Page 90 of Hard Hat Hottie

“Okay, so it’s not like a fancy smancy spa. More like a fun place to get your hair and nails done, a facial, or a wax treatment with aSteel Magnolia’svibe. Like, a no pretense spa day. With drinks.” She snorts.

“That’s right up my alley! How’ve I not heard of this place before?”

Shay shrugs. “Not sure. They’ve been here a few years now. But I only learned about it from a friend recently. If you’ve beengoing to your place a long time, maybe there wasn’t a reason to look for new places in town.”

As Shay’s steps slow, I look up. “To Dye For. That’s cute.”

“What do we want? Manicures? Pedicures? Does your kitty need waxing?”

“Uh, no. Thank you. I think I’ll stick to my nails.”

“Suit yourself. I might get a trim and a blowout. I haven’t gotten my hair done in so long. And all of the reviews of this place say it’s top notch.”

As the bell chimes overhead, I notice a pretty blonde woman standing behind an older lady. They’re admiring her hair in the mirror.

“You like, Ms. M?”

“Always, Charlene. Thank you.”

Leaning in to Shay, I whisper, “Isn’t that Margaret Montgomery?”

“Yeah. Wow. If she comes here, this place has to be good. She could afford to go anywhere she wanted.”

“I can’t believe Margaret Montgomery comes here instead of the ritzy spa I go to across town.”

“Just ’cause it costs more, doesn’t mean it’s better,” Shay says as the older woman walks in our direction.

“See you next week, Ms. M.”

“Wouldn’t miss it, Char.”

Suddenly, the blonde’s eyes connect with mine, and a lump wedges in my throat. How do I know this girl? I’d remember if I’d met someone as pretty and outgoing as she is. Her stare is making me unsettled, so I drop my gaze to the floor. But not before catching the bright red nails.

Wait?

Glancing back up at her, I note a slight upturn at the corner of her mouth.

“Hi. I’m Charlene. This is my salon.” She pauses. “And you’re Harry’s girl.”

“What?”

“You’re the nurse, right?”

My mind flips through images as if searching for a specific phone number in a rolodex.Where had she seen me in my uniform?Suddenly, the visions come to a halt as I picture her pretty face as she sat next to Harrison in the emergency room. “Are you? I… I think I’ve seen the two of you together.” My tone is almost accusatory. As much as I’m trying to put a filter in place, my green-eyed monster is showing. That and the rejection I feel is still too raw. “Were you a redhead?”

Shay’s mouth drops open. Reaching for my arm, she glances back at blondie. She’s probably playing the same mental match game I had.

Tilting her head, Charlene lets a giggle dance from her pretty red lips. “Yes, until a few weeks ago.” She flicks her gorgeous blonde locks over her shoulder. “You have to keep them guessing.” She winks.

I don’t understand. Do they have some weird open relationship? Does she know about the new redhead in Harrison’s life? Most likely in his bed. Jealousy crawls over my skin like a venomous spider, and without thinking, I spin on my heel and head for the door. This is too much. First the girl in Harrison’s driveway, the text, Alec stealing his Magic 8 ball, and now this flamboyant, mysterious girl.

It’s too much.

“Harlow. Don’t go,” Shay begs.

I cover my face in my hands, trying to hold it all together. I’m a proud, tough girl. But everyone has their breaking point. “Shay, I just don’t think I can handle this.”

“Wait, wait.” Charlene runs over to my side. “Please, don’t go. What’s wrong? Have I done something?”

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