Page 31 of Doc Hollywood

Glancing up, she saw him staring down at her, a small frown tugging at his eyebrows.

“Great. I’ll see you at the pub.” Mike waved and strode away.

“You have plans with your,” Taylor hesitated, looking after the man who had just walked away, “boyfriend?”

Clara sputtered with laughter, “Mike isn’t my boyfriend.”

“Date?”

“Nope. Not that either. It’s the local pub quiz tonight. A group of us go regularly. It’s usually fun. We’re dreadful and always lose badly. But it’s a good night out.”

“Oh, I guess I should go back to my hotel and change into some clean clothes,” Taylor muttered and started walking again.

“Okay. No worries. Have a good evening. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Clara said hesitantly and felt her stomach drop.

She wanted to go to dinner with him. Of course she wanted to go to dinner with him; every woman in the country wanted to go to dinner with him. Even if it was just a thank you, not a date.

“If you want to come to the pub quiz, you’re more than welcome.” The words fell out of her mouth before she could stop them. Why would someone who lived a life of glitz and glamour want to come to the local pub quiz?

“That sounds great!” Taylor immediately responded.

“You want to come to a pub quiz?” Clara sounded doubtful.

“Yeah.” He nodded.

“You know it’ll be a bit shit, don’t you?”

“I assumed it would be.” His nodding became more enthusiastic.

“Right. Okay then. You’re coming with us. You, the most famous man on the planet, are going to come and sit in the local pub. And do a quiz,” Clara said in disbelief.

“If you don’t want me to come, it’s okay,” he faltered, and his eyebrows pulled down.

“No, you can come,” she answered quickly, probably too quickly and had to stop herself from grabbing his arm to reassure him that she wanted him there.

“Great.”

“You know you’ll get mobbed,” she blurted, gesturing to his face, which was currently covered by a surgical mask and thick-rimmed glasses. “Even if you put a hat on, I don’t think that’ll disguise you.”

Taylor was silent for a minute, and then a grin so broad that Clara could tell he was smiling, even with a mask on, split his face.

“Leave that with me. No one will recognise me. What time does it start?”

“Eight. At the Railway tavern.”

“Awesome. Do you want a ride to the pub?” He checked the time on his phone. “I should have time to go to my hotel and get back.”

Clara hesitated before she shook her head. She was working Thursday anyway, so would just drive. “No, it’s all good. I’ll meet you there, so you don’t have to rush.”

CHAPTER 10

Clara sat next to Sadie, at a table with six other doctors, their regular pub quiz team. She hadn’t mentioned to her best friend that Taylor might join them, as she didn’t want to look like an idiot if it didn’t happen.

She tried desperately not to check her phone again to see the time or if Taylor had texted her, and attempted to concentrate on the conversation flowing around her. Laughing in the right places. Defending herself when she was on the receiving end of some good-natured teasing about something daft she had done at work.

Even while she tried to pretend she wasn’t waiting for Taylor, her eyes kept flicking to the door. Her heart skipped a beat every time it opened, just in case it was him walking in. And every time it happened, she gave herself a stern talking to. Mentally reminding herself that this was not a man she could develop a crush on. Well, who was she kidding? She definitely had a crush on him, however ridiculous that made her.

A big man with a full, bushy beard was the next person to make his way into the pub. His eyes darted around, obviouslysearching for someone. Clara dropped her gaze from him and back to her friends, a small wave of disappointment washing over her. Maybe Taylor wasn’t coming.

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