Page 97 of Hard Hat Hottie

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

HARRISON

I’m literally pacing around my house like a groom on his wedding day. Given I’m convinced this girl is the love of my life, it’s not all that far-fetched to feel this way. I have candles lit all over the house, dinner waiting in the oven, and a bottle of Prosecco chilling. Char’s advice, of course.

Knock, knock.

I wipe my sweaty palms down my suit pants and try to walk casually toward the sliding glass door, even though I want to run to her. But what had she said? We need to meet in the middle.

Slow your roll, Harrison.

Pulling the door wide, I step back, allowing her to enter. My hands are shaking with the need to touch her. Harlow’s wearing the same light green dress she had on the night we danced at The Conch House. It brings out the vibrant color in her gorgeous eyes as well as providing a contrast to the hypnotic ink on her arm. Her soft brown hair spills down her back in beachy waves. As her eyes hold mine, my breath stills. This perfect little mermaid was made for me.

“I know we’re supposed to take this slow. Talk about all the things we did wrong before, and communicate better, so itdoesn’t happen again. But the only words that keep popping in my head, are I love you. I’m so damn in love with you, Harlow.”

She reaches for me, and I can finally wrap my arms around her again. “I love you too. I think that’s as good a place to start as any.” She gazes up at me with a reverence I thought I’d lost forever. There’s not a doubt in my mind we’re going to be okay. That smile of hers could light my darkest night.

“I hope you like pizza.”

She tosses her head back. “You’re pulling out all the stops for me, aren’t you?”

“You told me you were a cheap date.”

Cupping her sweet face, I drop my lips to hers, brushing them back and forth before dipping my tongue into her mouth. This is all I want. But just a little taste. I need to respect her wishes. She wants to take this slow. “I’ll wine and dine you some other time.” I whisper as I stroke the pad of my thumb across her lower lip. “I didn’t want to share you with anyone tonight. And I was too nervous to cook. It was either order out or burn the house down.”

“Good call.”

Linking her fingers in mine, I escort her to the table. Reaching for the stemware, I offer her a glass. “A toast.”

She beams up at me expectantly.

“To Char’s new job.” I pause, lifting my bubbly in the air. “Whatever it is.”

She snorts. “Why are we toasting to that?”

I shrug my shoulders. “All I know is, she invited me out, made a toast to herself on her new job, and then all of my wishes came true.”

“Yes, it was a successful first day.”

My brows lift. “Wait, she toldyouwhat her new job is?”

She giggles. “Yes.” Harlow takes a sip of her champagne, as I stand there waiting, completely befuddled.

“Well?”

“She’s my fairy godmother.”

Harlow

The rest of the evening goes perfectly. Harrison brought our pizza to the table, half veggie, half meat lovers. We talked and laughed all night, both at dinner, snuggling by the fire pit on his deck as we looked out over the water, and wrapped up in each other on the couch when the temperature dipped.

We shared stories of our childhood, talked about our dreams for the future, and discussed how things might look going forward. All of the things we likely should’ve done the first time. But it’s as much my fault as his. And I couldn’t blame it on the alcohol that time.

I was drunk on him.

As tempting as it may be to dive headfirst into this relationship, we’ve been there done that, and it didn’t end well. I’m as intoxicated by this delicious man now as I was before. And while I’m more optimistic about a future together than I should be at this stage of the game, I’m committed to not hurting my children. Because there’s no doubt. My boys fell just as hard and fast for Harrison.

All four of them.

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