Blue-Eyed Soul (11 page)

Remey shook his head, letting out a soft laugh. "No, he didn't cheat on me, as far as I know, anyway. When I got back from the tour, I started work right away on my third album, and I wanted Theo to work on it with me, but he said he had other things going on. I was disappointed, but I figured it was probably better, since we were involved. I was so happy with him, I could hardly keep my mind on anything but him or music for more than ten minutes straight.

"So, when some of my new lyrics and sheet music started disappearing, I didn't think a whole lot of it. I put it down to my head being in the clouds and re-wrote everything as best I could. When I was finished with the album, I brought Theo to the wrap party, even though he'd seemed distant. I figured I'd been wrapped up in my own stuff and hadn't been paying enough attention to him. I was planning to propose, since we'd been together for over a year and I thought things were going well. Anyway, at the release party, half the music industry was there, and this producer came up to us and started raving to Theo about all these songs he'd written and done demos of."

The light bulb began to go on, and Aleks grimaced. "Shit. He never wrote any songs, did he?"

"No. He'd taken mine and used them to try to get himself a record deal. This jackass producer was going on and on, quoting the songs, and as soon as I realized it, I lost it. I've never been so mad in my life, and it turned into a yelling match right there." Remey looked mortified remembering it. "Needless to say, we were over. I broke up with Theo then and there, and kicked him out of the house. I had to get the label's lawyers to lean on the producer to get back the music, and once everything was settled, I went right out on tour to get away from everything because, of course, the media was all over the wrap party and the whole story of what happened was plastered from Perez to
People
to
Entertainment Tonight.
"

Aleks let out a breath, shaking his head. "Damn. And then there you are on tour and you see the postcard... and Haven sounded like the perfect place to get back to yourself, didn't it? To remember who you are and what you love."

Remey lifted his incredulous gaze, nodding. "Yeah... how'd you know?"

Aleks chuckled wryly. "Because it's pretty much why I came back three years ago."

They had so much more in common than Aleks wanted to admit. It frustrated him, mostly because a large part of him wished Remey wasn't who he was. Why couldn't he be a nice, normal guy, new to town and interested in settling down? Instead, Remey was equal parts perfect guy and Regan all over again--a drifter, in and out with a smile and a kiss and no hard feelings.

"I like you, Remey. I like you a lot more than I expected to or wanted to."

"But?"

Aleks looked up, conflicted. "But I don't know. I can't think only about what I want." And, oh, he wanted Remey. "I think maybe... we should take a few steps back. I mean, you just got to town. You're here to relax, get back your mojo, right?"

Remey smiled. "Yeah. I hadn't thought of it
that
way, but yeah."

Aleks returned the smile. "So it's a small town. You'll be around and so will I. Let's just..." He shrugged. "See what happens."

Remey rubbed his thumb across his knuckles, glancing up to meet Aleks's eyes. "So, you're not angry with me."

Aleks shook his head. "I wasn't ever angry with you. With the situation, yes, but not with you. That'd be stupid and pointless. You didn't ask for those paps to show up any more than I did."

Remey let out a relieved breath. "Yeah. I ... I can see how you might have wanted to blame me, though. I'm glad you don't because I like you an awful lot, too." His eyes darted toward the couch, and Aleks laughed when he saw where Remey was looking.

"How about we leave things as they are? I don't think right now is the time for us on the couch. Willow's at Stevan and Jess's house, but I promised to take her to the playground this afternoon. I don't want to be worrying about the clock when I get to have you. Tomorrow might be the right time, or maybe a week from tomorrow. You're not going anywhere, after all."

Remey grinned. "I'm glad to hear you finally believe me."

Aleks smiled. "Good. On that note, I think I should grab the paintings and head out, so you can't tempt me with your promising smile and your comfortable couch."

Remey laughed and nodded, pushing up from the chair and gesturing for Aleks to follow him. "Sure. I brought them inside. I didn't think they should be left in the car, even if it is parked in the garage. They're back here in the den."

Aleks felt better. This could be good. They were going to be thrown together a lot, it seemed, whether it be for the festival or because of his meddling family. Not to mention how they seemed to have a hard time keeping away from each other on their own, too. So they'd see what happened. With the media attention dying down, maybe there was a chance to get to know Remey. He'd judged him pretty harshly from the outset, which hadn't been fair.

He crouched down to pick up the canvases, meeting Remey's eyes over the stack. "Thanks for keeping these safe for me."

Remey smiled. "I didn't mind at all. I might've been tempted to keep one or two, but I certainly didn't mind."

Aleks glanced down at them, then back up at Remey. "I don't think my creepy flowers and happy skeletons and zombies would fit in with your style."

Remey smiled, tilting his head. "Oh, you never know. Maybe you've misjudged my style, Aleksander."

Aleks smiled at the double meaning. "Maybe I have." He was looking forward to finding out.

"Anything else, sweetie?" Mona asked as she paused by his table, picking up the empty plate from his sandwich, and Remey glanced up with a smile.

"Maybe a mug of your awesome hot apple cider?" he asked, flashing her a grin, and Mona laughed.

"You're addicted, aren't you?" she teased.

"Absolutely." Remey answered, looking up as the bells over the door jangled. His smile widened as Aleks stepped into the café. Mona glanced over to the door and waved at Aleks, then headed behind the counter to get Remey's cider. Remey closed his laptop and set it aside as Aleks approached his booth, flashing him a quick grin.

"Well, hello, what're you doing here? I wasn't expecting to see you today."

Remey had been thinking about Aleks, though, pretty much all the time, ever since those electric kisses a few nights ago at Stevan's. He hadn't obsessed as much over a few kisses since he was a teenager. Aleks's smile held a touch of mischief, his cheeks were flushed from the cold, and his eyes were sparkling.

It's a good look on him, Remey thought, a tingle going through him as Aleks hung his coat on the peg at the end of the booth seat, sitting down across from him.

"It's Willow's best friend Mackenzie's birthday today, so she's at her house for the afternoon at a party, and I have a few hours free." Aleks broke off as Mona brought over Remey's cider, along with a cup of coffee for him. "Thanks, Mona."

Remey smiled, slipping his laptop into his messenger bag. "I bet she's going to have a blast and come home on a total sugar high."

Aleks chuckled. "That's a sucker bet. So... tell me you don't have plans this afternoon. Because I'm a single father, Remey, and spending a rare childless day sitting around the house would be pathetic."

A slow smile spread across Remey's face. "I'm not busy, no. What did you have in mind?"

Aleks grinned. "Have you ever been on a pontoon boat?"

Remey laughed aloud. "Aleks, I was born and raised in Louisiana. I all but lived on pontoon boats in the summer."

Aleks made a face, like he was embarrassed he hadn't considered that, then shrugged. "Well, good then. Come on, pay the lady and let's get out of here. I've got a boat rented and waiting for us out on Lake Powell."

Remey beamed. "Really? How far is it?"

"Maybe fifteen minutes, over on the outskirts of town."

Remey gestured Mona back over and asked for the check, slipping his coat on and winding his scarf around his neck.

"You can follow me if you want," Aleks began when they got outside, and Remey shook his head.

"I can leave my car here, if you don't mind dropping me off back here."

Aleks flashed him a grin. "I don't mind at all. Come on. I'm parked down the street a little ways." Remey was so tempted to slip his free hand into Aleks's as they walked, but he restrained himself. They weren't dating yet... Unless Aleks was thinking of this outing as a date. And even if he was, it would only be their first date and... Why was he even obsessing about this? Remey shook his head and pushed the thoughts away, grinning up at Aleks.

"Thank goodness for toddler birthday parties."

Aleks's smile was slow and warm as he opened the passenger side door of his SUV for Remey and gestured for him to climb in. "You read my mind."

Remey shivered. He was almost a hundred percent sure there'd be more kissing today, and maybe more. It sounded like the perfect way to keep warm on an open pontoon boat.

Aleks climbed behind the wheel, looking Remey over. "It's colder out on the water, so we'll bring a couple of blankets I have in back."

Remey glanced over at him as Aleks pulled away from the curb, smiling. "You and me and a couple of blankets, all alone out on the lake? I'm liking this plan more and more every minute, Aleksander."

Aleks chuckled. "You know, no one calls me that."

"Does it bother you?"

"Not at all. I kind of like how it sounds." Aleks flashed him a sexy grin. "I figure you could read the telephone book and it'd be sexy with your accent."

"Good." Remey glanced out the window, then back at Aleks. "I didn't know anyone went boating when it was this cold."

Aleks laughed. "This? Oh, city boy, this is nothing. People here are out on the water all year round. When it freezes over sometime in January, you should come with us. I'll be bringing Willow out with my brother and me this year to ice fish. She's big enough now."

"Ice fishing, huh? Well, there's a first time for everything, I guess. I think maybe I'll leave the fishing to you and Stevan, though. Me and fishing equipment don't get along."

Aleks laughed, glancing over at Remey. "How so? There's got to be a story behind this."

Remey smiled. "Oh, there is. My daddy took Dan and I fishing once, when I was about thirteen, I think. Anyway, I was trying to be a hotshot and flick the hook out into the water all fancy-like from over my shoulder. Well, what I didn't know was the hook had caught on the pocket of my shorts, so I'm tugging and tugging. Of course, I didn't want to tell my dad I was stuck, so I kept pulling at it. And then I knocked myself off balance and fell on my ass. So, needless to say, I have a two-inch long scar on my ass from the fish hook and got tormented mercilessly by my brother for the rest of the freaking summer."

Aleks laughed, shaking his head. "Seriously?"

"Oh yeah. I'll show it to you sometime," Remey teased, shooting Aleks a warm, sexy smile.

Aleks eyed him back, and Remey swore the temperature in the car went up twenty degrees. He didn't think he'd gotten this tied in knots over a guy since he'd crushed hard on the student teacher in his English class senior year in high school. The combination of curiosity and teenage hormones had made him completely unable to focus in class. Remey had more experience now than he had back then, but when Aleks was around, he felt like a teenager all over again, nervous and sweaty-palmed and dying for even the slightest indication his interest was returned.

Thankfully, before Remey could do something embarrassing like suggest they forget the lake and head straight for a motel, Aleks pointed up ahead.

"Here we go."

Remey leaned forward. It wasn't very big, but then nothing in Haven was. But, like everything else, the little marina was quaint and made him imagine the place bustling with activity and families in the summer time. As they pulled into the small parking lot, a man with a weathered face approached, a friendly smile creasing his cheeks.

"Aleks!"

Aleks grinned as he parked and climbed out of the SUV, waving. "Hey, George, how's Mirial?"

The other man, probably the owner, Remey guessed, came around and clasped Aleks's hand. "Good, good. She wants to know when we're going to see your sweet girl again?"

Aleks chuckled. "What, our visit on Halloween when she cleaned you out of every last Snickers bar you had wasn't enough to last you 'til next year?" He grinned and turned, gesturing as Remey came around the vehicle. "George, this is Remey Dufresne. Remey, this is George Wallace."

Remey smiled and offered his hand. "Nice to meet you."

George peered at him over a pair of bifocals, his eyes amused. "Heard you moved out to Haven all the way from California. You don't sound like some slicked-up Hollywood fancy-pants boy."

Remey laughed. "I'm not. I was born and raised in Louisiana."

"Well, you might be alright, then," George joked, pulling a set of keys out of the pocket of the down vest he wore over a flannel shirt. "There's the keys, Aleks. The pontoon's all gassed and ready to go. You radio me if you run into any trouble."

"Will do, George. Thanks." Aleks pocketed the keys and gestured to Remey. "Hold on a second. I'm going to get those blankets."

Remey waited while Aleks retrieved the blankets from the back of the SUV, unable to help ogling a little. He didn't figure anyone could blame him because Aleks's ass and mile-long legs in a pair of jeans that looked like they'd been made for him was one of the sexiest sights he'd ever seen. Aleks emerged and closed the back hatch of the SUV, tucking the blankets under his arm and pointing toward the pier along the shore of the lake.

"This way. I hope you like it. This was the best way I could think of to spend an afternoon."

Remey smiled, glancing up at Aleks as they stepped onto the pier, turning toward the end where the pontoon was tied to its own short dock. "I think it's pretty perfect myself. I always loved going out on the water as a kid, and I haven't been in years and years. Plus, I get to be alone with you."