Page 100 of Doc Hollywood

“I know. You’ve already told me.” She didn’t add that it was also prominent in the googling she did of him.

“Taylor,” a voice called from across the crowded foyer.

Clara turned her head in the direction of the voice but had no chance of seeing the speaker over everyone’s heads.

“Quick.” Taylor tugged on her hand and began to weave through the crowd, towing her along with him. “There are some things I want to say, and they can’t wait. And I don’t want to say them in public.”

“Okay.” She followed him without hesitation. Her breath hitched, and her heart accelerated.

He pulled her through the door of the cinema next to the one where they had watched the premiere. This one was deserted. He stopped in the dimly lit room, pulling her to face him.

“First, I wanted to tell you how beautiful you looked tonight. Although I think I prefer your red plaid pyjamas, this is my second favourite outfit of yours,” he said and grinned a smile so warm it made heat spread to Clara’s fingers and toes.

“My pyjamas are pretty special, so that’s very reasonable. And you look very handsome tonight. You look good in a suit.” Her fingers itched to reach out so she could run them through his hair, but she forced them to stay at her side.

Taylor took a step toward her, tugging her closer.

She stared up into his eyes and forgot about everyone else. She forgot that she had just seen Jack for the first time since they had broken up, and she forgot that there was an entire roomful of people on the other side of the door who all wanted to talk to Taylor. Forgot that she stood in front of a famous movie star, not just a man she liked.

And when she was flush against his body, and his arms were wrapped around her, she also forgot how to stand properly, as her knees trembled. But he held her firmly in place as his eyes moved between hers and her lips.

“Hi,” he whispered to her. “Did I tell you that I missed you?”

“Yeah,” Clara whispered back.

“I haven’t been able to think about anything else since I met you. You occupy my waking thoughts and my dreams.” His head dipped tantalisingly closer to her.

“Mine too,” she replied without hesitation.

“You dream about me?” Taylor’s head moved closer, and she could feel his breath brushing over her lips.

Clara smiled and said, “Absolutely.”

“Good. You know, when I slept in your bed and woke up with you in my arms, I shouldn’t have let you go.”

“You didn’t let me go,” she breathed back. “You’ve got me right here.”

“I do.” He closed the final millimetres between them, and his lips brushed over hers in the softest of kisses.

Too quickly, he pulled back and stared into her eyes. “Is this okay?” His voice was a low growl.

Clara didn’t answer, couldn’t answer because kissing him had stolen her breath, so she just put her arms up around his neck, gently tugging him back down to her. Despite the heels, she needed to stand on the tip of her toes to meet his lips as they pressed firmly against hers.

They clung to each other in the dark, neither wanting to let go of the other; now they were in each other’s arms. They would have stayed there all night, but the door banging open, and someone walking in, made them jolt apart.

Taylor pulled her into the shadows, hiding them from the interloper. He put his forehead down onto hers, smiling into her eyes.

When they heard the intruder leave, he whispered, “So that’s a yes to going on a date with me.”

Clara bit back the laugh that bubbled up. “It’s absolutely a yes.”

“Excellent. Now, where were we?” Taylor leaned forward to kiss her again.

Clara couldn’t believe what she was about to do, but she gently pushed him away, saying, “We need to go back. It’s your big night.”

“No. We can stay here.” His head dipped towards her again, and he dropped another kiss on her lips that she fell straight into, lost in how right it felt to be in his arms.

Clara didn’t know how much time had passed when she finally managed to pull herself away from him, murmuring, “Taylor.”

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