Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Everyone at the table was watching them. The way Dylan looked at Clara-so warm, so gentle-made it impossible for some people to keep eating.

Simon slammed his chopsticks down. "This is a dining room, not your bedroom.”

Dylan paused, reaching for a napkin to wipe the corner of Clara's lips. He was about to say something when Clara looked right at him.

"Well, obviously it's not a bedroom. There's no bed," she said, completely matter- of-fact.

She was just telling the truth, but this really wasn't the moment for that kind of honesty.

The other people at the table all had expressions that were hard to describe.

Walter's face didn't give much away, but his hand tightened around his chopsticks. No one had ever been this bold in front of him before.

Mrs. Ferguson smacked the table. "Outrageous! Shameless! What kind of nonsense is that? How can a woman say things like that in front of her elders? And in public, no less? You-"

Clara blinked, genuinely confused. She didn't see what she'd done wrong—there really wasn't a bed here.

She leaned closer to Dylan, almost seeking shelter. "Honey."

Dylan's lips lifted in a calm, easy smile. "Mother, Clara's still young. She doesn't understand the rules yet."

Mrs. Ferguson's chest heaved with frustration. If this kept up, Clara was going to be the end of her.

How had this girl ended up in the Ferguson family?

A gentle hand started patting Mrs. Ferguson's back. Tara's soft voice floated over. "Mrs. Ferguson, don't let it get to you. Dylan's right-Clara's still young."

a cold laugh. "Young? She's twenty-four, almost twenty-five. Don't tell me she still doesn't know any

how to smooth things over, Walter put his

bring her to the party. It's fine if she jokes around at home, but there'll be a lot of people there. Don't let her act

Instead, he looked

a little guilty, she grabbed his arm. "Should we

shook his head. "No.

"Really?"

find any hint

chest. She still didn't know how

in a past life, right? Otherwise, how could she have

house. Pushing his wheelchair, she couldn't help but ask, "How did

at the grass as they made

a plant in the corner. It

can we

she said "home" was just

over at the plant, trying to remember when it had even been planted. "Sure.

up. Once they got in the car, she was all smiles, massaging his

Clara, it was always so easy-she just knew how to make someone feel better. It was

wonder people liked her so

Ferguson

Tara was still trying to calm her down. "Mrs. Ferguson, don't stress about Dylan. His career is taking off. When

nodded,

heard that

after the tree I planted. You never brag about what you do, you just quietly take care of things. That's exactly why I want you

kind of woman she