She batted her eyshes, her voice full of warmth. "Star, since we ran into each other, let me treat you both to lunch."


    Without waiting for a reply, sheunched into a lively chatter about all the online fans who were shipping Ste and Joshua as a couple. Lynne reeled off gossip that neither of them had heard, her words witty and her voice sweet and clear. Despite being talkative, she wasn''t irritating.


    After a while, she seemed to catch herself and stopped with a look of embarrassment. "Oh, I''m so sorry, I got carried away. I''m interrupting your practice."


    "My apologies, Star," Lynne said sheepishly. "I won''t disturb you anymore. I''lle find you at lunchtime." With that, she tactfully left.


    Watching this from the monitor, Leonard sneered. "Another one who doesn''t know what''s good for her. She won''t even know how Joshua yed her before he''s done."


    Joshua, like himself, was not the type to go easy on women. Leonard had little interest in them, and his notorious reputation meant few women dared to cross him.


    Most of his altercations with women were due to Aurora, and his methods were always simple and brutal. Joshua was different. He preferred to y mind games.


    Simone Lerman was a prime example,pletely twisted around Joshua''s finger. She had been sold out and was probably still counting the money for him. Even someone as sharp as Aurora had been thoroughly outmaneuvered by Joshua, who had even managed to drive a permanent wedge between her and Leonard.


    Leonard wasn''t blind; he knew Joshua had been toying with Aurora. But what could he do? If Aurora hadn''t offered him an opening, Joshua''s provocations would have been useless. Leonard understood this perfectly, but understanding and epting were two different things. The feeling was like a thorn lodged in his throat-not fatal, but a constant, nagging irritation.


    Now, watching someone new approach Joshua, Leonard felt no desire to watch the show. He knew exactly how it would end: Lynne would be another toy for Joshua''s amusement.


    When lunchtime arrived, Lynne came to invite them out as promised. Ste didn''t refuse and went with her to a nearby restaurant.


    During the meal, Ste''s phone rang. Excusing herself to Joshua and Lynne, she got up to take the call. Joshua watched her go, rxing slightly only when she stopped within his line of sight.


    When he turned back, he found Lynne resting her chin on her hand, smiling at him. She didn''t look away when he caught her gaze, instead sizing him up openly


    "Joshua, you''re in love with Star, aren''t you?"


    Joshua didn''t deny it. "So what if I am?"


    Lynne''s eyes lit up. "I told you, I''m your biggest shipper! I can help you, you know." "Help me?" Joshua asked. "How?"


    Lynne nced toward Ste and lowered her voice. "I can create opportunities for you and Star to build your rtionship."


    "But Star and I are together every day," Joshua pointed out. "Do we really need to manufacture opportunities?"


    Lynne froze, then mumbled, "Oh... I guess that''s true..." She stuck out her tongue sheepishly "Sorry I''m just so eager to sen you two together that I forgot you''re already inseparable. But still..."