But most of the time, their kisses had been brief and perfunctory. Tonight, however, she was aggressive, like a predator cornering its prey.


    With a beautiful woman in his arms, Shanley''s reason evaporated, and he reversed their roles, taking the lead. He had wanted to be a gentleman, but that was contingent on one thing the girl not provoking him.


    Just as Shanley was about to take things further, the girl beneath him squeezed her eyes shut and drifted into a deep sleep. A bucket of ice water seemed to douse him from head to toe.


    Shanley froze, the smile on his face slowly fading.


    "Juniper..." He stroked her cheek, calling her name softly.


    "Sleepy." Juniper pushed his hand away, rolled over with her back to him, and nestled into the nkets, already sleeping soundly.


    Shanley let out a dryugh. He rubbed his temples, a helpless smile on his face as he looked at the girl who had started a fire and then promptly abandoned her post.


    After a few minutes ofposing himself, Shanley walked into the bathroom and let the bone-chillingly cold water wash over him, shocking his system awake. He was lucky she''d fallen asleep. Otherwise, he would have truly be a beast tonight. A man nearly thirty years old, how could he lose his senses so easily?


    The next day, Juniper slept until three in the afternoon. When she woke up, the space beside her was empty.


    Huh? She sat up, rubbing her sore shoulders. She clearly remembered leaving thebst night and seeing Shanley. She''d acted like a little vixen, doing this and that to him..... And after that..... her memory was aplete nk.


    Could it be that the all-nighters were causing her to hallucinate, or was it all a dream? It had to be.


    Just as Juniper was breathing a sigh of relief, the bedroom door suddenly opened. The very man she had osted appeared before her, holding a tray of food, looking refreshed and vibrant.


    "Uh..." Juniper''s breath caught in her throat. She blinked, and it took her a long moment to find her voice. "Did you just get here?" she asked cautiously.


    "Hmm?" Shanley raised an eyebrow, his deep eyes narrowing into a mischievous smile. "I arrivedst night."


    Last night? Juniper''s mind shed back to the previous evening, to the strange, bullish strength that had possessed her, to how she''d nearly stripped the poor man''s pants off.


    Oh, God. Her pristine reputation was ruined, all thanks to Shanley.


    "What''s wrong?" Shanley sat down on the bed, leaning forward on his hands. He brought his face close to hers, a slight curve to his thin lips, his voice bewitching. "Has Juniper forgotten what happened tast night?"


    “Hmm?” Juniper''s cheeks burned, and she instinctively pulled back Her heart was in a panic, but her eyes were firm "What happenedst night? I fell asleep ve forgotten everything."


    She deliberately emphasized the word "everything.”


    "Is that so?"


    The amusement in Shanley''s eyes deepened. Noticing her red earlobes, he decided not to expose her lie. "What a coincidence," he said gently. "I don''t remember either."


    "Oh." Juniper turned her head away, her red lips twitching. “That is a coincidence."


    The little cheat. And she had the audacity to agree so matter-of-factly.


    “No rush. We have plenty of time to recall the events ofst night together," Shanley said with a softugh, gently squeezing her palm.


    "Ahem." Juniper nearly choked on her own saliva. She fell silent, pretending she hadn''t heard him. It''s not like she''d seeded, so what was there to be upset about? If she''d known he was going to hold it over her head, maybe she shouldn''t have fallen asleepst night.


    "Eat something. We have guests," Shanley said softly, helping her get dressed.


    "Guests?"


    "Yes." Shanley nodded, his expression turning serious. “Your sister and... your brother-inw, Warren, are here."


    Juniper''s face changed slightly. It seemed Warren had made his decision. She was curious to see what he would choose.