Blue-Eyed Soul Read Free Page B

Aleks agreed, and Remey waved him to the couch, then sat on the loveseat facing him, eyes bright with curiosity.
    "I'm going to guess this isn't a welcome to the neighborhood visit..." Remey began, watching Aleks. Gosh, he was gorgeous, and Remey was feeling all kinds of tingles for him. Too bad he seemed to think Remey was some sort of Hollywood asshole.
    Aleks looked uncomfortable. Remey wasn't sure why. It certainly couldn't be that Aleks was feeling star-struck because Remey was sitting there in frayed jeans, black-rimmed glasses and bare feet. Not at all intimidating, though he didn't think Aleks was the type to be intimidated in the first place.
    Then Aleks shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I guess we all assumed you'd be too busy for welcome wagons."
    Remey smiled, shaking his head. "Not at all. That's kind of why I'm here... to not be so busy."
    "Oh. Well, listen, I don't want to bother you..."
    Remey frowned, leaning forward when Aleks would have gotten up. "No, you're not. Sorry, I meant not so busy in terms of work." He smiled, hoping it came across as encouraging. "I'm not working now, though. What can I do for you?"
    "It's not for me, actually. You might not remember, but when we met at the shop the other day, Carl mentioned the Winter Festival?"
    "Sure, I remember." If they'd known each other better, or at all, Remey might have teased Aleks and said something like, Oh, the one you don't think would be my thing. But they didn't, so he didn't, waiting for Aleks to go on.
    "Well, I'm on the planning committee, and we met yesterday afternoon and..." Aleks looked uncomfortable still, and Remey had an idea he knew what was coming. "I got voted to be the one to approach you about maybe giving a concert as part of the festival. As a fundraiser. Since, you know, I'd already met you and all."
    Remey smiled, sliding his hands into the pockets of his cardigan. He'd bet Aleks hadn't taken the assignment well, judging by the pained look on his face while he was standing on the porch. "A fundraiser for what?" Remey didn't like it, but he had to be careful about what he agreed to and had his name associated with. Not so much now as he had when he'd first gotten started, though.
    Aleks shrugged. "We're looking to raise money to build a youth music center in the center of town. With arts programs in schools getting cut all the time, kids aren't getting the kind of well-rounded education they ought to be and it's a shame. I mean, if you can't, or you're not interested..."
    Remey leaned forward, holding up one hand. "Hey, no, none of that. I absolutely am. Music education is... well, it's a pet project of mine, among a few others. I'd love to do a benefit gig."
    "Oh... wow, okay. I didn't expect you to say yes so fast. Is there... is there someone we should deal with to set it up?" Aleks asked, taking a cell phone from his pocket. "Like... an assistant, or publicist, or whatever."
    Remey tilted his head to one side, then shook his head. "No. I'll have to let my label and publicist know, but you can set it all up with me. My assistant is on a well-deserved vacation, and she could use a reminder she doesn't run my life, even though she likes to think she does."
    Aleks glanced up, his expression surprised. "Oh. Okay, well... do you have an e-mail, then? Maybe some kind of business one I can use to get a hold of you to discuss the details?"
    Remey laughed, tilting his head curiously. "Well, I do, but wouldn't it be easier to call me? Or come over maybe? With everyone assuming I'm too busy to be bothered, my dance card is wide open."
    Aleks blinked and gave Remey a curious look of his own. Was he too obvious with the flirting? He wasn't really in practice after the last two years on tour. Aleks looked down at his phone again. "Sure, if you want to give me your number, I can call to figure out the details. My schedule isn't quite as open, I'm afraid. Are afternoons okay to call?"
    "Sure. I could come by the school after classes sometime,