Chapter 1282

Juniper stared blankly at Jimmie, her shock easily matching Luella's.

Shanley leaned back in his chair, his gaze darkening. He had known Jimmie for over

a decade, and aside from Juniper, he had never seen the man serve food to

anyone.

Let alone to a guy he supposedly couldn't stand.

How bizarre.

"Jimmie, are you sure you didn't hit your head in that car crash?" Luella eyed the chicken wing on her plate with deep suspicion. She wasn't touched; she was terrified. "Maybe you should let Juniper give you a checkup. You're acting seriously weird."

"I'm fine." Jimmie set his silverware down. His handsome lips tightened, and his thick brows knit together.

Luella wasn't the only one who thought he was losing it. He felt like his brain was short-circuiting too. For a split second, his mind had just gone blank, his hand moving completely on its own.

By the time he snapped out of it, the chicken wing was already on her plate, and she was looking at him like he needed professional help.

"Thank you for saving me." Jimmie averted his gaze, forcing a calm tone. "Your thank-you gift is on the way."

"We're friends, man. No need to be so formal," Luella replied casually. After a beat, curiosity got the better of her. "So... what's the gift?"

He was an A-list movie star, after all. The guy was loaded. Whatever he got her had to be expensive. She couldn't help but look forward to it.

"You'll see when you get it." Jimmie picked up his water glass, taking a guilty sip. He fully intended to get her something; he just hadn't actually bought it yet.

"Oh." Luella looked a little disappointed.

"Here, you eat too," Jimmie said, dropping another chicken wing onto Juniper's plate to cover up his awkwardness.

"?" Juniper wrinkled her nose in distaste at the food.

"Juniper hates black pepper wings," Shanley said, smoothly sliding her plate away. He knew for a fact that Jimmie was aware of this little habit. Juniper only ordered this flavor because it was Luella's favorite.

"Sorry." Jimmie's hand twitched. Kicking himself internally, he quickly swapped it out for a different flavor.

Juniper relaxed as she looked at the new piece, but her eyes remained fixed on Jimmie, swirling with confusion.

He was acting so strange. Especially the way he kept looking at Luella!

After dinner, Luella was so full she had to hold onto the wall, waddling toward the exit.

"Shanley, I'll drop by your office

another day to iron out the details of our collaboration," she said with a

bright smile. After scanning the area

to make sure no one was

the area

eavesdropping, she lowered her

voice. "Please keep my real identity a

secret."

"I will," Shanley replied with a slight nod, his arm wrapped securely around Juniper's waist.

"Did you not drive here?" Juniper asked.

"Nope." Luella shrugged, stifling a yawn. "My car's still at the garage.

camt hete from the airport.

and didn't have time to grab it. It's fine, I'll just catch a cab."

Catch a cab? It was six-thirty in the evening-rush hour. She'd be waiting for at least an hour.

Juniper glanced at Shanley's

two seater sports car the rover at immies spacious sedan. "Jimmie, you drop her off?"

came

"?" Jimmie had just walked out with his coat. Meeting Luella's gaze, his heart skipped a beat.

Before he could even answer, Luella spoke up. "It's completely out of his way. That's probably too much trouble, right?"

Despite the polite words, she had already pulled the passenger door open and slid right in.

Jimmie's mouth twitched. "Go on home. I've got her," he said in a low, raspy voice. "Okay." Leaning against Shanley, Juniper watched the car drive off. "So weird!"

"What's weird?" Shanley asked with a faint smile, helping her into the passenger seat and buckling her in.