Flesh & Bone - a contemporary romance: The Minstrel Series #2 by Lee Strauss, Elle Strauss Read Free Book Online Page A

close, his breath tickled her ear and she nearly melted. “The song, your voice—really hit me.” He pounded his chest over his heart. “Right here. Did you write that?”
    Eva nodded. She felt light-headed, like she was floating from the ceiling watching someone else have a conversation with Sebastian Weiss. Well, it would be a conversation if she could actually say something.
    To Eva’s surprise, he said, “I saw you the other day.”
    She dared a glance at him. When? She was sure he hadn’t seen her when Annette waved at him from her window.
    “In that soup kitchen,” he offered. “You were playing guitar.”
    Oh man, if she could just move her tongue. Form at least one word.
    “I’d like to see you again.” She couldn’t hide her startled look and he quickly added. “To talk music.”
    The act on the stage ended, so they were forced to break from the awkward chat and applaud. Annette shouted at Sebastian now that the room had grown loud. “I love your music!”
    He smiled. “Thanks.”
    “And,” Annette continued, “Eva would love to talk music.”
    “Eva,” Sebastian mused. “I should officially introduce myself. I’m Sebastian Weiss.” He held out a hand.
    Eva swallowed dryly and allowed him to shake hers. His hand was warm and strong. She mustered up the ability to form her own name. “Eva Baumann.”
    “A pleasure to meet you,” Sebastian said.
    “And I’m Annette Vogel.” Annette could barely conceal her celebrity crush. A squeal escaped along with the handshake.
    Other patrons began to notice the guy who’d joined their table and before too long, someone recognized him.
    “That’s Sebastian Weiss!” Within minutes of this declaration, the table was swarmed with people wanting his autograph. Eva was pressed against the table and her cane that had been hanging on the back of her chair fell to the floor.
    Sebastian whispered in her ear. “I have to go before this gets crazy. Can I come see you sometime? At the soup kitchen?”
    Eva could only nod. Sebastian’s closeness turned her into a helpless mute. Her eyes stayed trained on his back until he disappeared and the crowd with him.
    Annette laughed out loud. “What a night!” Then she cocked a brow and wiggled it at Eva. “I think he has a thing for you.”

 
     
     
     
     

     
     
    Sebastian broke into a jog to ditch his fans. Fortunately, they were a group of girls in heels and not fit for racing across cobblestone streets. He zigzagged through a narrow lane and down an alley in the opposite direction of his building until he was certain he’d lost them. Then he circled back, keeping his head down and fists ready. Just in case.
    His pace slowed as he entered his building and headed up the stairs. He flicked the switch and lit up the flat. It was an untidy mess with dirty dishes scattered about and sofa cushions out of place.
    Sebastian collapsed on the couch, stretching out with his hands folded over his chest like a corpse in a coffin. He closed his eyes and thought about the girl and the song. At moments, the image of Yvonne kissing Karl would pop into his mind, and he’d shake his head. Focus on the girl and the song. The girl and the song.
    Most people had paintings and photographs hanging on the wall: he had guitars. Some were vintage collectibles, including a 1957 Gibson Gold-Top and one Fender Stratocaster which was once owned by Clapton, but most were just recent impulse buys from the corner music store. He also had a Baroque violin, the chin piece worn by a million hours of practice as a kid. He hadn’t touched it since Hollow Fellows took off.
    He’d set up a mini studio in the corner. Two flat-screen monitors and an audio/midi interface sat on a dusty desk. Long black cords twisted around two condenser microphones in metal gooseneck stands. He liked to work on ideas and get them down when inspiration struck, no matter the time of day. It was something that hadn’t happened for him in a good long