Page 30 of Doc Hollywood

Taylor still hadn’t taken his hand off her arm, and Clara was sure he had just stepped fractionally closer to her.

“Coffee,” she said, holding up her mug to him.

“Exactly. It’s been years since I’ve spent time with someone who doesn’t want anything at all from me. My agent, they want me to work, to succeed. My personal assistant, they want a good salary and the perks that come from travelling with me.

“Old schoolmates come out of the woodwork. They want money loaned, entry to the newest clubs, or to travel with me to exotic locations. Women I meet want to date an A-lister, either for the money, social status, or the introductions to important people in the industry that I can provide. And yet, you want nothing. A coffee, but only because I was standing nearest.” Taylor pulled his hand off her arm, running his fingers through his hair.

Clara stared at him open-mouthed, a small part of her sad that she had lost the warmth of his hand. She pushed that part down and shoved it into a little box, slamming the door behind it.

“That’s a lot,” she said dryly.

“Yeah,” he agreed and put his hand behind his neck, rubbing the back of his head. “It is. It’s just been a long time since I met someone new who doesn’t have any agenda around me.”

Clara opened her mouth to interject, but he beat her to it.

“Except for coffee.”

She grinned broadly at him. “You hang out with the wrong crowd of people.”

“Maybe I do,” he chuckled, smiling back at her, catching her eyes and holding them until Clara cleared her throat nervously and looked away.

“Thanks for the toast and coffee. I’ve got to get to work. I’m in theatre five this morning. Do the same as yesterday: turn up when the medical students usually do, which is about eight-thirty. That’ll give you plenty of time to shower. Use any products you want. I’m not precious. The spare towels are in the same place we got the bedding from. Help yourself. And chuck your dirty one in the laundry basket in my bathroom.” Clara paused, blushing bright red.

She had just spoken to him like they were a couple and that he would go back into her room and use her en-suite when the logical thing to do would be to go into the main bathroom.

“Thanks.”

“Right. I need to run. See you later.” Clara blurted, and waved as she weaved around him to grab her work bag and head out the door.

Shaking herself as she had almost stopped and kissed him on the cheek. It felt so easy and domestic to be with Taylor.

CHAPTER 9

“I’m taking you to dinner tonight,” Taylor announced as he walked towards the changing room with Clara after another day of following her around the operating theatre.

“You don’t need to,” Clara said, shaking her head. Exhaustion still tugging on her from her busy week.

“I know I don’t need to. I’m asking you if you want to go to dinner with me,” he drawled, bumping shoulders with her.

Clara’s steps faltered as a zing of electricity shot through her. She rubbed her arm as she tried to work out what bizarre world she lived in that a movie star wanted to take her on a date.

She quickly caught herself; this wasn’t a date; this was just Taylor taking her to dinner to thank her. She shushed the quiet voice that said it would be nice to go on a date with him.

She hadn’t been on a date in so long. Jack used to tell her it was a total waste of money, that they lived together anyway, and they didn’t need to go out for dinner when they could sit at home together, and she could cook for them.

And go shopping on the way home from work for the food, even though he had been sitting at home all day doing nothing. Then, he would complain that she hadn’t made an effort to make herself look nice when they sat down to eat.

It boiled her blood now she thought about it; however, at the time, she had just accepted it and let him walk all over her.

It turned out Jack loved going on dates and let Clara finance them, but he wasn’t taking her; he was taking the girl he now appeared in magazines with.

Yup, she had been paying for the daughter of a billionaire to be taken to nice places. And was still paying that debt off with her blood, sweat, and tears as she worked all hours to get out of the hole he had left her in.

“Yeah, that sounds good. I’d—“ Clara was cut off when one of the other doctors rounded the corner and spoke.

“I’ve booked the table. I’ll see you tonight,” Mike said, his eyes flickering towards Taylor.

“Oh, brilliant. Thanks, Mike. I’d forgotten. I’ll see you later.” Clara confirmed, then felt Taylor step away from her.

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