He rubbed the ointment in his hands for a moment, then gently pressed it onto the swollen part of my ankle, massaging it in. A dull, tingling sensation spread from the area he was working on…


    Not long ago, Alvin had massaged my feet, and while I was touched then, it didn’t feel anything like this. I couldn’t figure out why, but I suspected it had something to do with his technique.


    ?? ?? ?? ?—


    By the time Josh finished, I heard the sound of Holly’s voice raised in anger. “You all listen up! If anyone dares to harm my people, don’t me me, Holly, for being rude. I’ll make you regret…”


    “What’s going on?” I asked softly.


    Josh carefully lifted my foot from his knee and set it on another stone bench. As he stood, I noticed his face was a little flushed.


    At first, I thought maybe it was from the heat, but his next words made me realize it wasn’t.


    “From now on, try wearing fewer skirts around here,” he said.


    I looked down at my skirt-an elegant sapphire blue silk that hugged my body, with a slit up the side.


    As I sat, the slit had risen a little, exposing my white thigh. And when he was massaging my foot earlier… well, he must have seen something..


    My face warmed, but determined not to lose face, I casually asked, “What’s wrong? Does my skirt bother you?”


    Josh swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. He didn’t say anything but turned and walked out of the yard. A momentter, Holly’s shouting stopped.


    Curious about what had just happened, I hurried over to the door. I saw Josh with his back to me, facing none other than Effie, his rumored love interest.


    “This is intentional harm,” Josh said, pointing at a puddle of oil on the ground. “If we report this, you’ll be legally responsible.”


    That was the exact spot where I had slipped earlier. So it wasn’t an ident-it had been deliberately set up.


    “How do you know I did that? Did you see me?” Effie yelled back.


    Holly spoke up, “I already asked around. Someone saw you pour the oil here.”


    Effie fell silent, but her eyes shot a pitiful, yet venomous, nce at Josh. “Who told her to flirt with you?”


    I thought, ‘Flirt with Josh? Effie really knows how to twist things.’


    Watching Holly and Josh standing up for me, I felt like I couldn’t just stay silent. I had to do something.


    So, I hopped over, using the wall for support, and once I was close, I didn’t argue or shout.


    Instead, I casually wrapped my arm around Josh’s, shing a smile at Effie. “Thanks for setting this up. Now I can see just how great Josh really is.”


    Effie’s face went pale, and I squeezed Josh’s arm lightly. His muscles were firm and springy, and I couldn’t help but notice how good it felt. I said, “Let’s go. Cut me some apples.”


    My voice was so sweet that even I got chills, realizing this was something I had never done before-at least, not with Alvin.


    Josh looked at me, his gaze deepening, and before I could blink, he picked me up again. I thought, ‘Always lifting me with such ease, like I am a bag he can carry without a second thought.


    “Look at that, look at that! She’s been carried inside, while you are tossed out.” Holly couldn’t resist teasing Effie.


    Effie tried to make a y, but in the end, she lost badly. I thought, ‘No, wait-she lost an entire bowl of oil.


    Josh carried me back to the yard, his cool, calm voice drifting above me. “Want to go inside or sit outside?”


    “Outside, let’s eat apples,” I said, nodding toward the spot where I had been sitting earlier.


    He carried me over and gently set me down. As he did, his chin brushed the tip of my nose, sending a light tickling sensation through me…


    I noticed his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, and before I could even think, my mouth moved faster than my brain. “Josh, are you flirting with me?”