Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

After Dylan got in the car, he stared quietly out the window, lost in his own world.

Aiden drove, sneaking glances at Dylan in the rearview mirror. Most people wouldn't notice, but Aiden knew: Mrs. Ferguson held a strange, complicated spot in his boss's heart. Just how complicated, though, he never dared to ask.

Dylan watched the scenery roll by for a while, then closed his eyes.

When they finally arrived at Palm Bay, Dylan spotted Clara outside. She was sitting in the yard, absently pulling up little tufts of grass, her thoughts clearly miles away-the patch beside her nearly bald from her fidgeting. Compared to the tension earlier, her corner of the garden looked almost peaceful.

Dylan's lips quirked up, just a little. He got out of the car and made his way to her.

Clara heard the faint sound of his wheelchair approaching. She glanced up, met his eyes for a split second, then quickly looked away.

He could tell she was still mad about what he'd said the night before.

He fished around in his pocket, pulled out a handful of candies, and offered them to her, palm open.

Clara stared at the candy, then at him, her expression full of skepticism. Was he serious? Did he really think a few pieces of candy were enough to make up for how he'd talked to her last night?

Sometimes she felt like she and Dylan were living in totally different realities. How could he stay so cool after forcing her into marriage? Was it because he always got to decide when things started and ended? She hated feeling like someone else was steering her life.

With a huff, she batted his hand away. The strong scent of sandalwood clung to him, like he'd just come from a temple. She hadn't even known he was going out this morning-she'd wanted to tag along, but he'd shut her down.

and walked over to a stone bench, grabbing an orange from the table and starting to peel it. She turned her back to him, making it clear

on the table next to her. The wrappers were elegant-definitely not something you'd

juice burst on her tongue, and she felt her mood

of the candies and popped

out of nowhere, Dylan gently lifted her chin. Suddenly, his face

candy he'd been sucking on slid from his mouth into hers,

room to protest.

ran through her. The

person would lose their cool after something like

chest heaving, her cheeks

Dylan would ever feed her like

never would've

wanted to spit

Dylan was already leaning on

propping up his chin,

like nothing

hard, forcing herself to calm

was Dylan playing

for a good

not the same as you used