It was just... His boss's tone with Ms. Payne had been so gentle, it had caught him off guard. He’d only been distracted for a few seconds, but that was all it took for disaster to strike.
Luckily, Ms. Payne was in the back, and his boss, afraid of scaring her, didn't yell too harshly. Otherwise...
Felton didn't dare to imagine. He sent up a silent prayer of thanks to Juniper.
The car quickly stabilized. Shanley looked down at the girl in his arms and asked softly, "It's okay now."
Juniper immediately pulled away, her eyes landing on the wet patch on his chest. She blinked, embarrassed. "Your shirt..."
"It's fine." Shanley had only just noticed his own disheveled state. He wiped at it casually with a tissue. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
Looking at his damp shirt, Juniper's cheeks warmed. She was fine, of course. But the jolt from him shielding her must have hurt. Wasn't he worried about getting injured?
"What is it?" Seeing her silence, Shanley grew tense, his voice cautious. "Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Felton, to the hospital!"
"I'm fine," Juniper murmured, her clear eyes fixed on him. She was a doctor herself, after all. She was just... curious. Was this man being a little too nice to her?
"Okay." Shanley gave her a once-over, and only after confirming she was unharmed did he relax. "Rest for a bit. We'll be there soon."
Juniper nodded and settled back into her seat. She glanced at the pile of snacks in her lap, then stole a peek at the man beside her, who was still dealing with his shirt. She couldn't figure him out.
...
At the restaurant, Juniper sat obediently, sipping a freshly bought milkshake. When she casually looked up, her eyes met Shanley, who had just returned after changing his clothes.


VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy