CupidRocks (20 page)

Joe’s mouth dropped and Mandy blushed. Eddie laughed. “You
were always Daddy’s little girl. A real wild child.”

“I shocked you with that one though.” Eddie nodded.

“Then he started to laugh. He was no help whatsoever.” Carly
rolled her eyes.

“She and Dee were terrors.” Sharon laughed. “What one didn’t
think of, the other one did.”

“Sam was just as bad,” Mandy said.

Joe walked across the room to study her. “You’re amazing.
Gorgeous. But I want to tell you to cover up and take half that makeup off.”

Mandy laughed. “You better hope you father boys then. Otherwise
you’re screwed.”

Joe slumped into a chair with a groan while everyone else
laughed.

“I’m going to go back out to sit with your folks for the
second set. I want to see you perform.”

“What do they think? Did they say?”

“Your mom said you were good. Your dad said you
were…um…adequate.”

Joe began to grin. “That’s all right, angel. I know what
that means now and I’m okay with it.” He paused, looking at the others. “You
know, I’m not sure about the second set. Maybe we should—”

“Your brothers are already set to play on the second song,
Joe.”

“It’s just so sentimental. And…” He trailed off, red lining
his cheeks.

“Your father will be touched,” Eddie reassured him while Joe
shrugged, uncomfortable.

“What are you performing?”

“We always start the second set the same way.
My Father’s
Eyes
followed by
Leader of the Band
. The crowd expects it, bro.”

“Ah, I understand,” she said softly.

He frowned at her. “I just don’t know. It might embarrass
him.”

Mandy crossed over to Joe. She sat on his lap. “It won’t
embarrass him. But it will tell him how you feel about him.”

“Probably a bad idea.”

“I think he might like it.”

He looked at her. “You sure? What if he hates it?”

“You mean what if he hates having you sing it, right?” He
shrugged again. “Give him a chance, Joe. I think he’ll surprise you.”

“I sure hope so.”

Mandy slipped back out the door and sidled up to the table.
She lowered her voice a bit and leaned in. “Mind if I join you?”

Leo glanced at her and looked away, dismissing her. “We are
saving that seat for our daughter-in-law there are plenty of other places
available.”

She pulled out the chair, flipped it around and straddled
it. Leo turned to blister her then stopped. His mouth open. “Amanda?”

Mandy chuckled. “Hey. What do you think of the
transformation?”

“You perform like that?”

“Yeah, Leo. It’s expected.”

“Carly and Sharon don’t look like that.”

“They’re also around sixty years old now. But they used to
go glam or go home.”

Leo shook his head. “I don’t think I will ever understand
the rock-and-roll mindset.”

“Probably not, but that’s okay. I’ll never get the classical
one, either.”

They shared a smile as the band members filed back onto the
stage. Joe took up his guitar and looked at Eddie. For the first time, he
looked uncertain on stage. Eddie stepped up to the mike.

“Hey, everyone. Welcome back for set two. We’re going to
start like we always start set two. Clapton and Joe. Let’s rock!” Whistles
greeted him.

Mandy leaned over to Leo. “Listen to the words.”

Leo raised his brows then turned back to watch Joe, whose
eyes rose from his guitar when he sang the lyrics “How will I know it? When I
look into my father’s eyes.” Leo sat forward, clasping his hand together,
paying close attention.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Leo and Maria exchange
looks and Maria reached over to set her hand on top of his. Leo swallowed as he
watched Joe make his Les Paul sing, the crowd swaying.

At the end of the song, Leo brushed away a tear. Jake and
Jules exchanged a look as the crowd cheered. “Joe needs us for a minute. We’ll
be back.” They made their way to the stage and climbed up. Eddie handed Jules
his trumpet and gave Jake a mike.

Joe cleared his throat. “You all know what the second song
of the second set is, right?” The crowd yelled out
Leader of the Band
.
“Right you are. And it’s extra special tonight because my brothers are going to
join us. Julian and Jacob. It’s special for another reason too. Our father is
in the audience. Papa, this one’s for you.”

“Damn, I should have waited to put on my mascara,” she
muttered.

“Why?” Leo asked.

“You’ll see,” Mandy told him as Joe counted the band off and
started the song.

Joe looked up briefly as he sang the opening lines. Then he
looked down at his guitar. She heard Leo gasp softly. The room was silent but
for Joe. Then his brothers joined in, singing in harmony. Leo reached out and
took Maria’s hand and she sniffed.

When Jules began to play his horn part, Leo sighed. Mandy
wiped her eyes when Joe thanked his father for letting him go and finishing the
verse with “and Papa I don’t think I said I love you near enough.”

Leo had tears running down his cheeks and Maria did too.
Mandy wiped away her own tears as the crowd rose to their feet at the end of
the song. Leo rose too and almost stumbled to the stage. When he reached it he
paused, and all three males stepped down to face him. He shook his head for a
moment and enveloped all of them in an embrace. Kissing each one. Then he
leaned close to Joe and spoke in his ear. Her mate looked thunderstruck for a
moment then he wrapped his arms around his father in a big hug. Leo patted his
head.

What did he say?

He said “That wasn’t adequate, son, it was superlative.”

“Oh wow,” she breathed. Joe leaned close and spoke to his
father. Leo looked surprised then nodded. Joe helped him onstage.

“Now everyone, you’re in for a treat. We often play
Dust
in the Wind
for you.” The crowd cheered. “But tonight, we have some special
instrumentation. My father is a gifted violinist. I hope you enjoy it.”

Eddie handed Leo his violin. Mandy leaned over to Maria. “He
knows
Dust in the Wind
?”

“Earlier this week, Joe and Leo had a discussion about rock
versus classical music. I think it was during one of our voice lessons. Joe
taught the song to him as a dare. Leo takes dares.”

Mandy wiped more tears off her face and leaned back to watch
as Jake and Jules joined them. Maria stood and hugged both boys. “That was
truly wonderful. Thank you, sons.” Jules and Jake blushed. Then watched as Joe
and Leo performed together.

“Leo sings?” As they sang in harmony.

“He has a nice voice,” Maria agreed. “But it’s not his
specialty.”

“No, that is.” Mandy agreed when Leo began to play the
violin solo while Joe continued the guitar line.

As the song ended, again the cheers were deafening. They
took their bows and Leo left the stage.

“Now, I’m going to play Yngwie style. This is Malagueña.”

As he shredded the electric guitar Yngwie Malmsteen style,
the crowd shrieked, whistled and cheered.

“They appreciate classical?” Leo asked.

“Oh yeah. Especially the way Joe plays.”

Leo smiled as Joe tore into the song. Riffing on it.
Improvising. Showing off his talent for everyone to see and hear.

“He’s quite capable, isn’t he?” Leo asked.

Mandy grinned. “Oh yeah. Superlative even.” Leo laughed.
Again the crowd hit their feet with cheers.

“And now for something completely different,” Joe growled
into the mike.

The set completely changed and as the set wore on, the love
songs took her by surprise and it was obvious Joe meant them for her.
Amanda
.
Angel Eyes
.
Faithfully
. So many of her favorites. Then he
finished the set with
Mandy’s Song
and she cried.

She followed the band into the back and walked into Joe’s
arms. He leaned down to kiss her.

“I love you, Joe.”

“Love you more.”

Chapter Eighteen

She looked calm. Joe wasn’t sure though. She went into the
bathroom and washed off her eye makeup and reapplied it. She kept swallowing.
Joe grabbed a glass and poured her some ice water. She chugged it so he
refilled it.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Sure,” she squeaked. Mandy never squeaked. Then she started
to hyperventilate.

“Paper bag.” Eddie grabbed one and Joe held it over her
mouth for her to breathe through.

“Oh God.” She ran into the bathroom and they all winced as
they heard her retching.

“Can she do this.” He whispered to Eddie.

She came back out the door, and although she was green
around the edges, she looked better.

Joe went over and pulled her into his arms. Maybe he was
wrong. Maybe he should forget all about this. He didn’t want to hurt her. He
opened his mouth to let her off the hook when Eddie spoke.

“We’re counting on you, punkin
. We need
you. We don’t have anything else and if you don’t perform we don’t have enough
music for the night. We perform until Zach closes at two.” Joe shot Eddie a
look of death but his father-in-law shook his head.

Mandy took a deep breath and nodded. “I know. I can do it.
I’m just scared.”

“Joe told you the truth, baby. If you forget the words, or
anything else happens, we’ll back you up.”

“You guys are just so good. You totally killed with that
second set. I don’t want to disappoint the crowd or embarrass all of you.”

“You won’t,” Joe assured her. “You have a great voice.”

“Not superlative?” she teased.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. I believe in you. Can you
at least try?”

“Yoda.” She chuckled.

“Right. So let’s do it.”

“Let’s do it!”

She took a deep breath and led the way out the door. She
paused for a minute when the crowd started to cheer. Joe took her hand and she
smiled up at him. Then they climbed onto the stage and set up. Mandy took the
mike and looked at him, her gaze locking. Pupils dilated with terror. He
strapped on his guitar and leaned over to give her a kiss. She relaxed a little
bit.

Just follow me, angel. I’ve got your back now and
forever.

She nodded.

He began
Landslide
. She missed the entrance. Her eyes
widened in fear. Joe shook his head slightly and smiled while he improvised,
playing back for her to catch the entrance. This time she got it. Singing
directly to him. Standing still, but the song flowed anyway. He moved closer to
her.

“Take my arm,” he whispered. She did and her voice gained
strength.

Mandy relaxed into the music. She laid her head on his
shoulder for a minute and kept singing. At the end of the song, there was a
moment of dead silence. She looked out at the crowd.

“Oh God,” she whispered.

Then the crowd began to cheer. Her eyes widened and she
looked at him, a grin spreading over her face and she bowed. Joe moved right
into the second song of the set so she wouldn’t panic. She relaxed, moving
forward. Something changed and she got into the song. He glanced over at Carly
and she winked. They’d been right. As Mandy relaxed, her natural magnetism
emerged. She began to tease and flirt with the crowd as she sang. They whistled
and danced in the space in front of the stage. Mandy started to command the
audience, drawing them in.

Joe marveled at his True Mate. The way she moved. Danced.
Sang. Her voice steadied and her face shone. She winked. Eddie edged over and
leaned close.

“Told ya,” he whispered.

“She’s crazy good,” Joe said.

“Yup.”

Mandy couldn’t believe it. The fear had faded. As the crowd
clapped and danced she got into it, moving to the front of the stage and taking
command just the way she used to. It felt incredible. God how she’d missed
this. And it wouldn’t have happened if Joe hadn’t pushed her and supported her.

The solos were great, but the duets with Joe were special.
She felt his encouragement and love. As they sang to one another she realized
that Joe had been honest with her. He hadn’t left her hanging tonight and he
never would. He’d always have her back. No matter what. At the end of the set
Joe started to speak, but she covered his mouth and winked.

“Thanks for welcoming me back to The Pack,” she told the
crowd. “You’ll be seeing me more often.” There were loud cheers. “But to end
the set, I have a surprise for my True Mate. This is an old Peggy Lee song. And
I’m sure he’ll understand when I sing it.”

She motioned Eddie forward. Eddie and Carly accompanied her
on guitar and piano as she began a tune called
Happiness is a Thing Called
Joe
. She crooned it directly to her love. The best person in the world for
her. Her one and only.

“He’s got a way that makes this angel heave a sigh, when I
know little Joe’s passing by.” She ran her finger along his jaw and over his
lips. They danced as she sang to him, finishing up with, “Seems like happiness
is just a thing called Joe.”

The crowd cheered as they kissed. “Is it Mandy?” he
whispered in her ear. “Is happiness a wolf called Joe?” She went into his arms
for a loving kiss. And this time it wasn’t just the crowd cheering. It was
their families too.

“Yes, Joe, it is. And it always will be.”

About Francesca Hawley

Hi. I’m Francesca Hawley and I’m a fat chick. A woman with
dangerous curves just like my heroines. Many people don’t like the word, “fat”
but I do because it’s the truth and I’ve learned to own it. I am a fat chick
and I always will be.

When I began writing, I wanted to create a fat heroine who
loved herself—or at least learned to love herself—and a hot alpha hero who
liked her jiggly bits just the way they were. Since I didn’t find many big
girls to read about, I decided to write about them myself. After all, I loved
to write and had been writing almost as long as I’d been reading, so Francesca
Hawley – author of "Romance with Dangerous Curves" was born.

In a Francesca Hawley romance, my readers will find
authentic, sensual, fat heroines who love and are loved by their intense,
passionate, and seductive Alpha heroes. I hope you enjoy their dangerous curves
just as much as their hunky heroes do.

Francesca welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.

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Also by
Francesca
Hawley

1-800-DOM-help:
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Alpha
vs. Alpha

Leader
of the Pack

Protect
and Defend

Seeking
Truth

Whirlwind
Affair

Print books by Francesca Hawley

Dial
B for Bondage
anthology

Protect and Defend

Red
Stilettos
anthology

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Truth

Ellora’s Cave Publishing

www.ellorascave.com

Cupid Rocks

ISBN 9781419945281

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Cupid Rocks Copyright © 2013 Francesca Hawley

Edited by Shannon Combs

Cover design by Dar Albert

Photos: Olly and Curaphotography/Fotolia.com

Electronic book publication February 2013

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