Flesh & Bone - a contemporary romance: The Minstrel Series #2 (31 page)

He pointed to an empty table in the corner and winked at Eva as she walked by. “So good to see you smiling again,
ma Cherie.”

They ordered beer and appetizers and watched as the house band played.

“They’re not bad,” Sebastian said.

“They’d probably die if they could see that you were in the house.”

“Best if I keep in the shadows. It’s been nice being out of the spotlight for a while. I hope to make that last as long as possible.”

The band ended their song and Eva and Sebastian looked up to see Maurice at the mic.

“It’s not open mic night, but the band has agreed to do me a personal favor and allow a friend of mind to come up to do one song. Please welcome Eva Baumann.”

Sebastian gave Eva a confused look.

“Just wait,” is all she said.

The crowd applauded politely as she made her way to the front. She had planned ahead and had her papa deliver her Duncan Africa for her earlier that evening.

“Hello, everyone,” she said as she strapped on her guitar. “Thanks to the band for letting me hi-jack their set. Yes, give it up for the band.” She waved her arm and the audience erupted in appreciative applause.

“This is a new song,” Eva continued. “I hope you like it.”

She stared at the dark corner where she knew Sebastian sat. “This is for you.”

You went out of your way

I went out of my head

I shut you out

You pursued me instead

It took some time

But you knew from the start

I’d open the door

And you’d go straight into my heart

She was tempted to close her eyes, but she kept them steadied on the corner shadow. Pressing through her nerves, she sang out:

Your love is sweet

Just what I need

You have won me over

To my surprise

I realized

You had won me over

You have won me over

Heart to heart

A good head start

And it flew from there

You took me where I’d never been before

Truth for truth

That’s when I fell for you

Love came down

And took me higher

Than I’d been before

Your love is sweet

Just what I need

You have won me over

To my surprise

I realized

You had won me over

You have won me over

The song ended, and a surprised crowd watched Sebastian Weiss jump on stage, carefully remove Eva’s guitar and spin her around.

Eva squealed. “Does that mean you like it?”

He smiled. “I love it. And I love you.” He kissed her, and the room around her disappeared into the brightness of the lights. Somewhere in the peripheral, the audience cheered.

“That’s Sebastian Weiss! Hey, Sebastian!”

She pulled back and laughed. “Your cover’s blown.”

“This…” He kissed her again. “Is worth it.”

Lee Strauss is the author of the Minstrel Series (contemporary romance), the Perception Series (young adult dystopian) and young adult historical fiction. She also writes younger YA fantasy as Elle Strauss.

To hear about new releases, including the Minstrel Series next book
Heart & Soul
, sign up for 
Lee’s newsletter
.

Find out more at 
www.leestraussbooks.com
.

If you enjoyed reading
Flesh & Bone
, please consider leaving a review. Reviews are very helpful to Indie authors.

So much gratitude and cheer goes to the team! My beta readers, Angelika and Juanita; my online writing community without whom I’d be toast in a major way including The Indelibles, Dauntless Authors, Club Indie and my Street Team; my editor Marie Jaskulka, my cover designer Steven Novak and my formatter Ali Cross; the musical artists who so graciously jumped on board for this project, Trisha Robins, Andrew Smith, Bryan Steeksma and Joel Strauss; my husband and musician/music producer, Norm Strauss whose talent and proximity to me make The Minstrel Series possible; to the Noble Girls for your ongoing prayer and support, to my parents for holding down the Canadian fort, my kids for being just plain awesome, and to God who carries me through all things.

The Water Song
 (remake) by Trisha Robins

The Water Song
 by Andrew Smith

Flesh & Bone
 (remake) by Trisha Robins and Bryan Steeksma

Beyond My Flesh & Bone
 by Joel Strauss

Sun & Moon
 (remake) by Bryan Steeksma

Sun & Moon
 by Joel Strauss

Won Me Over
 (remake) by Trisha Robins

Won Me Over
 (original) by Trisha Robins

Listen to all the songs from The Minstrel Series on 
Bandcamp

Scan the QR code to hear the songs featured in
Sun & Moon
as recorded by Canadian Music artists

Trisha Robins and Bryan Steeksma

Want more info and features about The Minstrel Series? Visit 
TheMinstrelSeries.blogspot.com

Trisha Robins

Andrew Smith

Bryan Steeksma

CDBaby
 | 
Facebook

Joel Strauss

www.joelstrauss.com
 | 
BandCamp

Young Adult

The Perception Trilogy

Ambition
 (short story prequel)

Perception
 (book 1)

Volition
 (book 2)

Contrition
 (book 3)

Jars of Clay

Jars of Clay
 (vol. 1)

Broken Vessels
 (vol. 2)

Contemporary Romance

East of Eden

The Minstrel Series

Sun & Moon
 (#1)

Flesh & Bone
(#2)

Heart & Soul
 (#3 – coming soon)

Want more of the Minstrel Series?

Heart & Soul
is coming summer of 2014!

She's heartbroken. He's heartless.

Gabriele Baumann-Smith is deliriously in love with her young husband, Lennon.

Except, as it turns out, Lennon Smith isn’t his real name. In fact, he’s full of secrets: a cottage in a southern coastal town of England, an old girlfriend… an identical twin brother.

Callum Jones—not his real name—can’t believe his brother’s widow came to England. He’d warned Mick—Lennon—that an inheritance could put the girl’s life in danger, and he was right.

“Mrs. Smith” is the last thing he needs to worry about right now. She’s beautiful, sure, takes his breath away at times. But when she looks at him who does she see?