[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

this set.
The band members exchanged puzzled glances. John frowned. The four songs of
the armed units of the US military forces were the only four in this set. He knew their
routine.
 Ladies and gentlemen, a special treat tonight. Fresh back home, the Siren of Iraq
herself, Lauren Carr!
The three guys in the band broke out in grins. John looked at Lauren, who stepped
into the limelight with only a small smile of apology for him. She must ve known what
Pete was going to do and even though she d protested, she d decided to stay and sing.
With mixed feelings, John watched her take the mike like a pro and nod to the others in
the band.
The opening notes gave away the number and a smattering of applause greeted the
familiar tune. For over ten years it had been the theme song of a popular TV series,
although John doubted that more than a handful of viewers actually knew the lyrics.
But he did. And so did Lauren. Her voice, a soft, sexy alto sang out the words,
 Through the early morning fog I see&  She swayed with the music, losing herself in it.
When she got to the words  suicide is painless , John saw her close her eyes in pain and
he had to wonder just how much was an act. Why hadn t he put it together earlier?
MishMASH they called themselves. They started every evening with the same four
songs to salute the military. He knew they were all former soldiers, but it never
occurred to him that they might have served together in a hospital over there. Not until
Lauren stood to sing that haunting song.
She finished, opened her eyes and bowed to the audience who sat mesmerized
under her spell. Breaking it, she threw up her hands in a whoop and called out to the
band,  Come on, boys, let s finish with a flourish!
Shaheim pounded out the opening notes of Great Balls of Fire and she and Pete
shared vocals on the rousing number. Her eyes sparkled and her voice was incredibly
good. She d given him no hint of the talent that lay inside her. Her showmanship put
the audience in the palm of her hand.
It ended and the house erupted in applause. She was a hit. Giving each of the band
members a hug, she waved one last time to the audience and came to rejoin him at their
table.
 I hope you don t mind. That was& unexpected. And fun.
 You ve performed with them before. John wanted to curse the inanity of the
obvious, but he couldn t quite figure out his feelings all of a sudden.
 I did. She pushed away the remaining now-cold chicken wing and downed the
rest of the beer, apparently not realizing she had just finished off his second bottle. The
waitress had come through and cleaned out the three Lauren had already polished off.
 Do you want to stay for the rest of the set?
48
Services Rendered
She shook her head as if suddenly realizing he might be upset.  No, that s okay. I d
rather not get into a prolonged conversation with them. We d be here all night.
John signaled for the check, paid it, and stood to go. By the time they left, the band
had cycled through a ballad, another sing-along and was moving into a Coldplay piece.
Lauren waved and blew them kisses they promptly returned and the two made their
way out into the fading twilight.
Lauren felt light on her feet. The music had put her in a wonderful mood. She
hadn t sung like that since being home. They d had some good times over there. The
one-night stand with Pete she had brushed out of her memory and she gave it a mental
swat as it tried to nag at her now.
And beer? How long since she d indulged in a glass of beer? No, more than a glass.
She giggled at the thought and, at John s glance at her, tried to put on a straight face.
Yeah, she d had more than a glass tonight, that was for darn sure.
 I m not drunk, she announced.
 I didn t think you were. He handed her into the SUV with the same polite care he
always took of her.
 You didn t expect me to sing.
He shrugged and closed the door. For some reason that miffed her. When he got in
the other side, she confronted him.
 You didn t think I could sing.
 I never really thought much about it. You have a good voice.
 Thank you. He started the car and she couldn t decide whether to pout or not.
Hadn t he just said she had a good voice? Why did she think she d been insulted?
He took the turn to her apartment and she shook her head. Somehow she d blown it [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]