Page 74 of Doc Hollywood

“Are all the photos similar to this one?” she questioned, finally turning her head to face him.

“No,” he stated flatly.

“No?”

“The others are worse,” he admitted.

“Oh.” She held his phone out to give back.

“You don’t want to look at the rest?”

“No. I don’t need to. Devon and Brian have violated your privacy enough. I don’t need to as well.” Tingles flew up her arm when his hand brushed hers as he took his phone back.

“I’m going to be dating Devon for at least the next six months,” Taylor said in a flat voice.

“Yeah. She’s very pretty.” Clara tried to sound optimistic, although she knew it wouldn’t help.

“And a total asshole,” Taylor added.

“That too.”

“I like you. I wanted to take you on a d—“

Clara cut Taylor off before he could finish his sentence. “Don’t. How could this work?”

“We could make it,” he tried again. “I like you.”

Clara sighed deeply, finally admitting out loud to him. “I like you as well.”

“Then we wait. When Devon and I officially break up, you and I. We see how things go.” He grabbed hold of her hand, squeezing her fingers tightly.

“Taylor, I’m not part of your world. I live a small life in a small town. I’m not fun, and I’m not glamorous. In the next six months, you’ll meet so many new people. Women who are from the same world as you. Don’t make me any promises, as I’ll get carried away, and when you move on with your glamorous life, and I’m still in my mundane one, it’ll be so much harder for me.” She gently pulled her hand out of his. Willing the tears she knew were close not to fall.

“But once this is all over, we could—“

Clara cut him off again, shaking her head, saying, “Let’s be realistic. By then, you’ll be on another film set, meeting new people, and I’ll still be in the same hospital I’m always at, doing the same thing. You’ll have heard all my stories, and I won’t be interesting anymore. Jack broke me. It took me a long time to put myself back together. I don’t think I can do it again.”

“What if it does work out?” Taylor whispered, his fingers stroking the back of her neck.

She leaned into his hand, letting herself enjoy a moment that she could have never predicted, for a few seconds before she sat away from his hand and broke the connection she was enjoying too much.

“Taylor, you are nothing like I expected. But us,” she pointed between them. “you and I, we could never work. I don’t want to lose you as a friend, and I can’t pin my hopes on something that may never happen.”

“I’ll feel the same way in six months,” Taylor said fiercely, his eyes not leaving hers.

“I hope you do. But please don’t promise me anything. It’ll make it easier for me. Is that okay?” She stared into his eyes, which echoed her own sadness until he finally nodded.

“Friends?” He held his hand out for her to shake.

She looked at it, then took it, shaking it.

“Friends,” Clara said, trying to ignore the electricity that radiated up her arm from where their palms touched, but the longer their hands were in contact, the worse it became. She wondered if he felt it too, then she dismissed the stray thought. He liked her because she spoke to him like he was a normal person, nothing else.

Taylor’s thumb stroked over the palm of her hand, and Clara jumped to her feet, pulling her hand free and tucking it under her armpit, stepping away so she wouldn’t be tempted to do something stupid like lunge forward and try to kiss him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Be careful with your plan with Devon. Okay?” Clara waited until he nodded, grabbed her handbag, and strode out the door.

CHAPTER 20

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