CupidRocks (13 page)

“Yeah, he hired me right off. They cancelled other auditions
they had scheduled.”

“Then you’re good.
Really
good.”

He smiled. “Thanks, angel.”

“Don’t thank me. It was your work.”

“Yeah, but I appreciate the compliment.”

“You’re welcome, then.”

She turned to his parents. “So if you want to pack, you can
follow us back.” Then she looked at his brothers. “And you guys can head home
and pack then come back. We can caravan to Whitewolf.”

Chapter Twelve

As three vehicles pulled into her driveway, Mandy was glad
she’d called home to let her folks know she was bringing a crowd with her.
Carly had promised to fly into action to clean up the bedroom that Sharon and
Tom used and move Joe’s stuff to Mandy’s room. Now Mandy knew everyone would
have a bed to sleep in for the week and she wouldn’t have to clean house the
minute she walked inside.

“You’re sure Carly took care of cleaning up? All you said
was that you were bringing my family home, then you went silent.”

Mandy laughed. “I quit talking because Carly started and
didn’t let me get a word in to the conversation. I’m positive she took care of
things.”

He shook his head and pulled her car into the garage. Mandy
hopped out to direct Leo and Jake into parking spots. As she did that, Carly
dragged Eddie out the back door to join them.

“Welcome, everyone.” Carly waved. “It will be great fun to
visit with y’all.”

Mandy bit her lip to keep from laughing. Carly sounded like
the hostess of the party and her accent was as thick as two-day-old grits.

“Why does she sound like this is her house?” Joe muttered as
he took her arm.

“Cause she’s southern and she’s Carly.”

He chuckled, leaned over to kiss her cheek, then walked over
to help his parents unload. He left his brothers to take care of themselves
because each had one suitcase, but his parents had three. Maria had definitely
overpacked. You’d think with her background as a musician she’d be better at
minimalism, but such was not the case.

Carly walked over and hugged Mandy. “I guess visiting Joe’s
family went well?”

“Pretty well.” She hugged her mother back. “They’re all so
talented, it’s freaking scary.”

Carly cupped her face. “We’re all talented too, honey.”

“I know you and Eddie are—”

“You are too. If you’d just get past that stage fright of
yours.”

Mandy shrugged and Carly kissed her cheek. “If you ever want
to rejoin the band you know you’re welcome, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Good.”

Carly slipped her arm around Mandy’s waist and walked over
to Joe’s parents. “Now be a good girl and introduce us.” Eddie followed along
behind. She glanced back at her father and his eyes danced. Wicked delight on
his face. She followed his gaze and realized he and Leo were taking each
other’s measure. Leo was older by twelve years but she knew that wouldn’t
matter to Eddie.

“Leopold and Maria Schwarzerwulf, I’d like you to meet my
parents—Eddie and Carly Goldwolf.”

Leo extended his hand. “Edward. It is good to see you
again.”

Eddie took the extended hand. The two males shook and Mandy
hid a grin as they turned it into a civilized dominance match. Neither one
would let go. They just clenched harder. Mandy started to get worried as
neither male let up. She bit her lip wondering how to end the stalemate, but
she didn’t need to do anything. Carly and Maria exchanged looks, nodded once
and intervened.

“That’s enough.” Carly took Eddie’s wrist.

“I quite agree,” Maria admonished and grabbed Leopold.

The two females all but shook the males’ grips apart. Eddie
and Leopold dropped their hands at the same time and both turned to their True
Mates. Mandy had a feeling that they were attempting to deliver blistering
scolds. Scolds that were blithely ignored when both of the older males grunted
at nearly the same time and turned to face each other again.

“Good grip,” Leo said grudgingly.

“You too,” Eddie conceded.

Maria and Carly shook their heads before stepping forward to
exchange hugs. “So lovely to meet you, my dear.”

“And you, honey. It’s been a joy to have Joe in our band.
He’s a calming influence,” She shot a look at Eddie, who actually looked
abashed…for all of a minute.

“I have been most impressed with your wonderful daughter
today. She’s warm and quite sweet.”

“Thank you. She’s a good girl.”

“Mom, really.”

Carly laughed. “You’ll always be a girl to me, sweetie.”

“It’s a pity our males couldn’t be more relaxed.” Maria
glared at Leo and he colored under her scrutiny.

“It’s a male thing, Maria. Bless their hearts, they just
don’t know any better.” Eddie winced and Mandy laughed. Leopold looked puzzled
and glanced at his mate when she laughed too.

Joe passed them, wrestling two of the suitcases. “Bless
their hearts is southern for,
they’re idiots
, Father.”

Leo stuttered for a minute and exchanged a look with Eddie,
then both the older males chuckled. Eddie clapped Leo on the shoulder.

“C’mon. I’ll show you where your room is.”

“Wait, I must retrieve my violin.”

Leo returned to the car and opened the back door. He took
out his violin case and returned to Eddie, catching Maria gently by the arm and
they followed Eddie into the house. Julian had his suitcase and his trumpet
case and Jake leaned against his car. Mandy smiled at Joe’s brothers.

“I’ll lead the way.”

She waved them in as Joe came back out to get the last of
his parents’ suitcases. Joe shook his head but followed them inside. Eddie
leaned against the kitchen counter.

“Your mother is upstairs helping Maria unpack. You take the
boys up.”

She heard her brothers-in-law sigh. “If I’m still a girl,
you guys can live with being called boys.” She nodded at Eddie. “I’ll show them
to their rooms and be back downstairs to start supper.”

She settled Jake into the room originally set for Joe and
took Julian in to the one next door.

“How many bedrooms does this place have?” Jake asked as he
looked down the long hallway.

“Six. One on the main floor. Three on this level and two on
the third floor. It was built in the late 1800s for a very large pack family.”

“You really could open this place as a bed and breakfast,
couldn’t you?”

“Yeah. But I like my privacy.”

“How do you heat it?”

“There’s central air and heat, but all the bedrooms have
working fireplaces, too. If you want wood, let me know. I can make you up a
fire, if you’d like.”

“I’d have no idea how to maintain it once it was lit.”

Mandy laughed. “Then just enjoy the one in the main living
area. I have extra blankets if you get cold. Just let me know.”

Both brothers nodded then went to work unpacking. Mandy ran
downstairs to the kitchen where Carly was wringing her hands.

“There you are, honey. We should eat soon, but I have no
earthly idea what to cook.”

Mandy patted her mother’s arm. “I’ll take care of it, don’t
worry.”

“Thank you, honey.” Carly started to leave the kitchen but
Mandy called her back and her mother paused.

“I really am sorry about lying to you about Zach.”

Carly came back to her and took her hand. “I know, Mandy. I
admit I can be kind of obsessed at times, but I just want what’s best for you.”

They hugged and it felt good to have her mother’s
forgiveness. While she hugged her mother she heard the door open. When she and
Carly parted, she saw her father watching the two of them.

“Are you and your mother straight now?” he asked, his face
serious and his arms crossed over his chest.

“Yes, Daddy. We are.”

“You apologized?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Good.” He nodded. Then he came over and enveloped her in a
warm hug. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how much she feared she’d
never get one of these kinds of hugs from her father again. “Love ya, punkin.
You’re Daddy’s favorite, you know.”

“I’m Daddy’s only,” she grinned up at him.

“Still my favorite.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek then
pulled Carly into a family hug. “This is family. Feels damn good.”

“Must you swear?”

“Yes, Carly honey, I must.” He laughed and gave his mate a
warm kiss. “Now, how can we help you get food on the table for this crew?”

Mandy bit her lip as she stared at her fridge. She really
didn’t have anything fast to cook. “If it was just us, I’d order pizza and be
done with it for tonight.”

“Want to impress your mother-in-law, don’t you?” Carly
asked.

“Yeah. I guess so.”

“Don’t worry about impressing them. Just be yourself and
they’ll love you just like we do.”

“But—”

“Your mother is right, dear. Just be yourself. Did I hear
something about pizza?”

Mandy turned to look at Maria. “I can’t imagine Leo would
appreciate pizza.”

“He’ll adjust and it will be good for him. Besides, we had a
large dinner. We can do with a lighter supper.”

“What do you all like?”

“Let’s go to the living room to take suggestions.”

At first Leo frowned, but as they all got into the fun of
trying to make up the craziest pizza, he relaxed.

“Insanity may amuse all of you, but I have to eat this
concoction,” Leo grumbled, fighting a smile. They finally came to decisions and
ordered enough pizzas to feed everyone.

Maria looked over at the small live evergreen tree near the
fireplace. “My dear, why have you not taken your Christmas tree out of the
house?”

“I like having a live tree, so it’s kind of hard to move.
Plus I like to decorate the house for all the holidays. I keep it watered and
carefully trimmed so it fits inside. Then I can use it no matter what holiday
is coming up.”

“Do you mean to say you have ornaments and lights for, oh
the fourth of July?”

Mandy laughed and glanced at her parents. “Yeah, I do. It’s
one of my weird idiosyncrasies, I guess. Do you know how hard it is to find red,
white and blue lights?”

“So you have lights and ornaments for Valentine’s Day?” Leo
asked, eyeing his True Mate.

Mandy grinned, “Yup. Red and pink lights with all kinds of
hearts, roses, cupids and stuff for the ornaments. I’ve got well-marked boxes
up in the attic.” She turned to Joe and his brothers. “I need some help
fetching ornament boxes. Gentlemen, follow me to the attic. Let’s go get stuff
so we can decorate the house!”

Like a pied piper, she led the way to the attic and allotted
boxes to Joe and his brothers and grabbed a couple of boxes herself. Then they
all trouped back downstairs to the living room. The very
quiet
living
room. Mandy glanced back and forth between her parents and Joe’s and shook her
head.

“Lighten up everyone. We’re all music lovers. We can start
there.”

Leo raised his brows. “Music?”

“Yes, Leo.
Music.
Let’s start at the very beginning.
A very good place to start.”

“Very good, my dear.” Maria laughed out loud after Mandy
recited a couple of lines from
Do-Re-Mi
.

“I thought you’d appreciate that, Maria.”

She knelt in front of the boxes and opened them, unwrapping
ornaments. Carly glanced at her baby grand in the corner of the living room.

“Funny you should mention music, honey.” Mandy looked at her
mother, shaking her head.

“No way in hell.”

“So, is the piano tuned?” her mother asked, getting up and
wandering over to the instrument. She lifted the keyboard cover and ran her
fingers over the keys. A tinkling of music filled the room.

“It’s definitely in tune.”

“Of course it is. I knew you all would be here.”

“Have you been practicing?”

Mandy colored and frowned at her mother. “Sometimes.”

“Come on over here, Mandy honey”

Carly settled herself at the keyboard and just waited.
Reluctantly, Mandy stood up. Her belly tightened and her mouth went dry. She
fought the beginnings of her fear. At least the group was small. Her mother sat
on the left and Mandy came around to sit on the right. She slid on the bench
and cracked her fingers. Then stretched out her hands, all in a bid to put off
the inevitable. When Carly set her mind to something it happened and her mother
planned for her to play. In front of Joe and his family. His super
spectacularly talented family.

She heard the piano as Carly set her hands on the keys and
began the intro to
Heart and Soul
. Mandy bit her lip as she missed the
entrance and her mother leaned into her.

“Come on. I know you can do this.”

“But—”

“Just play.” She went through the intro again and this time
Mandy caught it. Plunking the melody one fingered to begin with.

“Well, how enchanting, I’m sure,” Leo rumbled.

“Wait for it,” she heard her father chuckle.

Mandy closed her eyes and let her muscle memory take over.
Suddenly, she and her mother were doing their elaborate version and she smiled.
She looked up at Carly and met her mother’s knowing gaze.

“Told you. It’s just family here.”

They began their improv around the standard bass and treble
lines in a piano version of cutting heads that they’d been doing since Carly
had first taught her to play piano when she was five. They switched off. Giving
each other the keyboard. Then they’d both play. They swapped parts in a piano
version of Twister, laughing together as they got knotted up. Then they
switched back to their own lines. Finally, they played the big finale and hugged
each other.

Eddie stood up, clapping, and he came over to give them both
hugs. “I knew you could do it, punkin.”

“Thanks, Daddy.”

“Now, how about playing my favorite so we can do a duet.”

Mandy glanced over at Joe and his family. Flabbergasted.
Every last one. Even Leopold looked shocked. And shocked in a good way.

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

“Where is it?”

Mandy pointed to the drawer of her desk. Eddie went over and
pulled a harmonica out. She swore she heard Leo groan and she laughed. Her dad
winked at her.

“Let’s go, punkin.”

She launched into
The Piano Man
and just like always,
her dad came in on the harmonica and sang while she played.

Carly whistled and applauded, then she grabbed an ornament
and handed it to Joe. “Go put this on the tree, honey.”