Page 61 of Dotted Lines (Runaway 5)

I shook my head. “Not at all. Still doesn’t feel like my car.”

“Okay. Thanks. That will make life a little easier for us to get around town tomorrow.”

We all climbed in the car and I aimed us toward my house. “I’ve got some work to do tomorrow, but if you’re up for it, I’d like to see you again for dinner. Chips and salsa?”

“We’re up for it.”

“And swimming in the ocean,” August said.

Clara laughed. “You got it, bud.”

The drive to my place was short, too short. The day had gone by too fast. I had this niggling fear that once Clara left California, I wouldn’t see her again.

For years, I’d held on to hope that since she hadn’t said the word goodbye, it hadn’t been goodbye. Even after I’d looked her up and seen her with him. Foolish hope had stuck to me like grains of sand between my toes.

This time around, I doubted it would turn out the same. Though maybe it was for the best if I didn’t see her again given the circumstances.

Why hadn’t she come a year ago?

The sun was only beginning to go down as we parked in front of my garage. Orange tinged the horizon.

“Catch the sunset from your hotel if you can. They’ve been pretty lately.”

Clara nodded and got out of the Cadillac, meeting me in front of the hood. “Thank you for dinner. And today.”

“No thanks needed. It was, well . . . my head is still spinning. I look at you and can’t believe you’re here.”

The color crept into her cheeks as another tendril of hair blew across her mouth. And damn it, my hands weren’t in my pockets. They acted of their own accord, lifting to brush the blond strands away.

Clara’s eyes were waiting as my hand fell away. And the look she gave me, the longing, twisted me into a knot.

“Clara, I—”

The door to the house opened and Holly emerged, walking down the sidewalk to the driveway. She was still in her baby blue scrubs from work and her dark hair was tied up. “Hey, baby. There you are. I texted you when I got here.”

“Hey. Sorry. I haven’t checked my phone.”

“That’s all right. Who’s this?”

I couldn’t look at Clara as Holly came to my side, standing on her toes to brush a kiss to my bearded jaw. “I want you to meet someone.”

“Okay.” Holly smiled at Clara, then glanced at the car. When she spotted August, she lifted her hand and waved.

I couldn’t avoid Clara’s gaze any longer. Anyone else would have just seen her smile. But I wasn’t anyone. I’d learned to read her a long time ago and there was pain there. Hurt that was totally my fucking fault.

“Holly, this is Clara Saint-James.” I swallowed hard, making the most painful introduction of my life. “Clara’s an old friend. She lived with me at the junkyard.”

Holly gasped, then lunged to take Clara’s hand and shake it. “What? Oh my goodness. It’s so nice to meet you.”

“You too.” Clara’s smile widened. Too wide. She looked to me for an explanation.

I only had one to give.

“Clara, this is Holly Fallon. My girlfriend.”

Chapter Eleven

Karson