Page 96 of Hard Hat Hottie

Alec wraps his little arms around me, squeezing me tighter than seemed possible for their size. “Thank you.”

Justin taps him on the shoulder, tilting his head as if they’re in on a secret. I watch captivated as Alec stands, and they both hand me a folded napkin.

My heart is in my throat as I open each one.

I choose you. I choose you.

But before I can acknowledge what they’ve done, they scurry off. And their beautiful mother is standing in their place. “Harlow.” I breathe. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Her voice seems to quaver. But why? Is she nervous?

I have to push down my emotions before they bubble to the surface, and I start bawling like a baby. I can’t believe Charlene has set this in motion. But I won’t let her down.

Reaching for Harlow, I pull her down beside me. “Are you real?”

She laughs timidly. My bold, beautiful mermaid is anything but timid. “Yes.”

“I’m so?—”

She places her soft hand over my mouth. “I only want to move forward, not back, Harrison.”

Cupping her face with my hand, I could drown in her big blue green eyes. But as thrilled as I am to see her, there’s a sadness in their depths. Have I hurt her so badly we’ll never get through this?

“I’m so, so sorry about your mother, Harrison. If I’d known, I would’ve come to you. Regardless of how uneasy things had become between us.” She casts her eyes down momentarily. “I’m grateful I had the opportunity to meet her. Even if it was only for a little while.”

The recollection of my mother lighting up when Harlow and her sons came to the house brings a melancholy smile to my face. “You and the boys brought out the best in her.”

Scooting closer to me, she places her soft cheek next to mine. Her hair enveloping me in the fresh scent of the ocean. “This isn’t going to be easy,” she whispers before pulling back to look into my eyes. Harlow stiffens, a tinge of anguish marring her stunning face. “I dive into relationships too fast. And you can’t run away fast enough. So, if there’s a chance of making this work, we need to figure a way to meet in the middle.”

“Yes. Yes.” I acknowledge I sound like a moron at the moment, but I’m so caught up in this incredible woman, I’ve lost my ability to speak.

“We need to take this slow. The opposite of how we started.”

“You’re right.” I pull her slender hand up to my mouth, placing kisses on her knuckles. “But I wouldn’t trade the way it started, baby.”Kiss. “It’s just that middle part that sucked.”

Harlow tosses her head back and snorts. “I guess you’re right.”

“Let’s make the end as perfect as the beginning.” I grip her hand tightly, hoping she’ll never let go.

Harlow raises her free hand to stroke my scruff, placing a chaste kiss to my lips. And for the first time in my life, I’m engulfed by the calming sense I could have it all. The people I love aren’t running for the door, they’re claiming me. She scoots to the edge of the booth and stands.

“Don’t go,” I beg.

Bending down, she kisses the shell of my ear before she speaks. “I need to get my boys to bed. But I have it on good authority that my schedule is free this weekend.” Standing to her full height, a saucy smirk on her face, I beam up at her, not wanting to let her go.

As she walks away, I notice another napkin on the table in front of me. Flipping it over, it reads,

Harrison,

I choose you!

Harlow

My heart is so full. I can’t believe I’m getting another chance to get this right. I’m not screwing this up. We can take it slow, fast, whatever she wants. So long as I can prove to each of them how important they are to me.

I relax into my seat, wondering if Charlene is still here when I again catch sight of someone in my periphery and jolt. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” I’m going to have a stroke by the end of this night.

“Nope, just Jimmy and Rob.” Rob chuckles. I see them holding napkins in their hands and break out into a fit of laughter.

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