“Nugget, I thought I heard the angels sing when your charming voice traveled through the sterile air. Come and kiss your astonished fiancé hello.”
Naomi went over to him and kissed his cheek. “You need a good shave.” She wiped away a few fresh tears. “What did you get yourself into this time, Shutterbug?”
“That’s how you greet a man who came back from the underworld? And what did I say about calling me that name?”
He flashed a lopsided smile and pulled her close with his free hand. “I think I deserve a real kiss.” He crushed his mouth to hers.
Stella chuckled when Naomi had to put both hands to the sides of Revan’s head to keep herself from falling on him.
Then his eyes roamed over Naomi’s chest. “Nugget, you’re a sight for sore eyes! Just what the doctor ordered.”
Naomi reached for the front of her tank top and pulled it up an inch, but exposed her well-toned abs in the process. She mumbled, “Can’t breathe without an oxygen tube, but is already misbehaving. Someone must be feeling better.”
Revan didn’t stop smiling—or looking.
“Don’t hog the man. Others are happy to see him, too.” Stella squeezed past Naomi and leaned forward to kiss his cheeks. “Hi, Revan. I’d like to say you look good, but you’ve looked better.”
Revan laughed, “Cinderella, I’m tempted to believe it when you say it.”
He focused on Naomi again and waved her closer. “So, we have twin babies? Show me their picture. I can’t remember how they look.”
Naomi retrieved a photo from her wallet. She leaned closer and whispered, “Aren’t they adorable?”
Revan looked from the photo to her cleavage, “Mmm-hm...”
She held the photo next to his face and said, “And don’t they look just like their daddy? I saw them at the dog shelter last month and am trying to convince my parents to adopt them. Look at their little pink tongues.” Naomi copied the puppies’ expressions and jumped out of Revan’s reach.
“Wait till I’m out of this bed and home again. I think you and I have a few things to discuss.” Revan smirked. “And listen, Nugget, don’t you know lying to authorities is a crime?”
“Well, then don’t tell them. When will you be released?”
“They said I’m in decent shape, but a little dehydrated. And my body temperature was too low. No surprise. I wasn’t exactly on a sunny beach. They’ll let me know in a few hours,” he said and glanced toward the curtains. “The bigger question is, what are you two doing here in Paris? I mean, I’m glad to see your lovely faces. You are much nicer to look at than the company I kept recently.”
Before they could answer his question, coffee cop stuck his head inside the cubicle and said, “Your time is up, I’m afraid.”
Stella asked Revan, “How can we get in touch with you? Do you have your cell phone?”
“No, Macho-Man took it, and it’s somewhere in the catacombs. My camera equipment, too. He better not touch it.”
“We’ll get you a new phone and come back later,” Stella promised. “Anything else you need? Change of clothes? Toiletries?”
“I hope to be in a nicer room when you return. I’d love to see some trees for a change,” he laughed. “A cheap cell phone would be great, but nothing else, thanks. I’ll pay you back later. Someone from the police department went to my hotel room and brought my clothes. You can’t imagine how abjectly grateful I was for fresh underwear.”
He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned at Naomi, “I got a sponge bath after I arrived here. And let me add it’s not something I need to experience again. Not as romantic as it sounds when they assign you a male nurse.”
Naomi gave him an angelic smile and said, “I wouldn’t have wanted anything different for my ailing fiancé. See you later,” she blew him a kiss. “Make sure you tell your bodyguards out there to add our names to your visitors’ list.”
Stella and Naomi turned to leave, and Revan said, “Oh, wait. Can you let my parents know everything’s fine? I’ll call them as soon as I’m out of here.”
“I texted Luca and told him you’re in the hospital. He’s been with your parents since Monday. But I’ll let him know we talked,” Stella said. “See you later.”
“Thank you, girls.” Revan reached for the yellow beverage on the table next to his bed and sniffed. “Lukewarm Gatorade, great. Let’s see if they can at least round up some ice cubes.” He pressed the nurse’s button.
On the way out, Naomi stopped at Corinne’s desk again and asked in a sweet voice, “Corinne, excuse me. What do we need to do to come back later with a few items for my fiancé?”
The nurse pinched her lips together and replied, “He should be transferred to a room in another department by then. The help desk in the front lobby can tell you when you return.”
“Thank you,” Stella said and pulled Naomi away.
“Where did you get those acting skills?” Stella asked.
“Did you forget we joined the stupid drama club in tenth grade? It was finally good for something,” Naomi laughed.
“What if the cop wanted to see the photo?” Stella giggled.
“Then I would’ve been so surprised to discover it was gone and would’ve blamed the babies’ granny.”
“Well, congratulations. It was one of the best performances I’ve ever witnessed. And Revan seemed very happy to see you.” Stella winked at Naomi.
“As he should be,” Naomi sniffed.
“What kind of phone should we buy for him?” Stella asked after they updated David, Julia, and Alexander.
Alexander said, “He needs something to get him through the next few days. Buy a refurbished phone and a prepaid SIM card, and he’s all set. I assume he’ll buy a new one when he’s in the States again if he doesn’t get his own phone back. It’s what I’d do.”
“I agree, I’d do the same,” David added. “Do you know where we can find an electronics store?”
“No, but I’m
