Page 21 of Hard Hat Hottie

CHAPTER EIGHT

HARLOW

I awaken with a start. My heart racing in my chest. I scan the recesses of my mind to remember what the dream was about that has me so flustered. When it hits me.

It was him.

Vaguely, I recall the feel of his fingertips as they brushed over my abdomen. My skin instantly buzzing from the sensation, as if shocked by an electrical current. In a room full of people, no less. But it wasn’t a dream. It was real.

I’m overwhelmed with shame. Harrison was sedated. He didn’t have any idea what he was doing or saying. I’m certain of it. I mean, any guy who’d injure himself trying to save a stray cat wouldn’t cheat on his wife or girlfriend, right?

Flopping back down on my pillow, I throw my arm over my eyes. What’s happening to me? Can’t I find a normal guy? Just one?

I’m so curious about all of it. But I need to be professional and let it go. Just walk away. With my track record, nothing good can come from sniffing around that guy. And I’d never intentionally want to bring any harm to someone’s relationship or family.

Rolling onto my side, I notice it’s only 4:30 in the morning. I have to be at work at 7:00 and it’s going to be another long twelve hours.Just try and get another hour of sleep, Harlow.I need to put this magnetic man out of my mind and get a little more shut eye. But I’m almost certain that’s not happening.

Memories of being up close and personal with Harrison, my hard hat hottie, torment me.Mine?He’s definitely not mine.

It’s you. My mermaid. Wait… Did I die? Is this heaven?I giggle to myself.They’re blue, right? Or green? Or blue green?I bite down on my lower lip at the memory of the earnest expression on his face as he stared into my eyes.

My lower belly vibrates with lust as I remember how he looked, lying on that stretcher with his eyes closed when I first arrived. His bronzed skin, the sinewy muscles of his neck and chest, the delicious ridges of his abdominal muscles. Unlike the ink adorned on my skin, his was clear of any tattoos or visible piercings. Once I was next to him and could take in his gorgeous face and magnetic green eyes, he made my heart flutter. He looked like the all-American boy next door. Except he was a beefcake.

My mouth practically waters at the vision of him. Why are you torturing yourself, Harlow? He’s a fantasy, pure and simple. Just let it go. Remember Stewart? He’s likely no different. A family in one state while he flirts with women in another.

I sit up and decide to get on with my day, there’s no point in delaying the inevitable. The boys are with their fathers for the weekend, and I’m left all alone with my thoughts.My dirty, dirty thoughts.

Grabbing a set of scrubs from my closet, I start to head to the bathroom when I remember I need to bring a backup set, just in case. Finding a second set, I shake my head. The memory of being covered in puke so vivid it practically propels me into the shower.

I reach in and turn on the water, adjusting the temperature to allow a long, languid, warm soak under the spray since I have the time. As the warm water and eucalyptus scented body wash dance over my skin, my thoughts of him return. My hand drifts down my torso, and given the early hour, I grant myself permission to indulge in one more fantasy.

Just one more.

Harrison

Rolling over in bed, I grimace as I place my body weight on my arm.What the hell?Looking down, I find my arm is in a rigid cast, and I’m in a strange room.

“You’re okay, Harry,” Ellie says beside my bed.

My eyes connect with my brother, and I immediately adjust myself in bed. “What? What’s happening right now?” I stammer.

“The hospital called us this afternoon and said you’d had a fall. You were pretty lucky, considering. You could’ve died,” Matt blurts.

“Calm down. It wasn’t that bad.” My memories, while fuzzy, are coming back gradually. At least some of them.

“Or broken your neck and been paralyzed,” Ellie adds.

“You two are so dramatic.” I yawn.

“They had to set the broken bones in the ER and then later took you to the operating room. You’ve been out for a while,” Matt says.

Scratching my head with my free hand, I admit I’m stunned. I vaguely recall falling, but not much after that. How had I missed such a large chunk of time?

“Hey. How’s he doing?” Char greets as she walks in with a tray of coffees.

“He’s fine,” I answer. “Just a lot of gaps in time. Did I hit my head?”

“I’m sure you did, falling from that far. But they did CT scans of your head and spine and said all of that was fine. You managed to walk away with only a broken wrist. I think it is all the medication they gave you that has you so loopy.”

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