Songbird by Victoria Escobar Read Free Book Online Page B

leaning against the
counter and licking ice cream off a spoon. His eyes were narrowed
and focused on me. My stomach tightened and I was forced to look
away. Why was watching the man eat such a sensual act?
    “I will. Once I know everything is good and I
don’t have to run back for anything. Did you want something
specific? I can go get something else. I’m sorry, we were only
guessing at your meal, I should have asked but you seemed put off
so I thought—”
    “You’re babbling, Songbird.” Nicholas tossed
the empty ice cream cup and picked up a second one.
    “You’re going to get sick if you eat all
those without eating a meal first,” I chided lightly. Grabbing his
plate from the table I held it out.
    “You going to feed me too?” He lifted a
brow.
    I didn’t sigh, but it was a close call. Why
was he so much like my brother, Benjamin? I picked up the fork,
dipped into the loaded potato and held it out. “Do you want the
airplane noise too?”
    “Do you make good airplane noises?”
    I sighed. “Yes or no, Walker.”
    He studied me. “You’d do it. If I asked.”
    “Walker.”
    “No.” He leaned forward and took the potatoes
off the fork. He chewed and swallowed. “These don’t taste like fast
food.”
    I held out another forkful. “As long as it’s
good what’s it matter?”
    “Touché.” He took the plate and began to feed
himself.
    Score. Me—one. Nicholas—zero. I reached
around him and picked up the ice cream.
    “What are you doing with that?” he asked and
reached for the tray. I pulled it out of arm’s length.
    “Putting it in the freezer so it doesn’t melt
before you can eat it,” I replied and nudged him to step to the
side with my hip so I could get into the under counter fridge.
    “Oh.” He stepped aside and watched as I
safely put his ice cream away.
    With that accomplished I studied the near
empty plates one the table. “You guys ready for coffee?”
    I received a chorus of yes, and please.
    “You haven’t eaten yet.” Nicholas stated.
“Your food is going to get cold.”
    “Perks of the job.” The kitchenette was not
big enough for me to work around him. “Sit down and eat so I can
make this coffee.”
    “I’d like a cup too. Please,” he mumbled
around a mouthful of food. “And thanks for the food and ice
cream.”
    “Sure. Sit.”
    Score. Me—two. Nicholas—zero.
    He moved to the booth and sat next to Arc. I
could feel his eyes follow me around the tiny space and did my best
to ignore it. His stare hadn’t bothered me before. Much.
    “You’re still not eating,” Nicholas commented
after being served coffee and eating another Blizzard.
    “I will.” Probably. When I had time. Hunger
and I were friends and I wasn’t bothered with the sensation. Thank
you, teen years.
    “Sit. Eat.” Nicholas stood, grabbed my arm
and yanked me down into the booth. “Do you need me to feed
you?”
    “No. I can eat. I just need to check on
Charlie and Doug. They’re supposed to be switching off and we
should be moving in a few more minutes.” I tried to pull away and
Nicholas held onto my arm and shifted us so I was sitting in
between his legs. He pulled my plate across the table.
    “Eat. The almighty schedule will survive if
you take a few minutes and eat.”
    Self-control wasn’t seriously high on my list
of virtues. When his breath tickled my ear, I needed every drop I
had to keep my body still. I would not shudder. I would not react.
I would not melt into a puddle of hormones and demand a private
meal of something else entirely.
    “He’s not going to let you up until you eat.”
Max pushed a bottle of water across the tabletop. “Might as well
humor him.”
    “Fine.” With move violence than the act
warranted, I speared my salad and munched. Trying to eat without
taking my eye off the clock was pointless, as it was determined to
mock me. We had ten minutes to get back on the road and neither
Doug nor Charlie had reappeared.
    “What are you eating?”