Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Jackson at least managed to spit his food into a napkin. Nicholas didn't even try- he just spat straight onto the floor. "Water! Water! Someone get me water!"

Jackson passed him an unopened bottle. Nicholas grabbed it with a look of pure horror and chugged it down in one go.

Once he'd recovered, Nicholas slumped back in his chair, staring at Clara like he honestly thought she'd tried to poison them.

Then, as if a lightbulb went off, he pointed at her. "You're trying to kill Dylan, aren't you? Clara, I knew you were up to something, but this is next-level!"

Clara had been feeling pretty awful, but with these two making such a scene, she couldn't help but feel a little better.

She was about to fire back when she saw Charles coming in from the yard.

Charles had actually arrived in Palm Bay an hour ago. He'd meant to come in right away, but after seeing Clara was fine, he ended up hanging outside, playing fetch with MiloBuddy.

Now, spotting the food on the table, he hurried over. "Sis, you cooked again? Didn't you take breakfast to your husband? Didn't he get any?"

He reached for a spoon, ready to dig in, but Clara quickly caught his wrist. "Don't.

I got distracted while cooking. Seriously, it's awful today."

She'd barely finished talking when Dylan lowered his eyes, picked up his own spoon, and said quietly, "No. It's really good."

Nicholas stared at him like he'd lost his mind. People

eating, one spoonful after another, and her eyes

looked up at her, then finally

out, gently brushing his

wanted to say something, but with everyone else right

for a second, looking lost, then suddenly grabbed

bet

few seconds, then just leaned in, pressed his palm to her cheek, and kissed

instantly glancing at the

seen worse-after the last time in the hotel suite, this was nothing. They

bright red, glancing from Clara to Dylan, scratching his cheek, and

ask Aiden

the chance to ask Dylan, "Colin

shape

you

fine to

up, eyes chilly.

He pointed

Dylan was joking, and was about to say something,