Page 76 of Doc Hollywood

“I sure hope so,” he drawled. “Luckily you’re here to remind me of anything I don’t recall. Mr Atrosky is very particular about the accuracy of his movies. “

“He is,” Lacey agreed, in a tone of voice that Clara would swear was getting more simpering. “But you’re doing a wonderful job. He’s been very pleased with your performance.” She thrust her chest out even further.

Clara managed not to roll her eyes. The cameraman had been forgotten about very quickly. Instead, she said the first thing that came into her head to get the young woman to stop trying to flirt with Taylor.

“I was going to get a coffee.” She grimaced internally. Her statement didn’t make sense in the context of their conversation.

“No need. Grab one from the coffee cart when it comes up,” Taylor answered smoothly.

He then walked around the operating table, stopping in front of the anaesthetic machine that he would soon have to use as if he did it every day.

“The cart is for VIPs only,” Lacey quickly interjected.

Clara winced. That had put her in her place. She was very low in the pecking order in this building.

“Doctor Upford can get a coffee from the cart,” Taylor said firmly. “Her time is better used for refreshing me on the equipment.”

“Yes, of course.” Lacey flushed, obviously flustered at his slightly cutting tone, before her fingers flew to the earpiece she wore. “Mr Atrosky is fifteen minutes away.”

“Excellent. Clara, I just need a quick refresher. I remember most of what you told me. If you’ll excuse us, Lacey. We have work to do.” Taylor angled his body away from the assistant, who had not so subtly strolled closer to him while they were talking.

Clara bit her lip and stifled the giggle that bubbled up at the clear but also polite dismissal of the young woman who was trying to grab his attention to her, umm, attributes.

Lacey left the room with a small huff, leaving Clara alone with Taylor. She folded her arms and rubbed them, unsure what to do with herself. The previously easy companionship she had felt around Taylor now seemed awkward, and she was nervous, not quite knowing how to act.

However, Taylor took matters into his own hands and stepped over to her, putting his arms around her shoulders and pulling her into his warm body.

He murmured into her hair, “I’m sorry.”

Clara stood there stiffly in his embrace before she sighed and returned his hug. None of this was his fault; the whole situation was just shit.

“I know. Are you ready?”

“For what?” he whispered, squeezing her slightly tighter.

“Devon will be here soon. You’ll have to begin acting like a man newly in a relationship.”

She returned his increased pressure, letting herself have a couple more seconds in his warm embrace before gently pulling away.

“Everyone will believe it,” he huffed, grabbing her hand and trying to stop her from moving away from him.

“Taylor. We can’t do this. You might be a good actor, but I’m a crap one. This,” she gestured between them, pointing down at their entwined fingers. “I can’t do this. I just can’t. We need to be the friends that we agreed to be.”

“Friends hug,” Taylor said, something that sounded like desperation tinging his voice.

“They do. But we can’t. I can’t do this, get my hopes up, and be left shattered in six months. I’m sorry, I’m just not strong enough,” Clara muttered and drew her fingers away from him, bitterly regretting the moment when she lost contact with him.

She wished she was brave and that she could believe that after he publicly split with Devon, he would still be interested in her, but she couldn’t, as if it didn’t happen, the sellotape holding everything together would peel right off.

“I wish things were different,” Taylor murmured.

“Me too.” Clara smiled sadly and walked away from him, putting the operating table between them so she wouldn’t be tempted to throw herself back into his arms.

She had done it just in time as Devon swept into the room, a huge smile lighting up her face when she saw Taylor was already there.

Clara’s eyes ping-ponged between them while she watched two people who were better actors than anyone she had ever seen before pretend to be in love. In fact, if she hadn’t been in Taylor’s room the night before, she would have been taken in.

Taylor’s eyes were fixed on Devon, and he only acknowledged Clara when he introduced her to Devon, who only gave her a cursory glance before she turned back to her new boyfriend.

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