Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 644

Chapter 644

Dylan turned to Clara and noticed she was still a little spaced out. He gently took the empty glass from her hand.

A few minutes earlier, she'd been sitting there alone, zoning out, and had finished her glass of wine without even realizing it.

When her fingers brushed air, Clara blinked, staring at her palm for a few seconds before coming back to herself.

She looked up and met Dylan's eyes. The moment their gazes locked, it was like she'd touched something hot-her heart skipped and she stammered, "I..."

Before she could say anything else, Tara cut in, turning to Jackson. "Jackson, did Carter hit you last night?"

There was a small scratch on Jackson's cheek-something no one else had noticed, but Tara had picked up on it right away.

With the focus shifting to Jackson, Clara faded into the background.

Jackson ran his finger along the rim of his glass and grinned. “Nah, just caught by some broken glass. My grandpa still packs a punch. Even at his age, he managed to smash three glasses."

Everyone chuckled, and suddenly the room felt lighter.

She'd known this

memories were lost on Clara. She didn't remember any of it, hadn't been part of any of

at a reunion for childhood friends, except

Tara was bringing up these stories on purpose, just

hurt. But she didn't—so she just sat there,

drag Dylan into the stories, usually about something from when

onto the base and almost stepped on a

was only a year younger, so Dylan ended up taking most

even as a kid, Richard had been a little troublemaker. Especially

worst punishment. fo

over who

got fifty lashes and Richard

does he get thirty more

the base had burst out laughing, and one of the

put this kind of energy into something useful,

the laughter had died down, Dylan had raised his hand,

extra thirty lashes to Richard, just to keep things fair.

running joke, and even years later, the story still made the

folks, and she brought