Page 50 of Hard Hat Hottie

5:58 p.m.

Harrison

I’m on the deck. Come on up when you get here.

A smile lights up my face, until I look back over my shoulder and question whether this is the right way to handle this. But he said he really wanted to know me. And this is the real me. Take it or leave it. “Justin, can you carry one of the pizza boxes for me?”

“Sure, Mom.”

“What about me? I wanna carry something.” Alec huffs.

“You can grab the bag with the salads in it.”

“Salad. Gross. Why would anyone want salad when they can have pizza?”

We make our way to the base of Harrison’s deck steps, and my knees start to wobble. I talk a big game. I admit it. Yet, I’m pretty darn nervous about this. It could be the most awkward pizza dinner in the history of Candy Cane Key, or it could be the start of something incredible. Keep your head up high, Harlow. Because you and the boys deserve the latter.

As we reach the top of the stairs, and Harrison comes into view, I clutch the pizza box a little tighter, as his face alters from smiling to stunned. His reaction would be priceless if I wasn’t so nervous about springing my kids on him.

I’m usually so good about shielding my kids from my dating life. But there’s something about Harrison that feels different. I know his life is as complicated as mine is. Yet, I have the feeling that if dating a single mother is more than he’s willing to consider, he’d at least be polite about it. And as disappointing as it’d be to have to walk away from him, I want him to really know what dating me would entail. I’m done hiding what’s important to me.

“Well, hello.” He grins widely at me. Watching him closely, I can’t read his expression. It doesn’t feel forced, but it doesn’t feel completely genuine either. Yet, what did I expect? Not only did I pull a fast one on him, but the speed of this could qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records.

“No way. You have a pool too?” Alec could reflect light to the moon and back he’s beaming so brightly.Tone it down a little, buddy.

“Yeah. I haven’t been able to use it much lately,” Harrison says, lifting the arm in his sling. He comes closer, crouching down to Alec’s eye level. “I’m Harrison. What’s your name?”

“I’m Alec. And this is Justin. Your house is awesome.”

Harrison lets out a chuckle, this response feeling a bit more relaxed. “Thanks for bringing dinner. You want to eat over here?” He nods to the outdoor kitchen area, and my mouth falls open. I hadn’t noticed this the other night when I was here, but then again, I couldn’t see past him.

We unload the pizza boxes, salads, and utensils, and the boys and I take a seat.

“What would you guys like to drink? I have water, milk, lemonade…

“Lemonade!” Alec blurts. “Is it pink or yellow?”

“It’s yellow.”

“Good. Real men don’t drink pink.”

There’s no hiding my irritation as my head whips to Alec. “Where on earth did you hear…” My eyes land on Justin, who’s shaking his head, his cheeks red. “Was it your dad?” I ask Alec before turning to Justin. “Or yours?” I realize I’ve just put all of my cards on the table and cringe. Boy, Harlow, just dump all of your bags in Harrison’s lap at one time, will ya? I’m afraid to witness his expression, but find he’s given me an out as he’s gone inside.

“Justin’s.”

“Well, you listen here, Alec, regardless of what the two of them say, a real man drinks whatever color he likes. Don’t you go making choices based on that silliness, okay?” I shake my head and notice Alec’s excitement over meeting Harrison and his swanky oceanfront home has fallen like a bad souffle. Guilt washes over me. I need to be more careful about reacting to the notions their fathers have put in their heads. It’s not the boys’ fault that their dads are ridiculous.

“I’m sorry, buddy,” I say, nudging Alec with my body. “I just don’t want you to ever limit your choices because someone tells you boys or girls have to be a certain way. You can have and do and be whatever you want.”

His grin returns, a fraction of what it once was, until it starts to cover his entire face as he looks past me.

Following Alec’s line of sight, I find Harrison walking toward us balancing a tray of drinks on one hand. They all look to contain a yellow liquid but have bright pink flamingo straws in them—that match his swim trunks. While I can’t recall what he was wearing before he entered the house to get lemonade, I’m almost certain he wasn’t wearing these. As he comes closer, he gives me a sexy wink, and I nearly melt.

As he places the tray down on the table, Alec eagerly reaches for a glass. “Cool!”

I’m so distracted by his glee, I almost miss the warm hand on my shoulder.

“Mom, hi,” Harrison blurts. “You remember Harlow, right?” Am I imagining it or is there a slight pink hue to his cheeks at the introduction? Has the memory of how we met caused this magnanimous man to blush? “And these are her boys, Justin and Alec.”

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