She rubbed at her chest as the coughing subsided. “There’s an adorable little park at the end of the block. I saw it when the taxi dropped me off.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Some fresh air would be good for me,” she said. “We can bring a blanket and lay in the park for a little while. I’ll even use my oxygen tank for the walk.”
He looked like he was going to argue with her about it, but after a moment, he reached over and squeezed her hand. “If you’re sure it’s okay, I’d be happy to fix us a picnic.”
“I’m sure it’s okay,” she whispered. “I need to be really careful about exposing myself to germs right now, so I’ll only sit on our blanket, but I need some fresh air. If I were at home, I would have spent a lot of time outside, resting in the yard.”
“All right, then.” Flynn got up and went into the kitchen.
Ruby peeled herself off the couch and went to make herself presentable. She brushed her hair and clipped it back, splashed some water on her face, and put on a bra under her T-shirt. She sat on the bed to put on her sneakers and then went into the living room to get her oxygen tank.
Flynn had a paper grocery bag in one hand and a duffel bag in the other. “Do you need help with that?”
She shook her head as she slipped the cannula into place across her nose and behind her ears and started the oxygen flowing. When she’d finished, she rolled the tank across the room to join him, smirking at the barely disguised concern on his face.
“You’re sure this is okay?” His gaze darted from the tank to her face.
“I’m positive,” she assured him. “Believe me, I want to get well as quickly as possible so I can get out of here and go home.” Except as she said it, she realized it wasn’t true. As much as she hated being sick and stranded in Paris, she liked being here with him. Her words hung in the air between them. Flynn’s gaze dropped to the floor, a sort of deflated air around him.
She stepped forward and pressed her lips against his. “But I’m really glad I’m here with you right now.”
He set down their picnic, his arms sliding around her waist to tuck her in against his chest. “I am too.”
She turned her face against the soft cotton of his T-shirt. Flynn was tall and solidly built, so much so that her head fit neatly below his chin. She should have felt small in his arms, frail even, given the oxygen tank she was attached to. But she didn’t. Something about the way he held her just felt…right.
They stood like that for a minute, holding on to each other. His heart thumped steadily beneath her ear. Finally, she stepped back. Flynn turned and opened the door to the hall. He glanced at the flight of stairs that led to the street below before turning back to her.
And then, as if he’d just made a decision, he lifted the oxygen tank and handed it to her. She clutched it against her chest, opening her mouth to ask him what the hell he was doing, but he’d already swept her into his arms and was carrying her down the stairs.
“No stairs for you,” he said simply as he set her down. “Not until you can walk without that thing.”
“Um. Okay.” She couldn’t fight the smile that tugged at her lips as he jogged back up the stairs to get the bags containing their picnic. She would have protested the act of bravado, except the stairs really had done a number on her the last time she’d scaled them. And besides, she already knew he wasn’t prone to acts of bravado. Acts of kindness, though? Yeah, he was a master.
They walked outside together. Sunlight washed over her, and she squinted, feeling like a bear coming out of hibernation. The breeze tickled her skin, and she tilted her face toward the sky, soaking up the sun’s warmth. Yes, this was exactly what she’d needed.
Flynn’s free hand found its way into hers, and they strolled toward the park at a leisurely pace. The wheels on the tank rattled over the uneven chunks of pavement beneath them, providing the soundtrack for their walk.
“Tell me if you need to stop and rest,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze.
She just squeezed it back, because although she was one hundred percent enjoying the fresh air and the walk, it was probably best to save all her breath for the task at hand. The street curved slightly to the right, and the park came into sight. It was nothing much, just a little square of green between two street corners. Benches lined its edges, and a statue in the middle was flanked by beds of red and purple flowers.
They crossed the street and made their way over to it. An elderly couple sat together on one of the benches, but otherwise, the park was deserted. Flynn opened his duffel bag and pulled out a blue blanket, which he spread across the grass. Gratefully, she sat, crossing her legs in front of herself. She was a bit winded from the walk, but her blood was pumping in a good way. She felt energized and alive, grateful for this beautiful Parisian day and Flynn’s company.
Pneumonia could look so much worse than this. She knew firsthand, and she’d take this beautiful park and this handsome man over a hospital bed any day of the week.
He opened the other bag and began spreading out their picnic. And while she hadn’t had much of an appetite since getting sick, her stomach actually grumbled in anticipation. He laid out meat, cheese, bread, and even a sprig of plump purple grapes, followed by two bottles of sparkling water.
“It’ll have to do until you’re off the antibiotics,” he said with a wink as he handed her a bottle.
“It’s perfect.” She screwed off the top and took a long drink. “How is your friend’s house coming along?” she asked as they began to prepare their plates.
“Really well,” he told her, his face an interesting contradiction of emotions. She saw excitement and pride mixed with something less happy, almost dark. Flynn was a paradox that way, and she still hadn’t quite figured out the source of his melancholy where work was concerned.
“Would you show it to me?” she asked. “Once we’re back at the flat?”
He looked up at her, surprise evident in the rise of his eyebrows. “I’d be glad to.”
