Page 59 of Hard Hat Hottie

Harrison

Well, I’m not going to be able to have another date with you without wanting to play naked Twister. (fire emoji, eggplant emoji)

Oh my god.Yes, please.

10:34 p.m.

Harrison

I’ve got some things with work that might be making life even more complicated. But I want to make time for us. And the boys. Catch their baseball games and have them back over.

10:35 p.m.

Harlow

Oh, they’d love that!

10:39 p.m.

Harrison

Sweet dreams, Harlow. I miss you. See you in the morning.

10:41 p.m.

Harlow

Goodnight.

Putting my phone down on the nightstand, I stare up at the ceiling as snapshots of the weekend replay in my mind. Please don’t let this guy be too good to be true.

Harrison

“Morning, boss. You feelin’ all right?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Cause you’re early. You beat me here.” He chuckles. “And you’re not perched up on the ledge waiting on your girl.”

Oh, I’m waiting on my girl, all right.He just doesn’t need one more thing to rib me about. I shake my head. It’s painful how true the whole situation is. I’m whipped. Completely addicted to a mermaid named Harlow.And her little guppies.

“You look good, man. Whatever it is, it suits you.”

I grin, sitting taller in my seat. “I think it was the pep talk you gave me a few weeks back.”

“Oh, yeah? It was me that has you lookin’ all large and in charge?”

I snort. “Okay, maybe you were part of it. I met with the guy from Outer Banks. Everything about their plans is good, Gus. Really good. I want in on it.”

“Yes!”

“I need us to sit down and come up with a plan. Like you said. Not just a business plan, but one that includes my mother. I’m going to talk to Joyce and see if she thinks I can manage being away three nights a week. I’ll come back each Wednesday for the night and return Friday night through the weekend.”

“I think that’s a great plan. You need to do this, Harry. You’ll always regret it if you don’t.”

The devil on my shoulder is still trying to plant seeds of doubt. It’s risky. But Gus is right. I need to do this.

The little white shuttle bus pulls up, and I stand as Harlow comes into view.

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