Read Online Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne - Free Book Online Page B

clicked as he pressed the unlock button. “I think I can fix that.”
    That was the biggest understatement of the year.
    Melody stepped off the curb and focused all her attention on not stumbling in her black heels as she opened the door and slid in. The leather seat felt cool against her bare arms, and a mint air freshener hung from the rearview mirror.
    “You look beautiful.” His eyes slipped from the road to her sequins, then back to the road. She had the distinct feeling he was exerting all of his self-control not to stare.
    Guess Laini was right.
    “Thanks. You dress pretty well for a conductor.” She thought of Mr. Wallsworth’s plaid pants and red bow tie and cringed.
    “Don’t give conductors much credit, eh?”
    Melody smiled. “For you, I’ll reserve my judgment.”
    “So generous you are.” He turned on the ramp for the 93 North.
    Nervous jitters crawled all over Melody as they merged onto the highway. Where were they going? Would someone from the orchestra see them? “What’s the plan?”
    “I have tickets for the BSO—Mahler five.”
    Melody relaxed back into the leather seat in relief. Symphony Hall was a very safe date. The last thing musicians wanted to do in their small amount of free time was listen to other musicians. “That sounds fantastic.”
    “I hoped you’d like it. It’s a great place to do our research for EHCS.”
    Melody’s stomach sank and she felt like an idiot in her sequins. There was the research word again. Was this a date at all? Either he was playing it really safe, which was sweet, or he had an inner Blake she hadn’t discovered yet. The date could go from romantic comedy to horror before she could say allegro , and she didn’t even have her car to make a quick getaway.
    Wolf continued. “You know, audience demographic, season programming, advertisers in the brochure.”
    Melody swallowed, trying to summon an enthusiastic tone. “Great.” Her response came out flat.
    Wolf put his hand on her arm. “Don’t worry. I don’t mean all work and no play. I’ve made reservations at The Charles Château afterward, a restaurant overlooking the river.”
    Melody’s heart stopped. That was a five-star restaurant—a little fancy for a first date. “Really?”
    “I value your input and help.”
    A conductor who asked one of his players for her opinion? Melody couldn’t believe her ears. “You really want this orchestra to succeed, don’t you?” She only hoped he meant it to succeed with the current personnel. She almost opened her mouth to ask, but then decided not to spoil their date with political orchestra talk. She didn’t want him to think she was using him to keep her position.
    “I have to find a way to raise money and improve ticket sales. I’m hoping together, we can learn something from tonight.”
    Wow, a man who got things done. The date had just started and she was already impressed. “I’ll certainly do whatever I can.”
    “That’s what I’m hoping for.” He smiled, breathing easy, as if he thought she’d be angry with him for taking her out to do work that would benefit both of them and all her friends.
    Wow, who had he dated in the past? A diva? Melody had never seen this vulnerable side of him before, but she realized she liked it.
    They drove in the middle lane at an easy pace, and he let the crazy Massholes pass him without frustration. Melody watched the city lines change on her right, feeling comfortable enough to ask a few personal questions. They were on a date—supposedly—after all.
    “So, what brought you from guest conducting the Berlin Philharmonic to Massachusetts?” Blake had posted a rather impressive biography of Wolf’s accomplishments on the EHCS website, and Melody had read it more than a few times when she first hated him and then again when she had started to like him, trying to glean some personal hints about his life. She always came up empty besides the fact that he “enjoyed educating children about the