Page 12 of Doc Hollywood

She pushed the door of the bedroom open, showing him the basic guest room she had set up.

“There’s a towel on the end of your bed, and in the wardrobe, there are scrubs in various sizes that I’ve borrowed from the hospital for you to sleep in.”

Taylor stuck his head around the door, taking in the queen bed and functional furniture. “Thanks, this is great.”

“No problems. There are some snacks on the side. Help yourself,” she indicated to the supplies she always left in the room. “And if you see anything in the kitchen you want to eat, please don’t hesitate.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” He stood awkwardly looking at her.

“Right. Well—“ Clara stared up at the man who towered nearly a foot above her. Shook her head again at the bizarre situation and turned to leave. “Night.”

She walked off down the corridor and went into her room without a backward glance.

Taylor stood there for a bit longer, staring after her, until his stomach grumbled loudly, and he went back to the kitchen to finish his noodles.

CHAPTER 5

Clara clutched the cup of coffee in her hands as she took the first much-needed sip of pure caffeine and sighed with relief. She had managed three hours of sleep and could feel the exhaustion deep into her bones and pulling down under her eyes.

She ran a hand through her shoulder-length brown hair, which stuck up in every direction. Being on call was the worst.

“Morning.” A deep American voice rumbled behind her.

Clara dropped the coffee in shock, spilling it over her hand, down her front and onto the floor.

“Shit.” She put her hand to her chest, pulling the hot material of her pyjama top away from her.

Taylor was across the small room in two steps. “Oh man, I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Are you burnt?”

He grabbed her arm, pulled her across to the sink and turned the cold tap on, pushing the hand she had burnt under the running water.

“Shit,” she winced as the cold liquid contacted with her scolded skin, then realised that the heat was spreading across her chest as well. “I need to get out of this shirt.”

She pulled away from him and dashed off along the corridor to her room. As soon as she was through her door, she pulled her pyjama top over her head and made a beeline for the shower.

“Are you going—. I’m so sorry.” Taylor’s shocked voice rang out behind her.

Clara came to an abrupt halt and looked over her shoulder to see him standing in the doorway of her room with his hand over his eyes. She threw her arm over her naked chest and ran faster for the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her.

“I’ll be fine. I just need to get some cold water onto these burns quickly,” she yelled through the door.

“I’m sorry.” Taylor’s voice was now just on the other side of the door.

“It’s okay.” Clara flicked on the shower and stripped out of her pyjama bottoms.

She was just about to step into the shower when a compulsion overcame her, and she pressed her ear against her bathroom door.

When she heard a tell-tale creak, she called out, “Did you just sit down on my bed?”

She heard the creak again as he leapt back up.

“Sorry,” Taylor called back.

“The burns not bad. I’ll be out in ten minutes. Grab a coffee and help yourself to anything you want from the fridge or pantry.”

“Sure. I’ll see you in the kitchen in a few,” Taylor replied.

Clara stood in the shower until her skin had cooled, trying not to let the fact that Taylor bloody Anderson had just seen her topless freak her out too much.

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