Clementine Read Online Free Page B

to the group before taking one of the three open seats at the table. Stacy’s friends paused their conversations to offer Jack and Addison a brief smile before turning back to one another. Addison scanned the other two open seats. One spot was open directly in front of her, between two girls, while the other, of course, lay beside Dr. Taylor.
    “Addison, I think the person sitting here had to leave,” Dr. Taylor offered. His intense brown eyes held hers for a moment before quickly scanning down to the scoop neck of her dress, only briefly, before returning to her face. Addison almost didn’t notice because of how smoothly his gaze fell over her, but the smirk on his face confirmed her suspicions. His eyes held a playful expression as if he were aware of some secret she wasn’t privy to.
    Addison returned his smile, growing more confident under his intense gaze.
    “Well hopefully I can fill her shoes. Was she a friend of yours, Dr. Taylor?” Addison asked as she rounded the table to take the seat he had offered to her. Her tone came out a bit harsher than she had intended.
                  “I see most of these people around the hospital. She’s a nurse on the same floor that I work on,” Dr. Taylor answered, oblivious to her jealous tone.
    Jack took the last vacant seat at the table and began making small talk with the guests on either side of him. Addison felt a pang of guilt at having so willingly brushed him aside. He seemed nice enough from their conversation, and if Dr. Taylor weren’t here, he’d be the best looking guest in attendance. However, she didn’t want Dr. Taylor to assume Jack was her date so it was probably best that they split up. Jack looked up from his conversation and gave Addison a shrug and an easy smile, eliciting the same response from her.
    In that same moment, Dr. Taylor turned his body toward Addison so that he was almost sitting sideways on his chair. The proximity of their bodies forced Addison to look down at her dress, or lack thereof, now that she was sitting down. She felt a blush creep up her neck as she subtly pulled her dress down to her mid thigh, crossing her legs.
    She looked up at Dr. Taylor, surprised to find him a boyish smile on his face. God, at least act as if you don’t know what I’m trying to do.
    Wanting to direct attention anywhere but her short hemline she willed herself to speak, “So you’re a resident here? What’s your specialty?”
    “Neurology and spine. My dad worked as a biomedical engineer making spinal implants for surgeries, so I sort of grew up knowing what specialty I wanted to go into.” He spoke softly as if his job wasn’t completely intimidating.
    “Oh, well my dad is a high school science teacher, sooo I grew up knowing I wanted to specialize in baking soda volcanoes.”
    Holden rewarded her playful sarcasm with a rich laugh.
    “Okay, I admit that sounds intense,” he feigned cringing, “but I assure you I’m a comp letely humble spinal surgeon.” He winked lightheartedly.
    “Hah… You’re sort of funny Dr. Taylor.”
    “You sound surprised?” he asked lightly.
    She clasped her lips shut and shrugged her shoulders, a small grin still managing to escape. His megawatt smile was impossible to miss as she reached for her wine.
    “In all seriousness, your specialty is both awesome and intimidating,” she said, challenging herself to looking directly at him.
    His ardent gaze never left her. “What do you want to study in grad school, Addison?”
    “If I end up getting into PA school I’d like to practice family medicine,” she replied, proud of her decision even though Dr. Taylor might not respect it as much as his specialty.
    “That’s a great field. In a state like Texas, the need for general preventative care in most areas is shameful,” Dr. Taylor spoke, surprising Addison with how endearing his tone was.
    Addison took a sip of her wine, giving herself a reprieve from meeting Dr. Taylor’s eyes, even if