CupidRocks (3 page)

“Hey, Joe. You’re acting flaky as hell tonight. What’s up?”
Eddie asked, leaning against the building beside him.

Joe looked at the man who was growing to be a close friend.
He didn’t want to tell Eddie,
well man, your daughter just stabbed me in the
heart so I’m a little pissy right now
.

“Turning forty isn’t a walk in the park. That’s all.”

“Yeah, I remember. Sixty is a little better, but not much.
Rockers shouldn’t turn sixty.”

“Better sixty than dead, my friend.”

“Better forty than dead.” Eddie nudged his arm.

Joe laughed wryly. “Right.”

“Hey, look at it this way. You don’t have a strand of gray
and you’re lucky as hell because you can still nail the chicks. Carly would
castrate me if I banged a groupie between sets at a concert.”

“And you’d deserve it. You don’t screw around on your mate.
Ever.
”

Eddie grinned. “Yeah. I guess I’ll keep her.”

“Hey, man, you’re lucky she keeps
you
.” Joe took a
deep breath. “Time for the third set?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

“Hey, are you cool with changing up the set a bit?”

“Sure. It was kinda chick oriented and we have a good mixed
crowd tonight.”

“Great.”

Mandy came out of the bathroom with freshly reapplied makeup
just as the band started to play. She adjusted her panties under her skirt,
desperately wishing Joe still had them in his pocket. She’d find a way to talk
to him before the night was over. She had to convince him that he had her all
wrong. She wasn’t a cheater. Not at all.

She returned to the stage and dance floor area and winced
when she heard the song they played. A cheating song. She’d sneaked a peek at
the set list before they started playing and there wasn’t a cheating song in
the entire thing. Damn him he’d changed the set list.

She knew the truth. Zach was
not
her mate and she
hadn’t done anything wrong. Well, other than telling the fib that she and Zach
were together, but they weren’t and they both knew it. If only she wasn’t so
protective of Carly. Her mother had a tough time of it when she and Eddie first
got together so Mandy had done whatever she could to make Carly happy when she
was growing up and she still did. Mandy admitted to herself that she also
wanted to get her mother to quit nagging.

So how did she fix this mess? And it was a mess. Mandy
walked back to her table. She toyed with her camera as Joe sang, clenching her
jaw as she tried to figure out how to hold out for the rest of the night.

Finally, she waved a passing waitress over and asked for a
stiff drink, a soft drink, and some garlic cheese bread. Then she looked up at
Joe, determined to stare him down. She took a deep breath and met his
condemning gaze. She knew she’d screwed up, but damn him anyway. She raised her
brows at him. Just daring him. He met her dare and then some.

The entire freaking third set was hard rock songs intermixed
with cheating songs. Mandy focused on working with her camera to get great
shots and ignored the music. As they approached the end of the set, she found
she couldn’t block it out anymore. She wanted to cry again. But she didn’t.
Instead, she went back to her table to sit down. She had to put things
right…tonight. She hated having Joe think she was capable of cheating on a
mate.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Before we start our last song of the
night, we want to thank you all for coming out tonight. Remember to tip your
waiters and waitresses generously.”

The crowd cheered in response to Joe’s request.

“You all know we’re a rock band right?”

More cheering.

“Well, what we all really want to be is…rock stars!”

With that he launched into
Rockstar
. The crowd
screamed and flooded the floor. This song was definitely Joe’s influence. Eddie
stuck to the music of the sixties and seventies. Occasionally the eighties. But
Nickelback? Oh yeah, that was Joe. She smiled and decided to dance too.

Joe couldn’t get over Mandy’s brazenness. How did anyone
decide that fucking someone who wasn’t your mate was perfectly okay?

When she got up to dance to the last song, he fought against
watching her but he lost. How could he still be attracted to her? He hated
cheaters, yet Mandy was special. Full of life and exuberance. He shook his
head. Son of a bitch! He still wanted her. He was a fucking idiot.

Joe took his bows with the rest of the band as the crowd
cheered at the end of the song, so they played an encore. It was his absolute
favorite,
The Load Out/Stay
. Carly knew how to make the piano cry during
the song and he loved the words. It had been his life for twenty years and God
willing, for another twenty too. The crowd whistled and howled in appreciation.
Damn, he loved performing.

After the concert he mingled with the fans but kept his eye
on Mandy. Not once did she even look Zach’s way and he all but ignored her too.
Zach was too busy flirting with a Whitewolf female. Jeez, didn’t anyone believe
in fidelity anymore? Shit, maybe he
was
getting old.

After the crowd thinned out, they started to break down the
equipment. Joe continued to watch Mandy and Zach out of the corner of his eye.
The more he watched, the more confused and pissed he got. What the fuck was
going on?

Chapter Three

Mandy grabbed Zach as he passed her on the way to his
office. “You need to come home with us.”

“Mands, I’ve got to close up. Clean. You know—the usual
shit.”

“Delegate. Your manager is perfectly capable.”

“I need to count the money.”

“You’re such a chickenshit, Zach. You just counted the take
and gave the band’s cut of the door to Eddie.”

“You got me into this goat fuck…”

“And I’m going to get you out…tonight. But I need you there
to help me. If they can see we aren’t mates it will go a long way toward
repairing the damage.”

“You owe me so big.”

“You already said that. Just get sorted. They’re all staying
at my place. They’ll follow me in The Beast.”

“The Beast?”

“The bus. The Beast actually fits in my back driveway.”

Zach grumbled but he agreed to come home with them.

To speed things up, Mandy went over to help them break down.
Sometimes she thought she could do it in her sleep, she’d been doing it so
long. Twice Joe corrected her about how she was packing things.

The third time she put her hands on her hips. “Are you always
this anal? The cables are fine the way I wrapped them.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know how to break down. I was raised in The Pack. Hell, I
was a member long before
you
were, dude.” They stood toe-to-toe,
glaring.

“Would you two give it a rest? You’re making my head hurt,”
Eddie complained. “It’s late and I’m hungry.”

“Then tell the anal new guy I won’t hurt his precious
equipment.” She tilted her head. “
Any
of it.”

Eddie chortled. “She’s got you there, man. Punkin, you’re
definitely Daddy’s favorite.”

“That’s not hard. I’m Daddy’s only.” Mandy grinned at her
father.

Eddie strode over and gave her a bear hug. “True. But you’re
still my favorite.”

Joe seemed to relax as they finished breaking things down
and packing them onto the bus. In spite of how pissed she was at him, she loved
watching him work. He was efficient and decisive. Eddie and Tom had a tendency
to stop working and start talking about bullshit part way through the job only
to have Carly and Sharon jump their asses to get done. Joe kept them all on task.

As they piled onto the bus, Zach walked over to his
motorcycle and started it. Mandy looked up into the bus stairwell, unsurprised
to see Joe settle behind the wheel. Red always used to do the driving too.
Eddie and Tom had CDLs but neither liked to maneuver The Beast.

“Eddie and Carly can get you to my place,” she told Joe. “I
have a long driveway in back that’ll hold the full length of the bus.”

“Right. We’ll get there.”

Mandy backed off. She started her car and watched to make
sure they followed her. The bus made an easy turn and trailed after her like a
wolf on the hunt. She drove through the silent, early morning streets of
Whitewolf, Colorado, relieved as they made it home without incident. They’d
been stopped by Whitewolf’s finest one too many times for her to relax until
they all came to a complete stop.

Joe pulled the bus up the incline into her driveway. She
sighed in frustration. Damn it. Did he have to be so competent? He did
everything well. Played guitar, sang, drove a bus…fucked. Shit! Mandy turned
off her car and climbed out to wait near the bus. Carly and Eddie came down the
stairs then looked back up the steps.

“You are not sleeping in the belly of The Beast, Joe. Mandy
has space inside for all of us. It’s a tradition to stay with her when we play
around here.”

Mandy stalked over and looked up into the bus, catching
Joe’s eye. “Carly’s right. Family and band tradition.”

“Oh sweetie, can you make me some of your tasty Belgian
waffles?” Sharon asked with a groan of anticipation as she walked down the
stairs.

“I have the fixings for breakfast inside. I always plan
ahead for you guys.”

Tom clapped Joe on the shoulder in passing. Joe still sat in
the driver’s seat, obviously undecided. “She makes man-food as well as the
fluffy stuff, Joe. She’s known how to cook for years.”

“Unlike her mother,” Eddie teased, slapping Carly on the
ass.

“Edward Goldwolf…” Carly’s threatening tone had Eddie
lifting his hands defensively.

“When Mandy was on the road with us we ate damn well, but
sorry, honey, you can’t cook and we both know it.”

“Like you can?”

“Hell no. Well, I do barbeque pretty good, but that’s it.”

“Mandy is an excellent cook.” Carly assured Joe.

“She’s been feeding the lot of us for years. Sharon only
does the basics.” Tom added, getting a smack from his mate as he hit the ground
at her side.

“Hey,” he grumbled.

“So is Zach joining us?” Carly asked.

“Yes. Tonight he is.” Joe’s eyes sparked with anger, but she
held his gaze. “We want to talk to all of you. Inside. Now.”

Joe stood. “I’ll get an overnight bag and join you.”

Mandy leaned against the side of the bus. “I’ll wait.” She
could almost hear his teeth grind as he growled and grabbed his stuff.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with him tonight. He’s normally
very easygoing after a concert,” Carly commented to Mandy. “Is the back door
open, sweetie?”

“Yeah. You and Eddie are in your usual room and so are Tom
and Sharon.”

“You put Joe in Red’s usual room?”

“Yeah.”

“Sounds good. It’s cold out here. I’ll herd them inside
while you wait for Mr. Reluctant.”

Carly kissed her on the forehead and waved everyone toward
the back door. Zach came across the back yard from his place and she pointed to
the back door. He frowned but headed inside. She heard Joe rattling around on
the bus then he appeared at the top of the steps, overnight bag in hand. She
stepped to the side.

“This isn’t a good idea, you know. I’m really pissed at you,
angel.”

“The feeling’s mutual, stud.” Mandy turned and headed for
the door as he closed the bus doors and followed.

“Why are you pissed at me?
I’m
not the cheater.”

She turned abruptly to face him. “Neither am I!” Mandy took
a deep breath, trying to hold her emotions in check. “I have a lot of
explaining to do but I’d rather not do this twice. Come on.”

Mandy mounted her back steps and opened the doors to her
large three-season porch. This was her favorite place to hang out when it was
warmer. One of these years she was going to make it a year-round hang out. She
breathed a sigh of relief when Joe followed her inside and straight into her huge
country-style kitchen.

“So what do you all want to eat?” Mandy asked the room at
large. Maybe if she fed them, the bombshell explosion from telling the truth
would be smaller.

“Mands, can we get on with this?” Zach asked in a pained
tone.

Mandy rolled her eyes because Carly was hanging on him with
her arms wrapped around his waist. Carly was probably still trying to convince
him to become a father.

Carly let go, setting beside Eddie on one side of the big
table. Sharon and Tom were already seated across from them. Joe started for the
far end of the table.

“Nope, you there.” She pointed to Carly’s side. “Zach, you
there.” She pointed to the empty chair beside Sharon. That left the head of the
table empty and a spot for Mandy at the foot. Both males reluctantly followed
orders.

Mandy slapped bacon onto the griddle and started cracking
eggs to scramble. She quickly mixed batter for Sharon’s waffles too. The hum of
conversation at the table was primarily between the two couples. Zach and Joe
were painfully silent. Mandy could feel Joe’s glare right in the center of her
back and whenever she turned around she found his resentful eyes on her.

She finished cooking breakfast in short order, loading the
table with tender scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, toast and butter, and Belgian
waffles with maple syrup. She also provided coffee all around and a jug of
fresh orange juice. She’d tried to talk them into warm milk in the past with no
luck whatsoever so now she didn’t even bother. Mandy settled down at the table
with Joe, Carly, and Eddie to her left and Zach, Sharon and Tom to her right.
She served herself some scrambled eggs and bacon then poured some juice. She
took a bite of egg.

“So what’s the big news, sweetie?” Carly asked. “Are you
pregnant?”

Zach spit out his coffee and Mandy started to cough. As one
they turned to Carly.

“Shit no.” Zach growled.

“Hell no.” Mandy choked. “Carly, one day I swear I’m going
to scramble you. This is all
your
fault, you know.”

Carly opened her eyes wide, faking total innocence as only she
could. “What is my fault?”

Mandy glanced at Zach. “Just tell her and get it over with.”

Mandy cleared her throat. “Zach and I are
not
mates.
Okay?” She took another bite of scrambled eggs as total silence reigned at the
table.

“Would you please repeat that, young lady?”

Mandy groaned. Carly was dangerous enough when she was
happy. Get her pissed and heads rolled. Tonight it would be Mandy’s head.

“What do you mean, you and Zach aren’t mates?” Eddie asked.

Mandy glanced at Zach. He rolled his eyes at her. She kicked
him under the table. “Hey! This isn’t my fault, Mands. Anyway, it was your
idea. I just went along with it.”

“Yeah, it’s my fault but you agreed to help.”

“Yeah and never again. I swear.”

Mandy shook her head then looked at her parents, whom she
adored. “I love you both, really. But I…” she paused, trying to figure out how
to explain.

“Just spit it out, Mands.”

“Zach, shut up. Either tell them yourself or let me do it in
my own way.”

“Then tell them. You’re such a freaking wimp. Get a spine.”
He shoveled some scrambled eggs into his mouth.

“And you’re a tool.”

Sharon started to laugh. At first just chortling and then
she exchanged looks with Tom. Both of them lost it, breaking out in gales of
laughter.

“What’s so damn funny?” Mandy asked.

“The two of you sound like Sam and Dee.” Sharon laughed,
raising her brows at Carly.

“Your two pups? Why would you say that?” Carly asked, her
brows furrowed in confusion.

“They sound like brother and sister, not mates. Damn, Carly
think about it. You and Eddie fight different than that. So do Tom and I. These
two sound like whiny thirteen-year-olds.”

“Hey!” Zach grumbled. “I’m not thirteen.”

“Weren’t you just complaining about feeling like a dirty old
wolf around your twenty-something waitresses?” Mandy asked, and he winced.

“Yeah. But I’d rather be the same age, not a young pup with
no street cred.”

Mandy shook her head. She and Zach did sound like siblings,
because in every important way they were. Sharon had it right.

“Mandy honey. You lied to us about this?” Eddie asked and
she lifted her gaze. He sounded so hurt.

“Oh, Daddy. I’m sorry. Really. But well…Carly wouldn’t let
it alone. When are you going to find a mate? When will I see some grandpups?
Sharon is going to have grandbabies, I want grandbabies.” Mandy sighed. “I
thought this would make her happy and the nagging gets real old, real fast.”

“So you lied?” Joe asked quietly.

She bit her lip and forced her gaze to his. She expected
condemnation, but instead he was almost unreadable. Mandy couldn’t tell if he
was pissed, disappointed, or relieved.

“Yeah, I lied. I asked Zach to do me a favor. We’ve been
friends for three years. He’d come over and help me with restoration and stuff,
but there wasn’t any chemistry between us. Ever.” She smiled at Zach. “It would
have been easier if there had been. I’m his type and he’s mine,
but…well…nothing. Nothing but friendship.”

“So you’ve never had sex with him?” Joe asked.

“Um…”

“You have been lovers, then.” Again Joe sounded angry.

“I wouldn’t use the term lovers, really.” Mandy turned to
him, trying to explain.

“Heat buddies,” Zach muttered, taking a swig of the orange
juice. “Shit this is fresh. How come I don’t rate fresh juice when I come over
here?”

Mandy groaned. “Zach, I swear I’m going to kill you. I mean
it.”

“How many times have you made me breakfast, Mands? The juice
is always from a jug.”

“I just bought a new juicer okay? I juiced some oranges this
morning to try it out.”

“Heat buddies?” Carly asked, her tone threatening.

“Yes, Mom. Heat buddies. Friends with benefits. Once a
month. There was no one else I wanted to…um…so I asked Zach and he said yes.”

“Hey, I get laid at least once a month. Better than I was
doing before.”

Eddie growled, “That’s my daughter you’re talking about.”

Zach looked up from his food, raising his brows. “Yeah, and
who was it who asked me why I wasn’t living with my bitch and did I let her
decide when we screwed? Don’t be such a hypocrite.”

Mandy hid a laugh. Zach glanced at her, gave her a wink and
then he turned to her parents. “Look, I’m dead on my feet. Are we kosher here?
Mandy and I are friends, not mates. Right?”

“We got that,” Carly assured him quietly.

Zach nailed Joe with a glare. “And Mandy would never cheat
on a mate, Chosen or True. Got it?”

“Yeah, I got it.”

Zach nodded. “Good.” He leaned over and gave Mandy a kiss on
the cheek. “Good luck, hon. With this crew, you’re gonna need it.”

“Thanks, Zach.” She stood and gave him a hug.

“You still owe me. Even more now than before. It’ll take you
years to balance the karmic debt here.”

She slugged him in the arm. “How many times are you going to
tell me that?”

“Daily, if necessary. Good night everyone. I’d say it was
nice meeting you all but I’d be lying.”

“Zach!” Mandy scolded.

He chuckled and left through the back door. Mandy sat down
again, glancing over at her thunderstruck parents.