James' office door opened, cutting off anything else she might have said. "Rebecca, are the department heads in the conference room?" he asked as he rolled down his shirtsleeves and put on his suit jacket.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. You're with me. I need you to keep minutes." James headed toward Julie, who still stood in the doorway. "Good morning, Julie." He stopped in front of her, waiting for her to move.
"Ah, g … g … good morning, Mr. Montgomery." Her face turned almost the same shade as her hair. James stepped around her and Rebecca followed, shooting Julie a warning look over her shoulder.
Outside the conference room door, he stopped abruptly and turned. "Exactly where is Kurt?"
"Eve told me he left a little while ago. Something about having to pick up a friend from the airport," she answered.
Melody.
He'd managed to get through the last two hours without thinking about her. New emotion surged through him at the thought of her. He suddenly felt disoriented and out of sorts. His tightly held focus fled. But, he had a meeting, a room full of department heads who hadn't seen him other than via teleconference for six months. He needed to keep working. "All right, let's go in."
Forty-five minutes later, the department heads practically scurried out of the conference room, grateful the ordeal had ended. James Montgomery was a hard, demanding boss on a good day. Everyone who had been in that room today learned very quickly not to draw attention to themselves. Most left feeling thankful he had planned on vacating the area for the Albany office for the next few days.
In the conference room, Rebecca finished jotting down a note before her eyes met James'. He sat leaning back in his chair, rubbing his face. She'd seen enough to know that something was really bothering him.
"Mr. Montgomery, sir. If there's anything you want to talk about you should know by now that it would be kept in the strictest confidence," she said, almost sorry she'd said the words as soon as they came out of her mouth.
He looked at her startled for a moment, before he smiled. "I'm that bad?"
She cleared her throat and nodded.
"I appreciate the offer, Rebecca, but I think I'll just go home, before you or someone else runs me out. Finish up what you have to do, then take off early. It's Friday, and with Kurt out, too, and the Albany team at that conference, nothing should come up." With that, he got up and strode out of the room. By the time she'd made it back to her office, he had already gone. Now she really worried about him. The only time off work she'd ever seen him take was after his wife died. Not only had he just left early, but told her to take off early besides.
She finished giving instructions to Julie, then mentally shrugged. Well, she thought, take advantage of it while you can.
"I'll see you Monday morning," she said as she passed Julie's desk on her way out the door.
¯¯¯¯
MELODY ran down the escalator from the secure area of the terminal and launched herself into her sister's arms. Both women laughed and cried at the same time, while the paparazzo's cameras flashed and fans cheered. Her security team worked with airport security to try to keep everyone at bay, while at the same time trying to usher the sisters out of the terminal. Within minutes, they sat in the back of a limousine, speeding through the city.
Melody leaned her head back and closed her eyes, feeling herself really relax for the first time in a couple of years. "I haven't slept yet. I was so wired from the awards there was no way I would have been able to sleep last night if I'd tried," she said, her voice hoarse.
"Did you go to any of the parties last night?" Morgan asked.
"A couple, but I started to lose my voice, so I just went back to my house."
"You sang your rear end off last night," Morgan grinned.
"I know. That's why I have no voice left." She opened her eyes and looked at her sister. "I plan on singing that song for your wedding."
Morgan smiled. "We would be honored," she said, reaching over and grabbing Melody's hand.
When they got to Morgan's house, Kurt went into the study to call his office while the two sisters followed the chauffeur, who carried Melody's bags up to the guest room.
Melody loved this room. Maple wood floors made the room feel light and airy. The walls were a deep peach color trimmed in white, and double doors opened onto a small balcony that looked out over Morgan's beautifully landscaped back yard. A large four-poster bed sat centered to the wall, covered in a cream and brown colored cover. Throw pillows in peaches and browns covered the bed, and a dark brown blanket lay folded at the foot of the bed. Against the far wall, a chaise lounge, a low chair, and a small table formed a sitting area.
While Melody hung up clothes, Morgan went into the adjoining bathroom to put toiletries away.
"I can't wait to see your dress," Melody said.
"I have a fitting scheduled next week. I tried so hard to keep this simple, since it's my second wedding, but it just kind of got away from us."
Melody smiled. "That's okay. This is Kurt's first wedding, so it all works out."
"That's what he says," Morgan said, coming out of the bathroom with an empty bag. "It's been fun. Ginger's been totally indispensable."
"Well, parties are her thing," Melody said with a snort.
Morgan gasped then laughed. "You are horrible."
With a shrug, Melody said, "I've been having a hard time with her dad, is all. David's been an absolute terror with whom to be bound by contract. Don't tell anyone, but I don't think I'm going to stay with him."
Morgan sat on the end of the bed. "After everything he's done for us since dad died?"
"Trust me, that's the only thing that's kept me from buying out my contract. When I turned 25 and had access to all of my trust fund, I really struggled with it."
"Maybe you should pray about it," Morgan said gently. She knew the crisis of faith that Melody had suffered at the hands of Richard Johnson and her near death experience. She knew that much of Melody's lifestyle no longer reflected the faith that used to be so strong that she once wanted to write praise music for a living. But, for now, she had her sister home, under her roof again. She would gently persuade her for as long as she possibly could.
Melody nodded. "So you say." She zipped the empty suitcase and tossed it into the closet. "Let's round up something to eat," she squeaked out. "Maybe food will help my voice."
She hooked her arm into Morgan's and they started down the stairs. At the bottom of the staircase, Morgan said, "I'll go start on lunch. I have to tell you though, that I have an enormous surprise in store for you. I can't believe I've kept quiet this long. I have something to tell you about is going to completely blow your mind."
Curious, Melody inquired, "What?"
Before she could answer, Morgan's phone rang. She looked at the number. "I have to take this. It's a big client. I'll tell you at lunch." She answered the call as she walked toward the kitchen. "Morgan Hamilton."
Melody started toward the study in search of Kurt, but the sound of the doorbell ringing stopped her. She hesitated before opening it, until she remembered her security team at the gates of the community, so she felt safe opening the door.
¯¯¯¯
JAMES Montgomery had to have possessed a great deal of physical and mental strength to have survived his childhood, succeeded in his adolescence, put himself through college, and to have taken a company and risen it to the ranks he had in such a competitive field.
These thoughts went through his mind as he sat in Melody's car outside of Morgan's house, acknowledging a weakness in him that he neither wanted nor appreciated. He worried about ringing the doorbell, worried about what her reaction to him might be. He worried she might reject him, like some pimply high school boy about to ask the head cheerleader for a date. His fear was that she would reject him entirely and if that happened, he just didn't know what he would do with himself. He worried … and it made him angry.
With a scowl, he got out of Melody's car and slammed the
door. It felt like a very long walk to the front door and, once he rang the bell, the wait felt interminable. Then the doors swung open.
¯¯¯¯
JAMES and Melody stared at each other for hour-long heartbeats as the world stood still around them. James stared at her, remembering her beauty and her cool blue eyes, remembering the feel of her smooth forehead beneath his lips. He remembered watching her on the television the previous night. She looked even more beautiful than she had four years earlier.
Melody stared back at him, feeling transported back in time, back to the feelings she'd felt that day, back to the irresistible attraction. She thought about all of the times she couldn't seem to get him out of her mind. And, here he stood, on her sister's front porch?
"How did you —?"
Misunderstanding the question, James held up her keys. "I brought your car back."
"My car?" Looking past him, she could see the Mercedes parked next to Kurt's car. "I don't understand." Wariness made her take a step back, and worry made her frown when he followed her into the house.
"I picked it up last night."
"How?" Her voice, nearly gone, came out in a half croak, half whisper.
It was James' turn to frown in confusion. "From Morgan."
She sensed Kurt come into the foyer more than heard him. His leather shoes made no sound on the ceramic tile, but her senses were heightened with a flight instinct.
"Hi bro," Kurt greeted.
James nodded back before saying, "I'm getting the feeling that neither you nor Morgan mentioned our discovery last night," James said dryly, nodding in Melody's direction.
Kurt looked from James to pale and wide-eyed Melody and back to James. "I imagine your arrival here this morning driving her car is kind of a shock for her, then."
"What are you talking about?" Melody said, feeling like maybe she'd totally lost her mind.
"Melly, I'd like to introduce you to my business partner and my lifelong friend, James Montgomery. James, my future sister-in-law, Melody Mason."
Melody felt her eyes widen. "You can't be serious. What are the odds of this?"
James gave her a wry smile. "I could tell you, but the number is so great it exceeds Borel and Meyer's definition of mathematical impossibility. The result is imaginary."
She felt like the air had been sucked out of her body. Putting a hand to her chest, she willed her heart to slow down and quit threatening to beat itself out of her chest. A domino effect of feelings assaulted her, closing in on her — remembering that day all those years ago, how happy she was as she drove home, the love song in her head, then the pain of Richard's fist as it plowed into the side of her head.
Unable to breathe, she leaned back against the wall. "Melly?" Kurt said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
At his touch, her head stopped spinning and she quit feeling like she might collapse. "Sorry," she croaked out. "I must be more tired than I thought."
James put his hand on the doorknob. "I think I'll go."
"No," she said, grabbing his hand. "Please don't go."
"You're clearly uncomfortable…"
"I'm not. I'm just shocked, and exhausted, and a little bit on edge. And I just got here from the airport so I'm a bit of a mess which is not how I ever wanted you to see me." She gestured with her free hand toward the door. "I was remembering that day so long ago, and I couldn't help but remember how it ended."
"Melody, I'm so sorry," he said.
She shook her head. Her voice only came out in a whisper now. "I have to overcome that terror every day. When I'm tired, it's harder."
Kurt looked between the two of them. "Why don't you two go get reacquainted? I'll go check my e-mail."
She pulled on James' hand and led him into the living room. She gestured at the couch and sat at the same time he did. James spoke bluntly. "I guess it would probably be easier to recover if he'd been arrested."
Melody shrugged around the burn of tears in her eyes. She forced them back. "Probably," she squeaked.
Morgan came into the room, carrying a coffee cup that had a tea bag string dangling on the side of it. "Tea and honey with lemon. Sister's orders." She paused when she saw James. "Oh. I guess it's a little too late to tell you about our amazing discovery last night."
Melody's lips thinned. "It would have been nice," she said in a whisper, taking the tea from her sister.
"I thought I had time." She walked by the couch and squeezed James' shoulder. "It's nice to see you, James, even though you're early. Are you staying for lunch?"
He shook his head. "I don't think so, but I appreciate the offer."
"You're sure?" With his affirmation, she said, "Okay. I'll go finish up." Morgan left the two of them alone.
Melody ran her finger over the design on the couch. "I am so sorry about us losing contact."
"Or never really having it?"
"We had something." Her eyes met his, and the warmth in them as they stared back at her from behind his glasses made her heart skip a beat.
He smiled and nodded. "We had something." He looked around. "I often wonder what life would have been like if we'd actually had dinner that Thursday night."
"I think about it all the time." She felt her face fuse with color at her admission.
With a smile, he reached for her hand. "Regardless, I'm happy to find you again. Are you too tired to have dinner with me tonight?" James asked, noting the shadows under her eyes.
"I would rather not go anywhere tonight. I don't feel up to being mobbed, and that typically happens."
James raised an eyebrow. "Mobbed, eh?" She felt a little heat in her cheeks. "Perhaps we could eat in."
Melody cocked her head and smiled. "I think that's brilliant. Maybe just get some takeout."
"Why don't you come to my apartment? I'll cook you an early dinner there."
Kurt came into the room, pulling on his suit jacket. "If you need a ride, I have to go. I'm late for a meeting." He pulled car keys out of his pocket. "Melly, welcome home. I'll see you later."
James pulled his phone out of his pocket, checking an incoming text. "I do need a ride to my apartment, thanks." He stood, and Melody followed the men to the front door.
Kurt opened the door and stepped out. "I'll meet you at the car."
"Be right out," James said. He stepped closer to Melody and took her face in his hands, rubbing the shadows under her eyes. "Go take a nap. I'll see you at my place." He broke the contact and opened the door. Before he left, he turned to her and held out a set of keys. She recognized her car keys and took them from him.
"'Til tonight, then." she said. After he left, she shut the door, leaned back against it, and sighed.
Morgan walked into the foyer. "Are you seeing James tonight?" she asked.
"Yes, I am," she said with a squeak. She pushed herself from the door and hugged her sister, giggling. "I can't believe it's him."
Morgan smiled, praying for this connection between her fiancé's best friend and her sister to strengthen and bloom. "I can't wait to hear all about it. I love James so much and am happy for you." She hugged her back and stepped away. "Lunch is ready."
¯¯¯¯
CHAPTER 8
MELODY Mason, as in THE Melody Mason, walked herself right into the building and straight up to the security desk, looking just as pretty as a picture with her purse over one arm, a shopping bag in the other, and her trademark boots clicking on the marble floor the whole way. The security guard manning the desk in James' apartment building already knew his wife would never believe this.
She took off her sunglasses and directed the full force of her smile at him. "Hi. Melody Mason, here to see James Montgomery."
That lucky dog, thought the security guard.
He made a show of glancing through the list of expected guests, but of course he knew exactly where he would find her name on the list. "Of course, Miss Mason. Follow me, please. You need a special key to reach his floor." He guided her to an elevator, and using a key from th
e big ring of keys attached to his belt, he accessed the proper floor. Then he stepped out of the elevator. "Enjoy your visit, Miss Mason." He wanted desperately to ask for her autograph, but policy wouldn't allow it. Maybe if he was still on duty when she came back down, he'd bend the rules just a little.
As the doors closed, Melody dropped her bright, worn only in public smile and rolled her head on her neck. She continued to stretch her neck muscles while watching the numbers light up as the elevator rose to the top floor. It surprised her to find only one door in the hallway when she stepped off. Before she could knock on it, it swung open, and James stood there, filling the doorway. He'd removed his tie and jacket and rolled his sleeves up, exposing the tanned muscle of his forearms. He flashed her a quick smile as he stepped back and held the door open wider.
She retrieved and held up the bottle of Cabernet she'd carried up in the shopping bag. "I brought wine," she announced as she stepped into his apartment.
James raised an eyebrow. "Melody," with an ironic grin, he shook his head and he said a little uncomfortably, "I don't drink."
She stopped with the bottle halfway extended to him, then quickly pulled it back. "Oh. Okay. I'm sorry."
"No reason to apologize. We did have our first conversation in a bar." She reached into her bag again and he was surprised, and more than a little touched, when she handed him a bouquet of flowers as well.
At his surprised look she said, "I would expect nothing less if I had spent the afternoon preparing a meal for you." With a laugh she added, "Not that you would want me to. I am not Morgan in any sense."
He led her through the apartment. One entire wall was made of glass and looked out at Atlanta. Wall to wall and floor to ceiling bookcases with sliding ladders on either end made up the opposite wall. Near the bookcases, two wing-backed leather chairs crouched near a round table topped with a large chess set. The teak floor was broken only by a large blue rug near the windows. On the rug, two brown leather couches formed a sitting area around a low coffee table. A flat screened television hung above the fireplace. It was an extremely tastefully masculine room. Melody immediately fell in love with it, and if her voice had any strength to it at all, she would have sung a tune to get a sense of the acoustics.
A Melody for James (Christian Suspense) Page 8
