Flesh & Bone - a contemporary romance: The Minstrel Series #2 (9 page)

“I’m working on a new one right now.”

“Let me hear it.”

“Oh. It’s not really ready.”

Well, at least that meant she wrote seriously. “Play me a finished one then.”

She held his gaze. “I will if you will.”

Wow, he hadn’t expected that. Maybe the girl had some gumption after all. “You’re on. But first, you know what? I’d really like to see your Duncan Africa. Is it possible for you to let me try it?”

Eva’s green eyes flashed with a moment of anxiety, but then she nodded and handed Sebastian the guitar to put away. She reached for the cane hanging on the back of her chair—Sebastian hadn’t noticed it before—and pushed herself upright. She limped ahead of him and he followed her through a door that led to a hallway and up a set of winding cement steps. He found himself jerking an arm outward, afraid that she might fall, but kept his hands to himself.

It was a slow climb, but they arrive at the next floor, and Eva opened the wooden door to their flat. It wasn’t big. A living room faced the street and connected to a small kitchen that overlooked a quaint, overgrown courtyard. The flat was tidy, but lived in.

“No one’s home?” he asked. It surprised him since the door was unlocked.

“Mama’s in the kitchen downstairs cleaning up. Papa had a meeting. Gabriele, that’s my sister, she’s in university.”

“You’re not in university?”

Eva paused, then answered softly. “I’m taking a year off.”

Sebastian wondered why, but he got the feeling it was personal and he didn’t want her to feel like he was grilling her. She opened the door to a room that housed two narrow beds. It clearly belonged to a couple girls by the way it was decorated with floral fabric and lace. He spotted the guitar propped up on a stand in the corner and whistled.

“That’s a beauty.” He caught her eye. “Do you mind?”

“Go ahead.”

He picked it up gently and examined the surface. “What kind of wood is it?”

“The back and sides are Indian Rosewood,” she answered. “The top is solid cedar.”

Sebastian whistled. “Nice.”

Eva sat on one of the beds and Sebastian claimed the chair by the guitar.

“Is this where you write?” he asked.

“Usually. I can’t write in the kitchen, and it’s… easier if I stay here.”

Right. Sebastian couldn’t imagine Eva carrying the guitar down the stairs on her own. He ran his fingers along the strings, plucking out a familiar rift, closing his eyes as he absorbed the joy of it. The bright sounds rang from the wooden instrument like honey to his ears.

“I love that song,” Eva said.

His eyes popped open, and he remembered where he was. “It’s a crowd favorite.”

“I’m a fan of your band,” she added.

Sebastian grinned, and his eyes moved to the poster on the other side of the room. He remembered that photo shoot and that thousands of copies of that poster had moved in a week. Eva’s eyes darted to where he’d been looking, and she covered her face with her hands.

“I’m so embarrassed.”

“Why? I’m flattered.”

“I just don’t want you to think I’m like those groupie girls who follow you around.”

Sebastian studied her. “Believe me. You’re nothing like them. And I mean that in the best way.” And that was the truth. Eva was like a breath of fresh air. She didn’t want anything from him, didn’t expect anything from him. He found himself relaxing for the first time in days.

He carried the guitar over to Eva. “Your turn.”

She smiled brightly, and a strange quiver swirled in his chest. He lowered himself to the rug at her feet and waited. She pursed her lips together and looked up at the ceiling like she was deciding what she should play—a simple expression that on Eva was adorable. Sebastian shook his head. Where were these thoughts coming from?

Focus on the song.

He didn’t have a chance to hear it because they were interrupted by a gust of wind and the shocked expression of a girl with short platinum blond hair who stood frozen in the doorway. She wore form-fitting jeans, a breezy blouse, and her arms were full of books. Her green eyes, the only thing that connected her to Eva, moved from the stunned face of the girl sitting on the edge of the bed, to Sebastian and back again.

She squinted at them. “Did I just enter an alternate universe?”

Eva almost dropped her guitar. She’d lost all track of time and wanted to kick herself for the lapse. She enjoyed having the sole attention of Sebastian Weiss. What girl wouldn’t? It was a dream, a fairytale: she had to know it wouldn’t last forever.

But she hadn’t wanted it to end like this—with her beautiful, charismatic sister’s charm luring him away. She and Sebastian had shared a moment. She hadn’t imagined the admiration she saw in his gorgeous hazel eyes. Had she? She’d believed he was interested in her, at least as an artist. Maybe what they had wouldn’t have lasted to the end of the day, but it had a chance before now.

Sebastian stood and offered his hand. “I’m Sebastian.”

Gabriele set down her books on the dresser with the poise of the Queen of England. “I’m Gabriele, Eva’s sister.” She smirked and pointed to the poster of Sebastian on Eva’s side of the room. “Of course I already knew who you were.”

A red flare of mortification ignited in Eva’s belly, and she wanted to crawl under her bed. Not that she wasn’t already invisible. The scene had changed, and once Gabriele had stepped on stage, the spotlight had swung to her, leaving Eva blotted out by the shadows. If this scene were playing in a theater, Eva’s character would be slinking out of sight on stage right.

Except there was no way for her to escape now. Gabriele blocked the doorway.

Gabriele propped a hand on her hip, and Eva swore she batted her eyelashes. “You can imagine my surprise,” she continued, her eyes locked on Sebastian’s face. “Finding you here… in my bedroom.”

Sebastian jerked and looked at Eva, like he finally remembered she was there. “Eva was kind enough to show me her beautiful guitar.”

“It is beautiful,” Gabriele admitted. “Sadly, she won’t let me play it.”

“You have your own beautiful guitar,” Eva said. “I didn’t know you wanted to play mine.”

Gabriele laughed. “Just teasing.”

“Where’s your
fiancé
?” Eva asked pointedly. Seriously. Gabriele was preparing to be married soon. Did she have to flaunt her expert flirtation skills?

Sebastian’s gaze moved between the two sisters. “I should go.”

“Probably a good idea,” Gabriele said lightly. “Papa doesn’t approve of boys in our bedroom.”

Eva rolled her eyes.
Oh my heart. Just kill me now.

Sebastian surprised her by crouching in front of her so they were eye to eye. “Thanks for showing me your guitar and for playing your songs. You’re a great songwriter, and I love your voice. Keep it up.” He stood and grinned at Gabriele who hadn’t moved from her spot by the door. “I can see myself out.”

Eva may have taken Sebastian’s admonishment to heart if she hadn’t watched him brush past Gabriele in the doorway.

“Way to make room for him to get by,” she said once he was gone.

“Hey, it’s not every day you find a hot celebrity in your bedroom.” She snuggled close beside Eva. “Now spill. How did he end up here? Tell me everything. Don’t leave anything out.”

Eva sighed. No one was immune to Gabriele’s charm, not even she. “He saw me play at the Blue Note.”

“Wait,” Gabriele pulled back. “The night you finally performed? And you never mentioned this?”

“It seemed so random. And I know I already come off as a lovesick fan. I didn’t want to add to that.” Eva shrugged a shoulder. “I really didn’t think he’d follow through with his promise to look me up.”

Gabriele gaped. “He promised you that?”

“Yeah. Kind of. He really liked my song. I just thought maybe he had too much to drink. Then he got recognized and raced away.”

“Wow. Sebastian Weiss looked up my sister because he thinks she’s talented.” She squeezed Eva’s shoulders and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Cool story. One for the Baumann family history books.”

Eva felt her lips pull up. It was impossible to stay mad at her sister.

“Now that the surreal has passed,” Gabriele said, pulling out her cell phone, “it’s time to work on wedding plans.” She gave Eva new instructions and Eva shuffled over to her desk where she could order some of the decorations online. She only peeked at Hollow Fellows website once or twice. Or three times. Oh God. How was she supposed to concentrate on real life now? She closed her eyes and happily relived every moment that she shared with Sebastian Weiss that day.

“Eva!”

She jumped at her sister’s voice. “I’m doing it, Gabi, jeez.” Eva had a sinking feeling that her life had peaked that afternoon, and it was all down hill from here.

Mama called for them to come for
Abendbrot
, a light meal of buns, meats and cheeses they shared in the evenings. The hot meal was eaten midday, and on soup kitchen days, the soup was considered their hot meal. Eva set the table with four plates and the necessary cutlery while Gabriele grabbed the glasses, the sparkling mineral water and the apple juice. Papa had already delivered the bread and quickly finished slicing a cucumber and tomato. This was a job Mama normally did, but Papa said she worked hard enough in the soup kitchen on soup days, and so he would oversee
Abendbrot
on those days.

Papa sat at his usual place at the head of the table with Mama at the spot to his right. Gabriele sat at the foot of the table and Eva beside her across from her mama. Papa cleared his throat, the sign that he was about to pray, and everyone closed their eyes and bowed their heads.

After the amen Mama lifted the bun basket and passed it around. “How are the wedding plans going?” she asked Gabriele.

“Good.” Gabriele sliced her bun and topped it with meat. “Papa, did you secure the Three Kings Church?”

He nodded. “I walked over this afternoon and settled things with the administration.”

So that was where he went while Eva was with Sebastian. Her papa stared at her, like he was just remembering the occasion as well. She looked down and picked at the seeds on the top of her bun, but her papa wasn’t thwarted.

“Who was that boy who came to see you today?”

“No one. Just a friend.”

Gabriele scoffed. “Just a friend? That was Sebastian Weiss, Papa. He’s gotten really big recently. On TV and the radio even. Eva’s got a poster of him on the wall of our room.”

“Gabi!” Eva hissed. What a traitor. She softened her expression and turned back to her parents. “He’s not even a friend. Just a musician I met at the Blue Note.”

Mama frowned and turned to her husband. “I knew it was a bad idea to let her go to a pub.”

Eva muttered, “Oh my God.”

Mama swung back to her. “Eva!”

“Sorry, Mama.” Her mother felt that God’s name should only be invoked if one were praying. “Oh my
heart
. But really, I’m not a child.”

Mama clucked. “We know that, but, you still need to use wisdom. Is this boy even a Christian?”

Eva dropped her knife. “We’re not
dating
for goodness sake. He just wanted to hear my song.”

“And see your Duncan Africa,” her sister added

Eva seared her with a glare. Gabriele had the decency to flash her a look of remorse.

Papa raised a bushy eyebrow. “The boy was here? In our flat?”

Eva couldn’t control the panic that was rising in her stomach. Her gaze cut back to Gabriele.
Help.

“I was here, too, Papa,” she jumped in. “They weren’t alone or anything, and I brought the guitar to the living room. Who knows, maybe he’ll buy one. Help support the Ugandans.”

Gabriele’s lie was a successful deflection. Papa resumed eating in a relaxed fashion as if Eva’s encounter with Sebastian as purely a promotion for a greater cause made more sense. Eva scowled. Of course Papa would find comfort in that thought. A guy like Sebastian Weiss couldn’t possibly be interested in someone like his handicapped daughter.