「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(347) Crossed the Line

Lynn's POV

"I mean... This is all my husband's hard work, really. I just... Lent him a hand to fulfill his dream," I insisted in a nonchalant tone.

"Little is heard of you but certainly not of your modesty, Lynn," James commented jokingly and I reflexively chuckled at his humour that still served to entertain me, taking no particular notice of the intimate address.

"Have... Have we met? You just look, somewhat, familiar..." James mumbled tentatively.

Instantly, I peered up at him, feeling blood drain from my cheeks faster than under the normal action of gravity while my heart fervently thumped under the influence of a surge of adrenaline, as he scrutinized me intently.

"Disneyland!" James cried in utter excitement as he energetically snapped his fingers.

"You had that exact same look on your face when I bumped into you at Disneyland!" He gushed like an amazed scientist who finally stumbled upon his groundbreaking, eureka, moment.

Yet, there I was still engulfed in dismay, concentrating on the cacophonous ticks of my pocket watch and the thundering palpitations emanating from under my chest as the excruciating seconds just slipped away.

"Oh, how could I forget that hair!" James exclaimed in that charmingly thick Scottish accent and laughed heartily, clearly amused by the apparent negligence he imagined so preposterous, but I, contrastingly, just achieved a haphazard twitch to my lips.

"That... That was such a long time ago, I would never have remembered... But yes, yes it seems... Disneyland..." I stammered in a blatant lie.

Surely, recollections of that wretched day could not have been more difficultly banished from my brain. Although they no longer threatened to haunt me in absolutely disturbing frequencies, the grueling torture suffered on that unforeseen occasion was deeply etched, and worse now with the pain that spontaneously resurfaced.

"Are you alright? You seem pale," James remarked fretfully and his edgy frame slowly invaded my line of sight deliberately focused on a patch of grass as he crouched down with a tightly-knitted frown.

"I'm fine... It's... It's probably just a cold," I coolly dismissed and quickly avoided his gaze, mindlessly reaching towards the seat of the swing.

"Did you want to get on? I can help you," James asserted in a zealous tone.

"Thank you. But I can manage just fine," I declined with strenuously conjured politeness but his obstinance and persistence for offering assistance was obviously still in imposing existence.

"Come, just let me help you," James repeated as he scrambled to the other side of my chair.

"Do not touch me," I warned in a hushed tone as I mentally prepared myself for the telekinetic transfer but he was typically unable to absorb instructions.

Regardlessly, James curled an arm around my back and the other under my knees, swiftly hoisting me into his embrace from my left side. His elegant movement was once again so stunningly natural but it was actually that inexplicable and astounding security provided by his strong cradle which precluded immediate refusal.

Just like before, I broke out from my trance too, very, late but my crippled resistance emerged simply fruitless against his sturdy physique even with its age.

My mind envisioned my legs kicking vigorously—if only the nerves governing them had not been completely severed from my jurisdiction—1but my lifeless calves and droopy feet decked in black glossy patent heels just remained flopped limply over his firm muscles instead as I wrestled out to no avail.