CupidRocks (14 page)

Joe had a broad grin on his face while he did as bid. Then
he shook his head as he watched. It felt good to lose her terrified feeling. It
wasn’t a concert. It was just hanging out and playing her piano. Just like
always. At the end of the song, she and Eddie got a huge ovation from everyone
and they stood up and bowed.

She sat back down and segued into another piano tune as
Carly got everyone into the act of decorating their unconventional tree. Joe
wandered over and watched her play for a few minutes. She looked up.

“Yes?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you could play?”

She shrugged. “I’m not classically trained or anything.”

“Your mom taught you. You might as well be classically
trained with that kind of background. She’s amazing and you know it.”

“Yeah.” Mandy finished one song and just slipped into the
next, providing background music for the festivities.

“So why don’t you play with the band?”

He cocked his head, watching her. She felt heat in her face
and took a deep breath. “Stage fright.”

“But you’re playing now.”

“It’s family. I just can’t stand on a stage and face a
crowd. I freeze. If I try to get onstage, I throw up.”

He reached over and caressed her cheek. “It’s possible to
work through that.” She shrugged. “Did you always have that problem?”

“No. I used to play with the band when I was young.”

“What happened?”

“When I was eighteen, I entered a competition. I got up on
stage and completely forgot the words. I froze. Carly had to come drag me off.
It was horrible.”

“Wait. You sing too?” His eyes opened wide.

She shrugged. “I’ve been known to.”

“Would you sing now?”

She glanced over at his family. His mother and brothers were
busy with the tree decorating, but Leo was watching them.

“I don’t know, Joe. Your dad is kind of scary.”

“King of all he surveys. But I know you and your mom
impressed him. I’d love to hear you sing.”

“Would you sing with me?” she asked.

“A duet?” She nodded, waiting for him to decide. “I can do
that, angel. What did you have in mind?”

“Do you know
I Finally Found Someone
?”

“The Bryan Adams-Barbra Streisand duet?”

“Yeah.”

“I know it.” He raised his brows. “That’s one of my favorite
songs, actually. Did you know?”

“No, but I love it too.”

“It sure fits us. Let’s give it a try.”

He slid onto the piano bench beside her and she played an
intro. He started the song and nodded when it was time for her to start
singing…and she did. It just happened naturally.

At one point, she noticed their audience and he leaned in,
blocking her view so he was the only thing she saw. She sang to him as she
played. Seducing each other without being too brazen about it. At the end of
the song, Joe leaned over and gave her a kiss. He deepened it, but she pulled
back, aware of their audience.

“You’re a bad boy.”

“Ah, but you love it.”

“Yeah, but no one’s supposed to know that part.”

She looked away from Joe to find that Carly was grinning.
Eddie looked thoughtful and again, Joe’s family looked downright surprised by
it all. Her face heated and she glanced at Joe. He just shrugged.

“Sing something for me, angel. Solo.”

She bit her lip and nodded. She played the opening chord of
A
Song for You
and sang. It was a song well suited to her alto range and she
relaxed, singing directly to Joe. As she finished the love song, she leaned
over and kissed him again, then went back to playing some background music
while the others focused on decorating the Valentine's tree. Joe stayed at her
side, just listening and marveling at her. She laughed.

“You look so serious.”

“You’re as good as she was.”

“Karen Carpenter? Ah, hell no.” She laughed at him. Karen
was one of her vocal idols and there was no way she was that good. It was a
sweet compliment though.

“You are that good. And you were meant to perform, angel.”

Mandy grimaced. “I haven’t been able to get on a stage since
I messed up all those years ago. I’m not sure I can ever face it again.”

He tilted his head. “Maybe that’s why we met…why we’re True
Mates.”

“What?”

“Your sole purpose is music. I’m sure you’re an excellent
photographer, but you have music in you that everyone should hear.”

“What’s that have to do with being True Mates?”

“Well, maybe if you’re with me you can face a crowd again.”

“Kind of giving yourself a magical quality, aren’t you?”

“No. It’s just that True Mates stabilize each other.”

“It didn’t work too great for us—not that it was Carly’s
fault.” Eddie joined them. “It was all on me. But it didn’t stabilize me that
much.”

Joe looked up at Eddie. “And what if you’d never met Carly?
Think you’d be dry now? Or do you think you might be in the ground?”

Eddie considered. “Yeah, I’d probably be dead. Before I met
her I was on self-destruct. She slowed me down considerably. Having a pup
stopped things as soon as I really saw myself through Mandy’s eyes, but it took
a while.”

“Addiction is like that Eddie,” Mandy commented. “You have
to hit bottom before you can dig your way out.”

“Well, I sure as hell did that.”

“And don’t ever do it again. Are you hooked up with a
sponsor again?”

“Yes, punkin, I am. I won’t go off the deep end.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she teased.

“I can keep this one.”

“Well good. I’ll hold you to it.”

“And so will I.” Carly hugged him. “Now come over here and
help me get the heart finial on top.”

Eddie took the topper from her then paused. Leo sat in a
chair watching the activity. Eddie walked over and handed the angel to Leo.
“You’re taller than I am. Maybe you can put it on the tree.”

Mandy swallowed hard and blinked. Tree toppers were really
Eddie’s big thing and having him reach out to include Leo warmed her heart.
Made her realize how important her father was to her and how much she loved
him.

Leo rose and took the glass ornament from Eddie. “I thank
you for the honor.” Then he went to the tree, mounted a stool off the side of
the tree and settled the ornate glass heart carefully on the top of the
evergreen before climbing down again. He viewed it as Eddie came over to him.
“I believe it is well set. Do you agree?”

“Yup. Looks great, Leo.”

“Language, Edward. Proper speech is important.”

Mandy giggled and Joe elbowed her.

Carly came over to the piano. “You two go put up some
ornaments. I want to play now.” She winked at Mandy. At first, Carly just
played some love songs but then she handed Eddie the harmonica again and sang
Desperado
to him.

“Now one for our new couple. I think we kind of ruined a
song you both loved at the concert last night so it’s time for a little
redemption. Eddie get your guitar and that little amp so Joe and Mandy can get
up and dance.”

Eddie grumbled but went to obey. He came back with his
electric guitar and set up beside the piano.

“What are you doing, Carly?” Mandy raised her brows at her
mom.

“Just like I said, honey. Redemption.” She spun her finger
in a circle. “You and Joe. Dance. Eddie honey, you sing.”

“Oh, all right.”

Mandy and Joe reluctantly came together in the center of the
room. “Do you know what she’s planning?” Joe muttered.

“Not a clue.”

Carly nodded at Eddie and he played the guitar intro for
Wonderful
Tonight
. She and Joe both groaned, remembering the unpleasant associations.
The look on Joe’s face as she danced with Zach. Joe pulled her into his arms,
but she couldn’t look him in the eye at first. It hurt to remember the look of
betrayal. The anger. And the way her gut twisted with pain. Joe tipped up her
chin and held her gaze. Today, the anger and betrayal was gone, replaced by
love. Understanding. And Mandy smiled up at her love, running her fingers
through his long hair.

As Eddie sang, Joe softly sang along. Straight to her. He
traced her lips with his fingertips then caressed along her jaw and up into her
long blonde hair. She leaned in close and sang the harmony softly with him.

“Yes, you look wonderful tonight…”

Joe’s voice grew stronger and it wasn’t long before Eddie
dropped out, leaving Joe to sing the love song to her while Eddie and Carly
accompanied him.

“Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight.” They sang to
each other. Then Joe leaned down. She cradled his face in her hands and they
kissed.

“I love you, Joe,” she whispered.

“Back at ya, angel.” He grinned and they laughed. There was
a knock at the door and she drew away from him.

“Pizza’s here!” she called as she grabbed some cash then
headed for the door to pay the delivery guy. Joe followed to help her carry
pizzas and they brought them into the living room.

“Jake, grab that afghan please,” she said as they reentered
the living room. Jake brought her the blanket, confusion on his face. “Throw it
onto the piano.”

“The piano?” he sounded scandalized and Mandy laughed.

“Yes, the piano.”

“But… You’re going to put pizza on a grand piano?”

“The boxes are going on the afghan. Spread it out please.”

He looked over at his father then shrugged and did as she
bid. She set a box up there and motioned for Joe to do the same. He also
glanced at his father before he put two boxes on the piano.

“I’ll go get some plates.”

Mandy ran to the kitchen and grabbed paper plates and
brought them back to the living room. Carly and Eddie were already raiding the
boxes, but Leo and his sons were staring at the pizza boxes resting on the
piano as if they were poisonous snakes. It would probably freak them all out to
know just how often she’d used the piano as a buffet. As long as the wood was
covered, it wasn’t a big deal.

She grabbed a couple of slices of pizza and served them onto
plates before taking them over to Leo and Maria. Leo stared at the paper plate
as if he’d never seen one before. Hell, maybe he hadn’t. Maria glanced at her
mate.

“Thank you, my dear. Why didn’t you tell us how talented you
were?”

Mandy shrugged. “I don’t perform or anything so it didn’t
seem relevant.”

“Music is always relevant, Amanda, and you were quite right
that it’s a very good place to start.”

She smiled at Leo. “Thanks. Do you guys have any drink
preferences? There’s hot coffee out in the kitchen and I have soft drinks in
the fridge.”

“Coffee would be lovely,” Maria assured her.

“For both of you? Black?” Leo nodded and Mandy headed to the
kitchen to grab two cups for her in-laws. She gave them their coffee and went
to grab a slice of pizza for herself.

“Hey, what about us?” Julian teased.

“You have feet. The coffee and sodas are in the kitchen if
you want some and the pizza is over here,” Mandy grinned.

Joe’s brothers joined the food raid and ate
enthusiastically. Everyone talked. Sharing ideas and getting to know each
other.

“I understand you will be celebrating your fortieth
anniversary this year,” Leo commented to Eddie.

“Yeah.” Her father raised his brows at Mandy and she
shrugged. “I stole Carly from her old man pretty young.”

“I did the same to my darling Maria. We were together for several
years before we were blessed with the first of our handsome sons. Maria was
performing in a regional production of
The Sound of Music
.”

Eddie eyed Maria. “Yeah, I can see her there. What part did
you play? One of the abbey nuns?”

Maria laughed. “No. I played Maria.”

Eddie whistled and winked at Leo. “You did get her young
then didn’t you? That was super popular in the early sixties. The movie was out
in 1965.”

“I found her quite young. We were most fortunate.” Leo’s
cheeks colored, but he looked pleased with himself and Maria laughed.

“Yes. I was thrilled to have this handsome older man looking
at me like I was a woman.”

“You were. A lovely and talented one.”

“Thank you, beloved.”

“So why did you leave musical theater?” Mandy asked.

No. Don’t go there.

Why not? It’s a reasonable question.

“I mean. You were doing pretty well, right? Why go into
opera?”

Maria took his hand, and raising it to her mouth, she kissed
Leo’s hand and set their joined hands on her leg.

“It was because of Leo.”

“I knew it,” Joe hissed.

Maria raised her brows at him. “What do you mean, son?”

“He forced you to leave something you loved.”

“Now, son—” Leo began.

“No, if she wanted to sing in musical theater you should
have
supported
her, Father.”

“Oh, my darling boy,” Maria interrupted before Leo could say
a word. “You have it all wrong. I liked musical theater, but I’d always wanted
to pursue opera. I didn’t think I was good enough. Not trained enough.”

“You didn’t?” Joe’s voice was soft. Uncertain.

“No, I didn’t. I thought I could succeed in musical theater.
The competition was fierce, but I was good. I knew I was good. But there are
different requirements for opera. I didn’t know the languages needed. I hadn’t
done any formal study. I didn’t think I’d ever make it in opera. Your father
convinced me to try. He called in favors to find me a vocal coach because, back
then, I was so very poor.” She looked at her mate, reaching over to caress his
cheek. “I trained and practiced. Finally, I auditioned and was cast in a
supporting role.”

“So Father didn’t make you leave musical theater because he
disliked popular music?”

“That’s what you thought?” Leo asked, his voice low.

Mandy grabbed Joe’s arm and pulled it around her. Offering
silent support.