“I’m sorry I haven’t been here.” Melinda instinctively bounced the baby up and down. The screaming slowed to a soft whimper.
Rebecca chuckled again. “I totally understand. I’m surprised you’re here even now.” She tugged the refrigerator open and stared inside. “No idea what I was going to do,” she mumbled.
“Juice? Milk? You need to eat and drink properly,” Melinda suggested.
“Good plan.” Rebecca kicked the door shut, a jug of orange juice in her hand. “Shit. I already forgot about the coffee.” She slapped her forehead with her free palm.
“It’s okay. I’ve had enough already this morning. Don’t worry about me. I’m good. Just let me hold this sweet baby while you take care of yourself for a bit.” She glanced up and down Rebecca’s frame. She wore a pair of spandex running shorts and a tank top. Except for the fact that her boobs were enormous, no one would ever know she’d given birth two days ago.
The front door closed and Miles wandered back into the house. He was laughing.
Melinda glared at him. “Whatever Keegan said, it probably wasn’t true.” She continued to bounce, even though McKenna was fast asleep, her sweet face now tilted to one side, her mouth open in slumber. Melinda traced the edge of the baby’s forehead, smiling at the tuft of red hair that matched her mother’s. She was light complected and undoubtedly created from Griffen’s seed, though Melinda knew there was no contest here. Both men would love all of their children and give each one a hundred and fifty percent.
Miles stopped a few feet from Melinda, closed his eyes, and tipped his head back. “Shh. Do you hear that?” he whispered.
Rebecca froze and tipped her head to one side as though listening intently for whatever Miles was referring to. “What?” she finally asked.
“Exactly,” Miles added. “Silence.” He turned to face his sister. “How long can you stay?”
Melinda grinned. “I promised Trace we’d have lunch together. So, I’m all yours for a few hours.” She narrowed her gaze at her brother and then shot a pointed look toward Rebecca. “Don’t you let your mate at least shower? She’s exhausted.”
Miles lifted both hands in the air. “Hey, don’t blame me. Griffen and I have done everything we can think of to get her to rest and take care of herself, but she has some supermom complex going on. There’s no reasoning with her.” He stepped behind his mate and wrapped his arms under her breasts, tugging her tight against his front.
Melinda flushed as she watched her brother kiss Rebecca’s brow. “She’s right, love. You need to sleep. You’re no good to the baby if you’re worn out.”
Melinda loved seeing her brother like this. He’d been a different man since the moment he’d met Rebecca. Softer. So loving. But now, he was even more awesome. He was wrapped all the way around her sweet finger. He brushed a long lock of hair off Rebecca’s forehead and held her tighter. “Love you,” he whispered against her temple. “Go nap. If you don’t trust me alone with our daughter, at least have faith in Melinda.” He grinned.
Rebecca elbowed him in the side, wincing. She wiggled free of his touch, cupping her boobs. “Get your hands away from my chest.” She wheeled around, dodging his grasp. “They hurt. They’re tight and swollen and dripping. They’re not yours right now.”
He grinned sheepishly. “They look so fucking fantastic.”
Rebecca dropped her hands and stepped farther away. “Look. Don’t touch. And you know all that crap about me trusting you is bullshit. It isn’t true. Stop it. You’re both great with McKenna.” She lifted her gaze to Melinda. “Give me some time with an adult female first. I’m itching for the interaction.”
“Half an hour, and then you go to bed and sleep for a while.” He took her hand and led her to the couch across from them in the giant great room.
Melinda followed with McKenna and sat in a rocking chair that hadn’t been there on Saturday.
Miles sat next to his mate, tugging her into his side. He buried his hand in the bottom of her braid possessively.
Melinda smiled. Finally she understood what her brother felt toward his mates. For the last year she’d found the three of them to be almost nauseating, especially her brother. Suddenly, she had some clarity.
“So how’s mated life?” Rebecca asked, leaning her cheek against Miles’s chest.
“Weird. It was so unexpected.”
“It always is,” Miles said as he lifted his feet, set them on the coffee table, and leaned back. “Keegan seems like a nice guy.”