who didn’t already own everything. Candice got her a gorgeous pair of designer jeans, a jacket and matching boots.

  “How the hell did you know my size?” Melodee asked, amazed.

  “Nate,” Candice said with a smile.

  Melodee threw him a look. It figured he’d have a hand in every gift.

  Finally, as she opened Nathan’s red and green wrapped box, she had to say something. “This is too much,” she protested as she gently lifted a large, heavy, cuffed bracelet. It was solid gold and would have been worth a fortune. “I can’t accept this.”

  “Oh come on, Dee, let us spoil you,” Charles said. “It’s rare to find a human that’s not jaded by gift giving. And we all have plenty of money, so it’s just fun.” And Nathan nodded to agree.

  “You’re all very open about being rich,” Melodee said, clutching the cuff. “Aren’t you worried someone will take advantage of this?”

  “Yes,” Matthew said. At the same time that everyone else chorused. “No.”

  “Ignore the Grinch over there,” Candice said. “Matt has trust issues. But for the rest of us, rich is a fact of life and everyone in America already seems to know the most intimate details of our lives.”

  “Plus it’s just a piece of paper,” Nathan said, his eyes softening. “Life is easier with money, that’s for sure, and while I like the power I have to get things done and done right, I never forget that money cannot buy me the real treasures in life.”

  Damn, they were enlightened rich people. Who’d have thought that could happen?

  “That’s my boys,” Rose said, her face lit up with joy. Maybe that was where the Sinclairs’ humility and kindness came from.

  Later that night after everyone had finally left, and Jewel was asleep in her cot, Melodee sat in front of the fire. She had the cuff bracelet in her hand and was twirling it over and over.

  “It’s just a bracelet,” Nathan said from where he was perched in the doorway. “Not a slave cuff, although I could think of a few things to do to pass the time if you were chained to my bed.”

  Melodee met his gaze. “It’s beautiful, Nathan, I really love it. But I would be lying if I said it didn’t make me uncomfortable.”

  He moved then, all sleek and graceful. He lay on the rug, his body pressing against her side. “You’ll get used to it.” He closed his eyes. “I plan on giving you many gifts.”

  Melodee didn’t say anything. It was futile to argue with Nathan. She would just have to accept this life while she had it, and when everything disappeared somehow learn to live with more holes in her heart.

  The doorbell woke Melodee early the next morning. She was tired. Jewel had had a rough night with teething and Nathan and Melodee had taken turns walking her around the apartment. Melodee was still refusing to sleep in Nathan’s bed. She knew it was some stupid attempt at maintaining her independence, but for now she couldn’t let it go.

  “Fuck me!” she heard Nathan curse. It sounded like he was at the front door. And then suddenly he was in her doorway.

  “Shit, sorry, Dee, I wanted to let you get some sleep but…” He paused, pushing his hair back. “My parents are at my front door.”

  Melodee sat up in a rush, adrenalin flooding her system.

  “They never visit, so I can only assume someone mentioned my new houseguests.” He captured her chin and landed a kiss so hot it literally curled her toes. “I would ignore them but they won’t go away.”

  “Better to get it out of the way,” Melodee said. “I’ll get dressed while you let them in. Whatever story you go with, I’ll follow your lead.”

  Nathan kissed her again. “Or I could just take you back to bed, they’d eventually leave. Or die of old age.”

  Melodee smiled, shoving him out the door. “I’ll let Jewel sleep. She needs it.”

  Nathan left her then. She grabbed some clothes and jumped in for a thirty second shower. The entire time panic flooded her system. She’d never done the parent thing, and Nathan’s didn’t sound like the nicest sort. She just hoped it didn’t get too brutal. Once she was clean, dry and dressed, she pulled back her hair and applied the smallest amount of lip gloss. A quick check on Jewel found she was still sleeping soundly, so Melodee padded silently from the room. As she neared the end of the hallway she could hear voices.

  “What will people think, Nathan?” a female said. There was bite in her tone, but her voice didn’t rise.

  “Personally, I don’t give a fuck,” she heard Nathan reply.

  “Watch your language around your mother,” said a deep baritone, which Melodee recognized as Senator Sinclair. The impressive man was often on television giving impassioned speeches.

  His mother started in on him again. “And why are you not dressed? You know how I feel about your tattoos.”

  Nathan’s voice was deathly cold now. “Again, I don’t give a fuck. Why don
’t you get to the point of this visit? I already know all the ways I’ve disappointed you, we don’t need to go over them again.”

  With a deep breath, Melodee stepped free of the hallway and moved into the open. Three sets of eyes swung in her direction. His mother’s were a biting blue, a similar color to Nathan’s, residing in an overly made-up face. She had perfectly-styled blonde hair to her shoulders, a line-free face that had been hit with Botox or a lift one too many times, and a coldly pursed mouth. His father had dark brown eyes, a full head of silver hair, and his face held the same handsome planes as Nathan’s. He regarded her with curiosity, which was nicer than the animosity from Nathan’s mother. The three Sinclairs got to their feet; Nathan’s warm gaze gave her confidence. Well, enough confidence that she knew there was a great chance she’d not lose her cool and beat the shit out of his parents. This time anyway.

  “Hello, Senator Sinclair … Mrs. Sinclair,” she said as she stepped into the carpeted living area. She didn’t hold her hand out to shake though. In a power play, the first to make a friendly gesture was always left hanging. And she liked to keep the upper hand.

  Nathan crossed to stand with her, and then they were united against the glamorous couple across from them. Melodee often forgot Nathan was rich, but his parents seemed to be making a point to ooze money. Expensive clothing and masses of jewelry.

  Mrs. Sinclair spoke first. “Hello, Melodee. We heard about the accident and how the baby ended up in Nathan’s care. We just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

  “Yes, it’s a big responsibility looking after a child,” Senator Sinclair added.

  His wife chimed in again. “Maybe you should find someone more suitable as foster parents. It really doesn’t look right, you two living together with a child. Especially with your personal circumstances.” She locked her gaze on Melodee and it was clear they’d had her investigated. She was pretty sure they wouldn’t know about the fighting, so her, ‘personal circumstances’, were probably more that she was poor and an orphan.

  Nathan growled. “I’m twenty-three, long past the age of needing your ill-conceived advice regarding my life. I’ll make whatever choice I feel is right and forgive me if I don’t think you two are the best role models. Let’s not forget who really raised your children.” He threw a glare at his father. “And on top of being absent parents, let us also not forget Dad’s affair and Matt’s illegitimacy being thrown in his face by Mom on a regular basis.”

  Senator Sinclair growled, and Nathan’s mother gasped, her hand clutching at her throat. Her voice was almost at screech level now. “You cannot divulge our family secrets to a stranger! You know nothing of her. She’s a street-thug Nathan, and probably a gold-digger.”

  Melodee didn’t bother to react, there was no point, and the insults didn’t hurt her. From the outside a gold-digging-thug was exactly what she looked like. But she was a little shocked about Nathan’s revelation about his father. It was no wonder Matthew had such an attitude.

  “If you speak to Melodee like that again, we’re done,” Nathan told his mother coldly.

  “You can’t mean that,” his mother scoffed, “we are family and family is everything.”

  Nathan laughed. “Come on, Mom, this isn’t a political speech with Dad’s adoring public. I actually lived in the perfect family home. I know every scar.”

  Jewel chose that moment to cry out, having woken for her morning bottle.

  “I think it’s time for you to leave,” Nathan said. “I have a funeral to go to today.”

  “We’ll be there,” Senator Sinclair said.

  Nathan sighed. “Of course, you never miss a photo opportunity.”

  His father almost regarded him with sadness. “Thus is the life of a politician, son. It’s a job that never ends.”

  “Let’s go, Lincoln.” Mrs. Sinclair was already halfway to the door. “Nathan clearly doesn’t care how his two rescued orphans reflect on our family, so we better start with media control now.”

  “I’ll see you at the funeral, Nate.” His father clasped his son’s shoulder briefly before leaving with his wife. As the door slammed behind them, Nathan’s expression hardened further. He looked formidable, very unlike his usual easygoing nature.

  Melodee hesitated, needing to go to Jewel, but hating to leave Nathan while he seemed so upset.

  “I have to go to practice,” Nathan finally said, pulling his eyes from the door. “Will you be okay for a few hours? I'll be back to get you before the funeral.”

  Nathan had basketball practice almost every day, even with the downtime over Christmas and a few canceled games due to weather.

  “Of course, I’ll just stay here with Jewel and eat leftovers.” She stepped closer. “Are you okay?”

  He nodded, but didn’t reach for her like he would normally. She was surprised how much that actually hurt her. Typical, just as she got used to having someone to rely on, it was yanked away.

  He must have noticed something in her expression. “Shit, sorry, Dee. It’s just a heavy day. My parents and Doug’s funeral. Practice today will probably end up being a remembrance for Doug.”

  Jewel cried out again, and Nathan smiled. “Go get her, I’ll see you just before lunch.”

  Melodee pushed down her need to comfort him. He clearly didn’t want it right now, and with nothing else to do she turned and left the living room to get Jewel. By the time she’d changed her diaper and brought her out for food, the apartment was empty. Nathan had already vacated. Although there was a fresh bottle of formula sitting in the warmer, so he hadn’t just bailed straight way. Melodee didn’t know what had happened. The meeting with his parents hadn’t seemed that bad to her, but maybe he’d noticed something that she had missed.

  After breakfast, Melodee and Jewel set out to try to play with every new toy she’d gotten for Christmas. Jewel especially liked the ones with lots of noise and flashing lights. The little girl was so responsive and curious, she wanted to learn and her clever little mind was taking in everything. Melodee found a kind of peace she had never felt before, sitting on the floor with a baby and building up counting blocks. But for the first time in her life the silence was getting to her. Damn Nathan and his ability to point out every way her life was empty and lacking before.

  “We don’t need men, baby girl, they’ll only break our hearts.” She tickled Jewel. The little girl laughed and tilted her head to the side, as if she was really listening. “And rich, almost professional basketball players are the worst. Fame will go straight to their heads. And before you know it they’re on drugs and are out cheating and you know what happens then?” Jewel giggled again, and Melodee couldn’t help but laugh along. “What happens is I get all cranky and start breaking arms, and no one plays their best game of basketball with a broken appendage.”

  Masculine laughter echoed from the front door. Nathan strolled around the corner. He had a gym bag slung over his shoulder and he looked sweaty, as if he had come straight from practice without even a shower. Melodee groaned, the ache he always created in her starting low. He was so god damned sexy. Asshole.

  “I know you’re not talking about me in that little speech.” He grinned as he dumped the bag into the laundry room and strode across to them. “Fame could never go to my head. I was born into a famous family and it’s like having my balls run over a cheese grater every day. Fucking painful.”

  Melodee snorted. He sure had a way with words. He dropped to his knees beside the girls, and after giving Jewel a hello kiss he faced Melodee. He took her face into his large hands.

  “I'm sorry about before. My parents just get to me. Nothing else in the world can bring me to pissed-off as fast as my mother.”

  Melodee shrugged. “I get it, but maybe next time hit a boxing bag, or ask me to spar with you.” She’d been delighted to find out Nathan’s apartment had a fully outfitted gym and ring. “A good fight will get that shit out of your system pretty quick.”

  Nathan kissed her. It was like the hu
ndredth time they’d kissed by now, but still her knees weakened and her pulse went haywire. Melodee wondered if it would always be like this between them.

  As he pulled back, resignation laced his expression and she realized he was still upset. “I don’t remember it but Matt didn’t always live with us. Dad brought him home when he was almost five. He’d been found next to his dead-junkie mom, just sitting there, holding her hand.” Nathan stretched out his legs. “Mom made his life hell here though, Dad was always gone and didn’t even care what was happening. She used to beat Matt, just in case he’d done something bad that she didn’t know about. It was fucked up. And Matt never stopped her or even said anything, it was as if he thought he deserved to be treated like trash. It wasn’t until Charles stepped in that things changed.”

  Melodee reached out and took Nathan’s hand. She understood that her family was messed up, but in his own way, Nathan and his brothers had just as shitty a childhood. Sure, they’d been rich, but most kids don’t care about that. All they want is love.

  “It really pisses me off the way parents blame children for things that were never their fault: like being born.” Melodee’s fingers tightened reflexively on Nathan’s.

  A sense of understanding passed between them. “Sins of the father were definitely bestowed on the son in this case.” he sighed. They sat in silence for a few moments, before finally Nathan kissed her on the cheek and got to his feet. Melodee stood with him.

  “I’m going to shower and throw on my suit. The funeral is in an hour.”

  He rested his forehead against Melodee’s.

  “Go,” she finally said. “You smell like sweaty ass.” She was lying, he smelled amazing; she was struggling not to tear his clothes off of him. Each time they shared something emotional, the bond and attraction between them deepened. Melodee knew she was in trouble; soon there would be no way to keep any emotional distance from him.