Page 68 of Doc Hollywood

“Hey, Tony!” Taylor sounded genuinely delighted to see the security guard as he pushed through the doors with their food precariously balanced. “I’m so sorry, I got caught up. I meant to come down and grab that. Did you tip the delivery driver for me? The usual amount?”

“I did. I knew you were good for the cash.” Tony smiled jovially as he handed over the food. “And if you tried to stiff me, I was going to send my nonna after you.”

“True, never annoy an Italian Nonna. Especially when she might withhold another dinner invite in retaliation,” Taylor chuckled as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

Clara leapt to her feet and dashed for her handbag, exclaiming, “No, you bought the food. Let me pay the tip.”

“Nope,” Taylor denied, shaking his head.

“I am,” Clara insisted, fumbling through her over-full bag, finally finding her wallet.

“Still nope.” Taylor was too quick and had already handed over the money to Tony.

Clara stared at the notes, trying to see what he had given so she could give Taylor the same, and realised he had given Tony two hundred dollars. She breathed deeply, took the four fifty dollars she had assigned as her spending money for the whole time she was away, and held it out to Taylor.

“Here.”

“I’m not taking your money.” Taylor crossed his arms and scowled down at her.

Clara’s eyes flickered down to his arm muscles, which were even more defined than when she had last seen him. He must have been training hard for the last few months.

“You paid for dinner; I’ll pay the tip. It’s only fair,” she insisted again.

Taylor shook his head at her, asking, “Would you have tipped two hundred dollars?”

Clara opened her mouth to lie, then shut it and shook her head.

“You don’t need to pay for a tip I chose to give.” He pushed her hand holding the money back towards her. “Put it away.”

Clara met his eyes and glared into the blue pools that she could get lost in, and when she felt his fingers close over hers, her gaze dropped down at his large hand, where it covered her smaller one.

She would have stood like that for longer and allowed herself to wallow in his touch, however superficial it was, but she heard Tony clearing his throat.

Taylor took a step back. “Oh. I didn’t introduce you guys. Tony, this is Clara. She’s our medical adviser. Clara, this is Tony. Night guard extraordinaire.”

“Ahh, you’re Clara. Taylor’s told me all about you.” Tony grinned and stepped forward with his hand outstretched.

“Hi Tony, nice to meet you,” Clara replied, reaching over and shaking Tony’s hand.

“Likewise.” Tony dropped her hand and stepped back.

Clara’s eyes swung to Taylor. “Why were you talking about me?” She tilted her head to look at Taylor.

Her eyebrows rose a little in surprise when she saw a flush spread up Taylor’s cheeks. Was he blushing?

Taylor flushed more. “Um, well. You were arriving this week, so we were chatting about you.”

Clara glanced at Tony, as she was sure she had just heard him mutter, ‘and that she was smart and pretty.’ But the older man was standing looking so innocent that she knew it must have been wishful thinking.

“Anyway, great to meet you, Clara. The front door doesn’t guard itself. I’ll see you later, Taylor.” Tony headed for the door, pausing before he left, saying, “Nonna wants to know if you’d like to come to lunch on Sunday. She’ll do meatballs and tiramisu. You’re welcome as well, Clara.”

Taylor glanced at Clara, who nodded in agreement. She would never turn down a home-cooked Italian meal.

Taylor answered for both of them. “That sounds great, Tony. What time?”

“Twelve. Then Nonna has plenty of time to drool over you,” Tony guffawed, and with a final wave, he was gone.

“What are you smiling at?” Taylor still stood close to Clara, staring down at her.

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