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.

with the others. She'd known this group

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

for childhood friends, except she was the outsider who

wanted to, really. But it was obvious Tara was bringing

liked Dylan, maybe she would've felt hurt. But she didn't—so

the stories, usually about something

stepped on a landmine? You both got spanked in front

was the oldest, and Richard was

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

worst punishment. fo

compete over

Richard only got twenty, Richard had

get thirty more

base had burst out laughing, and one

his foot. "If you put this kind of energy into something useful, you'd go far,

had died down, Dylan had raised his

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

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

had obviously heard it from the older folks, and she brought it up now to draw