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Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Waterweed Entanglement

She pressed her lips together, her smile subtle at first, but it soon erupted into full-throated laughter.

The driver, catching her infectious laughter, chuckled as well. "What has you so happy, miss?" he asked.

"Nothing much. I just caught a fish," Lynn Winslow said, her eyes sparkling.

Ian Sterling returned to his apartment. He had moved out on his own after coming of age, only returning to Aerie Garden on occasion.

In silence, he showered and lay down on his bed. He thought the light buzz from the alcohol would help him fall asleep quickly, but after staring at the ceiling for over an hour, sleep was still nowhere in sight.

All he could think about was Lynn Winslow’s kiss from earlier.

In the haze between wakefulness and sleep, he saw a figure push open his bedroom door and walk in.

He parted his lips, but the figure had already drawn near. A sultry voice called out to him, "Baby, did you miss me?"

To Ian Sterling, that voice was the deadliest temptation. "I have," he murmured, his voice hoarse and deep.

"And how much is that?" she murmured, leaning down to nip at his earlobe.

He reached out to grab her, but she deftly dodged him. "So much," he said, a note of desperation in his voice. "So much I thought I’d go crazy."

In response, she wound herself around him like a kelp vine. Ian Sterling couldn’t help but tilt his head back, his breathing heavy and stifled. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he felt her warmth, veins standing out starkly against his skin.

The air grew damp and sticky.

It was like standing in a summer downpour.

Her breath ghosted across his ear, and he heard that sultry voice again.

"So good, baby."

"HISS—"

Ian Sterling was jolted awake by the sensation. As he surfaced from the dream, the feeling still lingered, but his surroundings were empty. He was alone; the person from his dream was gone.

Frustrated, he lifted the covers and glanced down. Just as he’d suspected.

’It was just a kiss. A simple peck on the cheek, and it gave me a dream like that? And I even said I missed her so much I was going crazy.’

Ian Sterling cursed under his breath, got out of bed, and headed for the bathroom. But to his dismay, the spectral figure drifted in after him.

Ian Sterling leaned roughly against the cool tile, let out a helpless sigh, and stepped under the showerhead. He had to take matters into his own hands.

Lynn Winslow, oblivious to Ian Sterling’s wild night, was simply basking in the glow of her own progress. She was still smiling as she lay in bed, hugging Kiki and drifting off to sleep.

She murmured to Kiki, "Once your mama has that stubborn dad of yours on the hook, you get to scratch him, you hear?"

Kiki flicked its tail, its eyes narrowed sleepily.

Lynn Winslow paid its reaction no mind, rambling on to herself until her voice grew softer and softer, and her eyelids grew heavy.

On the night of the Lumina Gala, the banquet had yet to begin when Lynn Winslow arrived. She wore a simple white satin mermaid gown, her chestnut-brown, waist-length hair styled in soft waves that cascaded down her back. Her look was graceful and elegant, but not flashy.

The host, Director Carson, saw her and came forward with a smile.

"Miss Winslow, it’s been too long! How is Mr. Winslow doing?"

Lynn Winslow smiled warmly. "Grandfather is doing very well," she said softly. "He’s watched your latest film several times. He also asked me to tell you that you’re welcome to visit the Winslow family home whenever you’re free."

Director Carson laughed heartily. "I’m actually heading to Morelia next month," he said, nodding. "I’ll be sure to pay the Winslow family a visit then."

"Wonderful. I’ll call Grandfather tonight; he’ll be delighted," Lynn Winslow said. Catching sight of a man looking anxiously toward them, she added considerately, "Director Carson, it looks like someone over there needs you. Please, don’t let me keep you."

Director Carson glanced at the man and had no choice but to excuse himself. "Miss Winslow, if you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask a server," he said politely before leaving.

Once he was gone, Lynn’s gaze shifted to a server standing nearby. The server gave her an expressionless nod. A smirk played on Lynn’s lips as she looked away, found a seat, and began to idly scroll through her phone, waiting for the show to start.

A commotion from nearby drew her attention. Lynn Winslow looked over, her curiosity turning to surprise.

Director Carson had already hurried over to greet the newcomer, looking both surprised and flattered. "Finn! What brings you here?"

Ian Sterling didn’t reply, his calm gaze sweeping the room as if searching for a familiar figure. It was Kenneth Keller, who had come with him, who stepped forward with a grin. "What’s this, Director Carson? You don’t welcome us?"

Seeing him, Director Carson was even more surprised. "Mr. Keller, you’re here too!" he said humbly. "Welcome, of course you’re welcome! I’m just afraid I won’t be able to give you both the attention you deserve."

As Lynn Winslow slowly approached, Ian Sterling’s eyes found her, his gaze intense. Kenneth Keller rolled his eyes at him and took the initiative. "Director Carson, you go on and take care of your duties. Don’t mind us, we just came to liven things up."

Director Carson was indeed swamped. The banquet was about to start, and a dozen things required his attention. But attending to these two distinguished young masters was arguably more important. Kenneth Keller’s words gave him the perfect excuse, and he hurried off, taking the out he was given.

Kenneth Keller rolled his eyes again and turned to find his own amusement. He reflected, quite seriously, that since Lynn Winslow had returned, he and his friends had rolled their eyes more in the past few weeks than in the previous twenty or thirty years combined.

Lynn Winslow walked right up to Ian Sterling and looked up at his hair. It was cut with fine, choppy layers that fell across his forehead, a style that looked both tame and tempting. The most surprising part was the color—it was red. Lynn’s fingers twitched. "You dyed your hair?" she asked softly.

Ian Sterling seemed uncomfortable. He turned his head away. "It’s temporary," he said dismissively. "It’ll wash right out."

Lynn Winslow’s eyes curved into a smile. "I thought you were just brushing me off that day," she said gently. "I didn’t think you’d actually come."

"Kenneth Keller wanted to come, so I tagged along," Ian Sterling insisted stubbornly. Lynn knew him all too well. She lowered her gaze, hiding the triumphant smile in her eyes.

From a short distance away, Kenneth Keller felt the urge to roll his eyes again.

She stepped closer to Ian Sterling and gently tugged on one of his exquisite cufflinks.

Ian Sterling looked down at her fair hand against his black suit, a stark and arresting contrast.

’She seems to really like tugging on my cuffs,’ Ian Sterling thought involuntarily. ’When summer comes and I’m wearing short sleeves, what part of me will she tug on then?’

In a soft, sweet voice, Lynn Winslow said, "Thank you for coming to keep me company."

"I’m not here for you. I’m here with Kenneth Keller," Ian Sterling insisted, unwilling to admit the truth. Lynn had a love-hate relationship with this stubborn streak of his. Her heart softened, and she whispered the name she used to call him three years ago.

"Thank you, baby."

In an instant, Ian Sterling’s mind went blank. His breath caught in his throat, and he froze, completely still. That sultry voice from his dream echoed in his ears.

"So good, baby."

A flush rapidly crept up his neck, and the tips of his ears turned so red they felt like they were steaming. He took a step back, staring at Lynn Winslow with an indescribable expression.

Lynn Winslow looked back at him, confused. ’I used to call him baby all the time three years ago,’ she thought. ’He never reacted like this back then.’

After all, even though she and Ian Sterling had done it all back when they were together—and even though the first thing she’d done upon her return was drag him to a hotel and do it all again—she still didn’t quite understand his reaction now.

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