Her eyes snapped to the door, cheeks burning, but still noting with satisfaction the subtle evidence that she wasn’t the only one affected by their interrupted moment.

“Sorry one sec!” she called out, smoothing her blouse with trembling fingers as she moved to answer it. Her legs felt oddly unsteady, each step a negotiation with gravity as the ghost of Daniel’s touch still hummed across her skin.

Sophia breezed in like a gust of fresh air, her blonde curls catching the morning light. For a heartbeat, Juniper thought she’d managed to compose herself, that they could slip seamlessly into their usual routine of case prep and café.

Then she caught sight of her reflection in the window behind Sophia - her lips bearing the subtle evidence of kisses, her cheeks painted with a telling flush that no amount of practiced poise could hide. Her eyes held a brightness that spoke of something freshly awakened, as if someone had turned up the saturation on her entire being.