Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara's ankle was still aching a bit, so she quietly found a seat and shook her head when someone glanced her way.

Dylan leaned over to the manager and quietly asked them to bring up some fruit wine.

Nicholas watched it all in silence, his mood written all over his face.

When the bottles finally arrived, Nicholas couldn't hold it in anymore. "Why'd you bring her here?" he blurted out.

Clara had just raised her glass when she heard Dylan's calm reply, "I wanted you all to meet her."

No one needed to spell out what it meant for Dylan to bring a girl to meet his friends—everyone in the room knew exactly how serious that was.

Nicholas knew too, and shot out of his chair, his voice rising. "But why her? She

Richard reached out, grabbing his sleeve with a steady hand. "Sit down."

Nicholas pressed his lips together, scanning Clara from head to toe, looking for any reason to shout that she wasn't good enough for Dylan. But after a long, hard look, he had to admit-she really was annoyingly pretty.

Giving up, Nicholas let out a frustrated laugh and changed the subject. "Tara called me tonight. She'll probably come by in a bit. Dylan, is it true? People are saying you and Tara are getting married in three months. What's really going on?" Richard just shook his head, thinking there was no saving Nicholas at this point. The atmosphere turned heavy, just as the door swung open and Jackson walked in.

He froze when he saw Clara, looking caught off guard-and a little awkward, since Tara was right behind him. Apparently, they'd run into each other on the way

over.

Tara asked quietly, "Why aren't you going in?"

Jackson stepped aside, and Tara's eyes landed on Clara. For a moment, she looked surprised, but she quickly smiled and nodded politely. "Hi, Clara."

Last time they'd met hadn't exactly gone well.

Clara didn't say a word. She barely knew anyone here, so she just kept her head down, staring at her drink.

Jackson slid into a seat next to Richard and said in a low voice, " swear, it was an accident. I ran into

Tara on the way here-how was I Tara on

supposed to know Clara would be

here too?"

Tara sat down next to Dylan,

completely at ease. "You left so early this morning. I had some flowers sent to Palm Bay for you. Did you see the cherry blossoms outside the temple? They're in full bloom."

She knew exactly what cherry blossoms meant, and she knew Dylan would get the message.

Everyone else in the room had heard of that famous temple-except Clara, who was still struggling with her lost memories. She glanced at Dylan, confused. When did he go to the temple?

Cherry blossoms?

Oh, right—it was spring, so of course the cherry trees were blooming. Did he go see them with Tara?

Clara looked back down at her glass, feeling like a total outsider.

Suddenly, a warm hand covered hers, his fingers wrapping gently around her hand.

She instinctively tried to pull away, but Dylan leaned in, his voice soft. "You don't like it?"

Clara froze, glancing at Tara before she could stop herself. Was Dylan doing this just to make Tara jealous?

She quickly slipped her hand out of his, not wanting to be part of anyone else's drama.

Dylan's hand fell away, his lashes lowering. "Want something else to drink?"

Clara felt all eyes on her and wished she could disappear.

She stayed silent, but Nicholas couldn't hold back his irritation. "What, you can't

talk now? Dylan's asked you a bunch of times."

Dylan shot him a look, his voice cold. "What's with that attitude?"

"Hey!" Nicholas snapped, completely exasperated. He was trying to help! What was up with Clara, just sitting there like she was a million mites away? Who was she even thinking

about? noveldrama

It just didn't seem fair. Why should Dylan have to go out of his way for her?

Did she even deserve it?