After picking out the things she disliked, he started peeling shrimp for her.


    Felton and Flint werepletely bewildered by the meticulous care he showed. It was like watching him take care of a child.


    "Why aren''t you eating?” Juniper asked, finally looking up at him after she''d had her fill.


    "I''m full," Shanley replied with a smile, watching her nibble away like a little squirrel, a roguish grin ying on his lips.


    "Our boss has a weak stomach, Ms. Payne. He eats small meals more frequently," Flint exined as he refilled her water, adding a detail he thought might be useful. She certainly had a healthy appetite. Theyplemented each other well.


    "A weak stomach?" Juniper put down her fork and knife, wiped her hands with a sanitized cloth, and said in a low voice, "Give me your right hand.”


    Shanley blinked, confused for a moment before extending his hand.


    "Your pulse is quite weak," Juniper said after a few seconds, her fingers resting lightly on his wrist. "You have irregr eating habits and probably stay upte a lot."


    Felton and Flint exchanged a look of astonishment. Ms. Payne was spot on. To be skilled in traditional diagnostic methods at such a young age... She was like a treasure chest, full of surprises every time they saw her.


    "It''s not too serious, though," Juniper said, withdrawing her hand. She opened her backpack and took out a pen and paper. "Take this herbal form once in the morning and once at night. Your stomach should feel much better in about two weeks. I can give you another prescription then." She scribbled down a list of herbs in neat, beautiful script.


    Then? Did that mean they would see each other again?


    "You know holistic medicine?" Shanley asked, his voice deep and rich as he rubbed the spot her fingers had touched.


    "A little," Juniper replied casually, finishing thest of the food in her te before setting down her utensils. "I should get home."


    "Alright." Shanley didn''t press further. He stood up and took her backpack for her.


    Juniper nced at him but said nothing.


    Fine. Her grandfather used to carry her bag like that, too.


    ...


    Back at Moulnds, Juniper slung her backpack over her shoulder. "Thanks for dinner," she said to Shanley.


    He smiled and pulled a cake box from the car. "I noticed you liked this, so I got one to go. You can share it with your family."


    Juniper paused, surprised by his thoughtfulness, and took the box after a moment. "Thank you." She really did like it.


    “Between us, you don''t always have to say thank you," Shanley said, his gaze deep and steady as he met her clear eyes.


    Juniper, who had been admiring the cake, looked up abruptly.


    Between them? What was between them?


    After a second''s thought, she found her answer. Oh. The rtionship between a savior and the saved.


    "Okay," she said, epting the gift without any more hesitation and giving him a small wave before she left.


    Watching her slender figure recede, Shanley''s eyes darkened, the corners of his mouth lifting. From ignoring himpletely to resisting him, and now to waving goodbye-they were making great progress.


    Seeing his boss''s longing gaze, Flint couldn''t help but whisper to Felton, "You know, he kind of reminds me of the big bad wolf."


    "What?"


    "The big bad wolf, patiently luring the little white rabbit in, nning to devour her bite by bite."


    "I don''t know if our boss is the big bad wolf," Felton replied seriously, "but Ms. Payne


    is definitely no little white rabbit. Have you forgotten her taking on five guys at once?"


    Flint shuddered at the memory of Ms. Payne in a fight. He could still feel the goosebumps.