Flesh & Bone - a contemporary romance: The Minstrel Series #2

by Strauss, Lee

  Eva hesitated. She could spin a lie, tell him she was going to visit Annette, but she didn’t want to lie anymore, especially to her parents. She lifted her chin. “I’m meeting Sebastian.”

  Papa’s face flickered with disapproval, but he only grunted, then went back to whatever he was working on. Interesting. She would’ve stood up to him long ago if she’d thought it would be this easy.

  She was greeted with warm August air that smelled spicy from the mixed aromas of the open restaurants on her block. Her eyes widened with, yes, surprise, when she saw Sebastian standing there. With a two-seater bike.

  He disarmed her with his smile, the way he always did. “What do you think?”

  “It’s… nice.”

  “It’s more than nice. It’s perfect. See, I had the bike techs disengage the back pedals.”

  “So, you do all the work?” Eva asked.

  “It’s not much work. It’s not like you weigh much, and the bike trail along the river is flat.”

  A smile took over her face. Sebastian had listened to her when she told him she missed riding her bike. He found a way to give her back her dream. Her heart swelled with gratitude. She limped over to him and pushed up on her toes to meet his lips.

  “This is so sweet of you. I love it.” And I love you.

  Sebastian straddled the front seat and braced the bike between his legs. “So, get on.”

  Eva hoisted herself onto the back seat, setting her cane across the handlebars and placed her feet on the pedals, allowing her bad leg to straighten as it rested on the lower one. “Okay. I’m ready.”

  Sebastian pushed off, and Eva squealed with delight, hanging on tight. They headed toward the river, dodging pedestrians and hitting the crosslights just as they turned green. Her ribs rattled as they skimmed over the cobblestones until they reached the smoother section along the pedestrian street of Neustädter Markt.

  They walked the bike toward the bridge and down to the bike path that ran along the River Elbe. Eva breathed in deeply and released a happy sigh. The sun on her face and the wind in her hair, coasting along as if on air. This was what she missed. She only wished she could participate in the pedaling, feel the burn in her thighs and the stretching of her lungs as she exerted her body.

  But this was a worthy second-place prize with the added bonus of being able to stare at Sebastian’s strong shoulder muscles rippling under his shirt.

  After a while Sebastian stopped by an empty bench. “Do you want to rest here a bit?”

  Eva wasn’t the one who’d been working, so she wasn’t in need of a rest, but she got off for Sebastian’s sake. The bike had a water bottle attached, and Sebastian removed it and took a swig before handing it to Eva. “Want some?”

  She reached for the bottle and drank. “Thanks,” she said as she handed it back.

  Sebastian sat beside her and draped an arm over the back of the bench behind Eva’s shoulders. He shifted his sunglasses to the top of his head, closed his eyes and stretched out, basking in the sun.

  “I love summer,” he said.

  “Me, too.”

  He opened the eye closest to her and stared. “How’d it go last night? With your parents?”

  “It was tough. But I think they respect me enough to let me do what I want.”

  “Which is what?” he asked playfully.

  She nudged his leg. “Be with you.”

  “Ah.” He sat up straighter and turned to her. “That was it? I thought you’d get the third degree or an ultimatum or something.”

  “I think if Papa thought he could get away with that, he would.”

  “Your Papa…” Sebastian’s eyes flickered with… something. Indecision?

  “My papa what?”

  Sebastian pushed his sunglasses back onto his nose. “Nothing. Just… I’m sure he’s worried about you.”

  His voice tightened when he said that and it scared her. “Is something wrong?”

  “Eva, are you sure this is worth it?”

  “Am I sure you’re worth it? Yes. Without hesitation.”

  Oh God, was he breaking up with her? Her blood went cold then hot at the thought. Tears immediately welled up behind her eyes.

  Then he smiled. “And you are absolutely worth it.”

  She let out the breath she was holding. “Oh my heart. You scared me.”

  “Scared you. How?”

  “I thought you were leading up to a break-up speech.”

  Sebastian took both of her hands in his and stared hard in her eyes. Eva’s eyes fluttered with nervous apprehension. What was he going to say?

  “I don’t want to break up,” Sebastian said firmly. Then he smiled. “In fact, I think I’m falling in love with you.

  That didn’t go as planned.

  Sebastian had meant to give Eva one last good memory of them together so she wouldn’t hate his guts completely the day after Gabriele’s wedding when he’d planned to say good-bye. He would be leaving to go on tour for two weeks shortly after so it was perfect timing. She could hate him for breaking up with her, and he could hate himself for the same reason. A perfect hate fest.

  But instead he declared his love.

  And it was true. He did love her. To hell with her father and his self-righteousness. Who was he to say he and Eva weren’t right for each other? He never felt more right than he did right this moment, kissing Eva’s lips off on a bench along the bike path on the river.

  “I love you, too,” she said through her kisses. Her arms tightened around his neck. “I’ve loved you for a really long time.”

  His hands grabbed her waist, stroking the soft skin along the waistband of her skirt. “Thanks for waiting for me.”

  They were creating a scene in a public place. That meant a photographer with a long-range lens could be lurking. He had to be more careful. He didn’t want Eva to be a tabloid target. He pulled back and twisted his cap lower over his eyes. He lifted Eva’s hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

  “You know things will get tough if you stick with me.”

  “Tough in what way?”

  “Paparazzi. Rumors.”

  “Like the blond with major cleavage you had lunch with?”

  So she saw that and didn’t say anything. “Yes, just like that. I was having lunch, and they were very annoying.”

  “They?”

  “Yeah. The pictures only showed the one girl to make it look intimate, like we were on a date, but she had two friends sitting across the table.”

  “Interesting.”

  “And once the media gets wind that I have a serious new girlfriend, they’ll hound you. Not like Kate Middleton or anything. But the paparazzi are out there like vultures looking for their next meal.”

  She smiled in a flirty way that made his heart melt. “I’m kind of stuck on the words ‘serious new girlfriend.’”

  He leaned in and worked his lips along her neck. “I’m kind of stuck on that, too.”

  She kissed his forehead. “I’m up for it.”

  “You’re sure?”

  She pulled back and stared at him sternly. “Stop asking me that. Yes, I’m sure. One hundred percent.”

  He laughed. “Okay then.”

  Her heart soared. Sebastian loved her! She loved Sebastian! They were in love! She held on to the back seat handlebars as Sebastian pedaled. She tilted her face appreciatively toward the sun. They approached a riverside café decorated in a Hawaiian theme and Sebastian pointed, speaking loudly over his shoulder, “Wanna stop?” She nodded yes.

  The patio was shaded with a grass-thatched roof and ukulele music played through a stereo system. They found an empty table, and when the waitress approached, a cute little Asian girl with a flower tucked in her hair, Sebastian ordered a Panini with ham and pineapple and Gouda cheese. “Are you hungry?”

  Eva shook her head. Her stomach was in a knot with excitement. “I’m thirsty though.” The waitress suggested a pineapple and banana smoothie, and Eva ordered one.

 
Sebastian reached for her hand as they waited. “If you could go any place in the world,” he said. “Where would you go?”

  Eva was stumped by the question. She couldn’t imagine leaving Germany. Or Dresden for that matter. The thought of traveling frightened her. What about robbers? Bad water? Terrorist attacks?

  She didn’t want to go anywhere new. Just crossing a busy city street in a neighborhood she knew well was hazardous enough for her. Her heart palpitated.

  “Don’t worry,” Sebastian said with a furrowed brow. “I’m not going to go buy tickets. I’m just making conversation.”

  Eva blushed at her stupidity. Of course. It was a hypothetical question. “I’m not great with crowds. Or hills.”

  “Okay, so somewhere flat and unpopulated. A desert?”

  Her eyes darted to her cane. “Sand can be difficult.”

  “So, no sand. Not even a beach?”

  “Beaches are fine, as long as I’m lying on them and not jogging across them.” She smiled, trying to make her comment light.

  “Swimming’s okay, though, right? Water makes you buoyant.”

  She nodded. “Swimming’s okay.” She’d spent a lot of time in pools during her rehabilitation.

  The waitress arrived with their order, placing the hot sandwich in front of Sebastian and in front of Eva, a frosted glass that had a little umbrella stabbed through a cherry resting on top.

  “So a flat beach town with few people?” Sebastian asked after swallowing his first bite.

  “Yeah,” she said. “I want to go there. You know of a place?”

  “Not off the top of my head. But you can bet I’ll be looking.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Not that I want to see you in a bikini or anything.” He grinned suggestively.

  Oh my heart! What was she thinking? She couldn’t wear a bikini in public. Her leg! Her scar.

  “Eva? What’s going on?”

  She blinked and forced a smile. “I’m fine. I just have to go to visit the toilets.”

  She smoothed her skirt as she stood and gripped her cane, her eyes searching for the restroom sign. She could feel Sebastian’s eyes on her as she walked away. Her shoulders weighed heavy with a new realization. This relationship with Sebastian would be a challenge to her and not for the reasons he worried about. She could care less about the paparazzi. They were by far her lesser enemy. Her imposing nemesis was fear. And if she didn’t conquer it she’d lose Sebastian for sure.

  And now she’d just added a gigantic new fear to her already massive pile.

  Eva used the facilities and washed her hands. She examined her reflection in the mirror. Two people lived inside the face that looked back. The one who was buoyed by love and wanted to scale mountains (metaphorically speaking, of course). That Eva was like Joan of Arc in full armor, ready to conquer anyone who was a threat to herself and those she held dear.

  And the other Eva was like a turtle who was terrified of getting thrown onto her back. She shied away from anything that could expose her tender underbelly to harm. Even if it was the one person she wanted to love and trust with all her heart.

  This constant inner battle exhausted her. She splashed water on her face and pinched her cheeks. She had to shake off this mood. It didn’t help that her leg was throbbing. Even though she didn’t have to pedal, the vibrations wracked her tender nerves and her leg grew stiff from the unnatural way she had to balance it on the pedal.

  She dug a pain reliever out of her shoulder bag and downed it with water before returning to her table.

  Sebastian looked at her with concern in his eyes. “Is it your leg?”

  “It’s fine. The painkiller will kick in soon.”

  He reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “Do you struggle a lot? With pain, I mean?”

  She grimaced. She didn’t want this to become a pity party for her. “Sometimes. It’s manageable with enough rest and a good prescription.” She forced a laugh.

  A table nearby grew excited, and a quick glance showed Eva that a group of girls had recognized Sebastian. They had their cameras out. “Looks like it’s time to go.”

  Sebastian noticed and waved the waitress over. He paid the bill and then helped Eva back to the path where he unlocked the bike. Eva was determined to enjoy the rest of the day and pushed back her earlier dark thoughts. Their romance had just started. It was stupid of her to throw cold water on it before it barely had a chance to flame.

  She was quiet on the ride home. She almost wished that Sebastian had picked her up in a scooter. At least that way she could lean against his back and wrap her arms around his waist. But scooters were dangerous, too. The temptation to swerve in and out of traffic. You could easily get hit.

  Eva never said anything to Sebastian about her worries. It was bad enough that she was physically weak. She didn’t want to be emotionally weak, too. She put on a smile when they returned to her building and hoped she looked stronger than she felt.

  She wrapped her arms around Sebastian’s neck and whispered, “Thanks so much for the bike ride. It was so sweet and thoughtful of you. She kissed her way from his earlobe to his mouth and her joy reignited as she felt him quiver against her. He gripped her waist and pulled her close and then rested his chin on her head.

  “What’s the plan for tomorrow?” he asked. “Do I pick you up or meet you at the church?”

  Gabriele’s wedding day had arrived so quickly.

  “I’ll be very busy all day until the ceremony. I wish we could go together, but I have to stay with my sister.”

  Sebastian looked relieved. “I’ll arrive a little late and slip in the back.”

  She frowned but understood. Someone there could recognize him and it would be less distracting if they didn’t see him arrive.

  “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.

  He kissed her softly. “Don’t forget that I love you.”

  The happy bubbles sprung up again. He loved her! Why was she so worried? “I love you, too.”

  She hummed a tune on her way up the stairs, even though her leg was still killing her. Soon she’d be lying on her bed resting it and there she’d be free to relive the entire day.

  The warm air of her flat couldn’t thaw the frosty wall she encountered the moment she entered. Her parents stood with grim expressions and folded arms.

  Dread percolated up her spine. They were upset and she had a feeling it had something to do with her. “What’s up?”

  Papa pointed to his computer screen.

  Already?

  Her face heated up as she took in the pictures: Sebastian and her on the bench by the river. His mouth was on her neck, and her eyes were closed and lips parted with the passion she couldn’t hide. Sebastian’s hand rested on the bare skin of her waist, his fingers reaching under her shirt.

  Oh God!

  “The whole world can see this, Eva,” her mama began. “Already, we’re getting emails from members of the church letting us know.”

  Eva felt her mother’s embarrassment roll off in waves. Eva had always been the quiet child. The obedient child. The child everyone pitied.

  “Is this the life you want?” Papa asked, his skin red with the anger he fought to control. “You look like a floozy.”

  Slap.

  So this was what real mortification felt like. Blood rushed to her head. Her heart stopped. Sweat broke out under her arms and on the top of her lip. Tears pooled behind her eyes.

  New fear alert! She was afraid of paparazzi. Very afraid.

  She couldn’t look her parents in the eye. She muttered, “I’m sorry,” and lumbered to her room. She closed the door tightly, crawled onto her bed and cried into her pillow.

  Damn, damn, damn, damn!

  He was barely home ten minutes when he received a text from Dirk alerting him to the photos. “Congratulations! Hollow Fellows is back on the public radar thanks to you. Good work!”

  Dirk believed that all publicity was good publicity. That may be the case for the band, but it w
as a disaster for this fledgling relationship. Worse yet was the journalists’ speculations, that Sebastian had set up the shot to boost publicity.

  Hollow Fellows were now trending on twitter all over Europe.

  He immediately called Eva. “Hey, just a heads up…”

  “I’ve seen it.”

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. Honestly.”

  She didn’t respond right away and Sebastian’s stomach clenched. She said she didn’t care about the paparazzi. Here was her first test.

  “It’s okay.”

  He let out a long breath. “I should know better. I’m really sorry. No more public displays of affection from now on, I promise.”

  “I hate that. But, you’re right.”

  He could hear the pain in her voice. Already he had cut her. He’d dreaded leaving her when he went on tour, but maybe it was for the best. Give the hounds a chance to find something new to talk about. Give them time to forget about Sebastian Weiss’s “mystery girl.”

  “Has anyone else seen it?” Sebastian was thinking about Eva’s father and wouldn’t be surprised if he had another visit from the man tonight—this time with serious threats.

  “Yes. My parents. Probably my sister. The whole country, I think.”

  Sebastian paced the floor and gripped his hair. “These things have a short shelf life. Someone else will do something way more scandalous by the morning, and we’ll be old news.” He hoped to comfort her, but she was the one living in the same house as Herr Baumann. It couldn’t be pleasant.

  “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. Anyway, my sister is turning into Bridezilla. I have to go help her.”

  “Okay. Good. Get your mind off this. Like I said, it’ll blow over before you know it.”

  They hung up, and Sebastian collapsed into a chair and rubbed his face with his hands. He was certain Eva would be getting an earful along the lines of “our house, our rules.” Her parents would insist that she end things.

  The thought was a knife to his heart.

  But he knew they were right. This was just the tip of the iceberg. Hollow Fellows was positioned to get bigger, even worldwide. Especially with the new CD and their new songs.