"I did, but you owe me a dance," she protested lightly, a playful edge in her voice.

John smiled, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks. Meeting her gaze, his blue eyes momentarily flickered with the memory of his dance with Mandy. "I'll be sure to make it up to you," he promised sincerely.

As John reached his room and opened the door, he offered her a kind smile. "Good night."

"Good night," Ariel and Leroy replied in unison.

With a gentle click, the door to room seventeen closed behind John, leaving Ariel and Leroy to continue on their way.

"I wish I knew what they're discussing," Ariel murmured, her eyes shifting to Jasper and Max, who were some distance ahead, engrossed in deep conversation.

Leroy cast her a sidelong glance, a knowing smile curling on his lips. "Oh, I have a guess."

"Leroy!" Ariel's face flushed red as she gave him a playful shove. Her exclamation caught Jasper's attention, prompting him to pause his conversation with Max and glance back at them. Leroy's grin only widened, and Ariel’s cheeks burned even more.

"Thanks a lot," Ariel said, her voice lowered as she narrowed her eyes at the monk. Leroy raised his hands in mock innocence.

"Hey, you're the one who has to go shouting things."

As Ariel glanced back up the hall, she noticed Max disappearing into his room.

"And then there were three," Leroy remarked softly, ensuring only Ariel could hear as they neared Jasper.

Jasper barely acknowledged their presence before resuming his walk, his mind clearly elsewhere.

"My room’s just a few doors down," Leroy offered, his tone light. "But I could always escort you to yours if you're not comfortable being left alone. We wouldn’t want any more manhandling going on..."

Ariel turned crimson, a fierce blush coloring her entire face. She shoved the monk with a bit more force than necessary but was met with no resistance. Noticing her dissatisfaction, Leroy simply said, "Wrong shoulder."

Jasper paused at the monk's door, and Ariel and Leroy closed the gap, albeit slowly. Ariel dragged her feet, her face still burning with the image Leroy had planted in her mind. Grinning all the while, Leroy glanced down at her.

"Last chance..." he whispered from the corner of his mouth.

"Go," Ariel retorted stubbornly, though she found herself still gripping Leroy's arm.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Good night," Jasper said with a nod towards Leroy.

The monk returned the gesture and then pulled Ariel into a quick, friendly hug. "Sweet dreams."

"Good night, Leroy," Ariel responded, hugging him back.

"Oh, look at Jasper. I think he's jealous," Leroy teased, glancing at their boss as he stepped back from Ariel, leaving her blushing furiously.

Unable to resist, Ariel watched as Leroy eyed them both knowingly before closing the door. The silence in the hall was punctuated only by the rapid thudding of Ariel's heart. She swallowed hard, trying to collect herself. Jasper's gaze fell on her, and then he began walking again. Ariel blinked, battling the blush creeping up her neck. Thoughts of "manhandling" and "over my dead body" swirled in her mind, leaving her feeling confused and flustered. Ariel cast one last look at Leroy's door before taking a deep breath and following her boss.

As she passed by doors, she heard muffled sounds of movement behind them. Music floated through one, and Ariel imagined a couple dancing; giggles from another hinted at a group of girls counting their Magnolias. Someone called her name, making her thoughts wander to—

Ariel came to an abrupt halt, nearly bumping into Jasper. He quickly caught her wrist as she stumbled back. The warmth of his hand against her skin made her want to pull away, but she held still. Jasper released her wrist and nodded toward her door.

"You were about to walk past your room."

Ariel followed his gaze, trying to avoid looking directly at him. "Oh, well..." she trailed off, unsure of what to say.

This is ridiculous, she thought. Why do I feel so uncomfortable? This is Jasper—the cold-hearted, ambushing, work-you-to-the-bone, let-Mandy-hang-off-him Jasper.

"Good night," Ariel said, trying to muster confidence from the annoyance she felt.

Her irritation and thoughts had to work overtime when she met his gaze. Ariel told herself the heat rising in her cheeks was just her getting worked up, not another blush.

She glanced down the hall, hoping a part of her that Leroy would come to rescue her, then back at Jasper. Realizing they were standing too close and that she had already said goodnight, Ariel reached for her door handle, attempting what she hoped would be a departing smile. But Jasper's arm blocked her way. Ariel's smile faded.

Leaning in ominously, close enough for her to catch the faint scent of coffee clinging to him, Jasper looked down at Ariel, his eyes serious and unyielding.

"Are you sure you have nothing else to tell me?"

Ariel blinked, her heartbeat accelerating as she stood almost trapped in her own doorway. The small flame of anger flared in her chest. Why does this question sound so familiar? If he thinks a surprise interrogation late at night will get him answers, he's in for strike two!

She frowned back at his accusatory stare. "No, nothing—now if you don’t mind—"

Jasper’s arm fell from the doorway, and Ariel retreated a few steps into her dark room. Jasper watched her for a moment, an emotion she couldn’t quite identify lingering in his dark eyes, before he looked away.

"Good night, Ariel."

"Night," she replied, but he was already gone.

Slowly, Ariel closed her door and rested her forehead against the cool wood. With a deep sigh, she looked around, surprised to find that she was not enveloped in darkness. A soft white glow illuminated the room. Lifting her head, she turned to face the window. The drapes, which had been pulled open earlier, allowed the full moon’s light to flood in. Moonbeams shone brightly on her bed, where something glittered mysteriously. Ariel squinted in confusion and approached her bed.

What...?

Tentatively, she stepped closer, her eyes widening in disbelief. Blinking rapidly, Ariel stood over the object—a delicate flower with petals that gleamed as if made of crystal. Her breath caught in her throat as she reached down to pick up the enchanting treasure. As she cupped it in her hands, she finally acknowledged the truth: she had been given a moon Magnolia.