Page 24 of Hard Hat Hottie

Gus peers back at me, his expression clearly concerned.

“Nah, nah. Nothing bad. Someone reached out from a pretty high-profile restaurant chain about working with them on an off-shoot of their family friendly seafood diners. They’re looking to branch into more upscale, high-end bistros in popular tourist destinations.”

“Man, Harry. That’s incredible. You’ve hit the big time.” Gus beams with pride. “Who knew Candy Cane Key was considered a popular tourist destination?” He chuckles.

“It’s not.”

His smile swiftly falls at my response.

“Miami, Naples, Boca Raton. Nowhere near here.”

“C’mon, Harrison. You can’t shake this off.”

I drag my free hand through my hair, frustration overload. “I know, but I can’t do it. Things are complicated enough with Mom. Moving her all over Florida would make her even more agitated.”

“You can’t know that for sure. So long as her nurse is there, it could work.”

“Gus, I couldn’t ask Joyce to do that.”

“Why not? And if she says no, there are plenty of other nurses out there.”

I huff, slinking back in my seat.Not like her.

“Hell, there’s a ton in there that’d probably drop everything to come with you.” He snorts, pointing his thumb over his shoulder toward the hospital.

“Fuck!” I yell as something dark and hairy lands on my lap. The commotion nearly has both of us toppling out of the folding chair onto the ground.

Gus breaks into a fit of laughter. “Look at that. You look like an ad for a personal injury lawyer, but the pussy in your lap doesn’t have a hair out of place.”

Agitatedly, I place my good hand on the cat’s back to fling it off of me, stopping short when I hear cooing behind me.

“Awww… look,” a nurse I vaguely recognize squeals from the shuttle stop. I think I recall seeing her with?—

As if she’s read my mind, the nurse from all of my fantasies comes into view, along with another woman about her age, dressed in scrubs. “It’s the cat,” the smaller one exclaims with her hands pressed to her chest. “Look, he’s holding him.” She beams at me.

I barely have time to wrap my head around what’s going on before the shuttle bus drives up, blocking any further view of the three of them. Turning to Gus, I give him a dumbfounded look.

“I may or may not have told them you fell trying to save the pussy.”

My eyes fly wide.

“You’re welcome.”

Glancing back down, I watch as the stray curls into a ball, making himself comfortable. Might as well face it. This is the only pussy I’m going to have in my lap for a while.

Bzzz. Bzzz.

“Hello?”

“Hey, big bro. I’ve got a few days off and thought I’d come hang with you and Mom for the weekend.”

I can’t fight the huge, toothy grin. “Shit, Matt, really? That’s the best news ever.”

“Well, stock the fridge. We’ll grill some steaks by the pool and go grab a beer at The Shrimp after.”

“You’re on!”

Harlow

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