“So, to answer your question before we were so rudely interrupted, I’d like the long version.”
“What?” She set a bobby pin in the growing pile on the bench between them.
“You were about to tell me the story behind your adventure here in London and why you’ve always played it safe before.”
“Oh, that.” She glanced over at Flynn. “The long version, huh?”
“I think we have time for it while we pull out all these pins.” He held one up for emphasis.
“I have primary immunodeficiency,” she told him. “I couldn’t be around other kids much when I was growing up, because of my faulty immune system, and even so, I was sick a lot. My mom homeschooled me for most of my childhood.”
“That must have been very difficult for you.” Flynn set a pin on the pile and reached over to give her hand a squeeze.
“I received a bone marrow transplant from my sister when I was seventeen, and I’ve been mostly as good as new since, although I still have to be careful. But the point of the story is that I spent my childhood locked away safe and bored in my bedroom. I guess it made me cautious. I tend to overanalyze things to death before making a decision, and, you know…the spreadsheets.”
“Lots of spreadsheets,” Flynn repeated with a nod.
“I’m that person who takes her laptop with her everywhere she goes.”
“I see you left it behind tonight,” he commented with a smile.
“I left it at home.” She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. “I’ve never traveled outside of the United States before, and I’m ready to have the adventure of a lifetime, all by myself, no laptop to hide behind.”
Flynn tugged another pin out of her hair, his gaze catching hers in the muted light of the garden. “That is one of the most fascinating and brave stories I’ve ever heard.”
“It’s not,” she protested. A section of her hair tumbled down her back as she removed another pin. “I’m just taking a vacation. Millions of people do it every day.”
“Not like this.” He pointed a finger at her. “You said it yourself. This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime.”
“Well, I hope it will be. Honestly, it’s pretty intimidating now that I’m here. I mean, I’ve been so caught up in wedding activities, I haven’t really had a chance to think about what I’ll do tomorrow when it’s all over.”
“Hence the adventure.”
“Yes. I’ve got a hotel booked in London for the next few nights, but beyond that…who knows?”
“Would you like a few suggestions?” he asked.
“I’d love some, actually.”
“I assume you know all the main tourist attractions, but do you enjoy theater? The West End is, in my opinion, superior even to Broadway. You can find anything you’re interested in, musical, comedy, opera.”
“Theater.” Ruby felt a flutter of joy in her chest. “I’ve never been to a Broadway show. In fact, the only theater I’ve ever seen were the plays Elle was in back in high school.”
“Elle who just married Theo?” Flynn’s eyebrow went up.
“The very one. She considered being an actress after high school, although that obviously didn’t work out. But yeah, I think I’d love to go to the theater.” Her hair tumbled loose over her shoulders, and while she usually didn’t like it, tonight it didn’t feel half bad, shielding her from the cool September breeze.
“The National Gallery has some amazing artwork, da Vinci, Rembrandt. And you absolutely must visit Hampstead Heath. It has the most amazing views of London. Then there’s Oxford Street if you enjoy shopping, and Camden Market has just about every cuisine you could imagine.”
“Wow,” she breathed, completely taken with every idea he’d just put in her head.
“You mentioned that you wanted to take this adventure on your own, but if you’re interested in a tour guide, I’d be happy to show you around London tomorrow.”
“Oh, I don’t know…” She liked Flynn a lot, but she’d planned to do this on her own. And honestly, they’d just met. She didn’t know a thing about him. It would be crazy to let him be her tour guide tomorrow. Then again, wasn’t the point of this trip go to with the flow, to do the unexpected, even if it was a little bit risky?
Flynn Bowen couldn’t remember ever feelingso enchanted by someone he’d just met. He tugged another pin out of Ruby’s hair, watching as it spilled in a dark waterfall down her back. And he found himself irrationally hoping she would take him up on his offer.
She stared at him from behind black-rimmed glasses, her pretty pink lips pursed in thought. “Not sure it’s wise to let a total stranger show me around London, although itwouldbe adventurous.”
