Sun & Moon - a contemporary romance (The Minstrel Series #1) Read Online Free

paying crowd, a huge one that cheered for her when she finished performing. She’d have enough money for whatever she wanted. She would live in a nice, warm, cozy place. A safe place. She’d be respected and valued. She would never be hungry.
    It would be okay.

 
     
     
     
     

     
    His apartment was a lot nicer than hers. He had matching furniture and a large flat-screen TV.
    Katja stood in the middle of the living room unsure about what to do next. She removed her jacket and propped a hand on her hip, trying to look like a sexy vixen instead of the scared little girl she really was. She caught Micah’s eye and removed her scarf slowly, staring at him with what she hoped were provocative eyes.
    Instead of responding to her signals, Micah walked to the window that overlooked the river, shoved his hands in his pockets and stared out with his back to her. Why had he even bothered to stop for her anyway? He could easily have hired someone classier.
    The silence was thick and awkward, and Katja thought maybe she should bolt. The door was right there, unlocked. Get away before any craziness started.
    Micah turned slowly to face her. “Are you hungry?”
    Katja blinked. Yeah, starving, but she wasn’t here to eat. She forced a smile. “Maybe we should get started.”
    The corners of Micah’s mouth twitched. “I’d rather not… on an empty stomach.”
    Fine. “Okay, sure. Let’s eat.”
    Micah motioned for her to take a seat at the table, and he proceeded to make a warm meal. Katja didn’t know what to think. She sat straight-backed with her hands on her lap. Micah removed dishes from cupboards and drawers and food from the refrigerator. Soon the large, open apartment filled with the aroma of schnitzel and fried potatoes.
    Her stomach growled.
    Micah glanced at her a few times as he worked, but didn’t comment.
    “Can I set the table?” she asked. He pointed to a cupboard and she found the plates and glasses inside. She removed two of each and placed them on the table across from each other. She noticed the cutlery drawer from when Micah had removed a spoon, and took out forks and knives for each of them.
    He dished out the meal, along with a salad that was already prepared in the fridge and opened a bottle of sparkling water. She smiled as he filled her glass, secretly wishing it was something stronger than water. She could really use a drink right about now.
    Katja almost felt like she was dining at a restaurant. The only thing missing was a candle. “Smells great,” she said.
    He offered her a hint of a grin. “ Guten Appetit .”
    Once she started eating, she found it hard to slow down. It had been forever since she’d eaten a meal like this. Micah watched her with a stone face, concern flashing in his eyes.
    She smiled and made a joke of it. “My cooking is crap.”
    His expression didn’t change and he remained silent. This guy is a piece of work, she thought. Zero personality.
    She finished her meal, and then remembered why she was there. Suddenly, she wished she hadn’t eaten so much or so fast. She felt ill.
    The silence was driving her crazy. Couldn’t he at least turn on the TV or the stereo?
    “So, what do you do, Micah?” she asked. Micah’s eyes remained flat, and she wondered if she’d crossed a line by asking another personal question.
    He finally answered, “I work at a bank.”
    Katja nodded as if that explained everything.
    “How about you?” he countered. “When you’re not doing… this?”
    Katja sat back, unsure what she should divulge, if anything. She nibbled her lip ring. He answered her question. It was only fair that she answer his.
    “I’m a musician.” She feigned a laugh. “The pay’s not that great.”
    Micah rose and carried his dirty dishes to the sink, rinsed them and loaded the dishwasher. Katja stood to help, placing her own dishes into the sink. The move caused her to stand close to his side, and she felt him stiffen.
    If she knew what she was doing,