Page 16 of Doc Hollywood

“When are you going to eat?”

Clara blinked a couple of times at Taylor; she hadn’t noticed him come and stand so close to her.

She checked her watch. It was two forty-five, and she hadn’t had time to stop and get some lunch on the way to work, as after the whole hot coffee and baring her boobs to a movie star debacle, she had been running late, so she had no food in her bag to snack on.

“I’m sure someone will come soon and give me a break.”

“When?” Taylor frowned at her.

“When they have time,” she snapped.

She knew it was exhaustion and hunger causing her voice to be so sharp. It wasn’t his fault she had a shit job that meant some days she didn’t get to stop for lunch.

He held his hands up defensively. “Do you want me to get you something?”

Clara wished she could say yes. Wished that he would nip down and grab her a sandwich, but her pride, the pride that didn’t let anyone do anything for her, had her automatically answering.

“No, that’s really nice of you. They’ll come soon, and I’ll go and grab something then.”

“It’s not a problem.” Taylor pushed as he examined her face. The skin around her eyes was tight, and dark circles marred the area under them.

“Really. It’s okay. They’ll be here soon,” she reassured him.

However minutes ticked by, then hours, and Clara was still working. Her face became increasingly drawn; nonetheless, her cheery attitude didn’t falter, and her work didn’t slow down.

By the time they took the last patient to recovery, it was six pm. She had worked solidly from seven-thirty that morning, with no break, and the only food she had consumed had been the egg and bacon roll Taylor had brought her in the morning.

Clara could feel Taylor’s eyes on her as she trudged back to her operating theatre, not disguising the exhaustion she felt, although as soon as she walked back in the door, she hid her feelings and thanked everyone for a good day.

Then, she threw her leftover drugs away and packed her diary and computer back into her bag.

She dragged her hand wearily over her eyes before she checked her phone and was about to put it in her pocket when Taylor grabbed it out of her hand.

“Hey.” She lunged out to snatch it back, but he held it above her head so she couldn’t reach it.

She had unlocked it before he snatched it, so he immediately opened her contacts and began to type.

“I’m giving you my number.”

“Why?” The words were out of Clara’s mouth before she could stop them. “Shit, sorry that was rude.”

“It’s all good. I know you’re hungry. You should have let me bring you food.” He finished typing the digits in, “And as you wouldn’t let me. I plan on taking you for dinner tonight. This is my number, so we can text.” He pressed a couple more buttons, and she heard his phone ring. “And now I have your number too.”

Clara blinked at him a few times, unsure what to say to a movie star telling her he was taking her for dinner. Before she could formulate an answer, a giant yawn cracked her face, so big that even her mask didn’t hide it.

Finally, her exhausted brain clicked into gear, “That’s so lovely of you. But to be honest. I don’t think I’m going to be awake for more than a couple of hours after I arrive home, and I can guarantee I’ll be bad company if I go out for dinner.” She yawned again. “I’d probably fall asleep on the table.”

“Oh. Right. Sure, no worries.” He rubbed at his eyes, which looked as tired as hers.

“I’ll be in theatre seven tomorrow. I’ll see you at eight-thirty.”

She hoisted her bag onto her shoulder and gave him a small wave before she strode out of the theatre. Trying to forget the image playing across her mind of the muscles in his arm tensing as he lifted his hand to return her wave.

“You’re an idiot,” Clara berated herself as she tried to shake off the fluttering in her chest that had been present for the whole time he had been in the theatre with her.

CHAPTER 7

Clara was starving. She pulled her fridge open, hoping it would miraculously have filled while she was at work. Unfortunately, it hadn’t; it was still empty—if you didn’t count out-of-date ketchup and some milk.

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