HARD HAT HOTTIE
by LM Fox
Cover & Excerpt Reveal
Release Date: June 27, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance Standalone
Trope: Small town beach romance, he-falls-first, blue-collar cinnamon roll, curvy FMC, strong-willed single mom, found family, angsty, emotional, guaranteed HEA
Synopsis
Harlow
I’d started to dread going to work. Until each shift began with a sultry smile from the hottie in a hard hat.
My work in the ER was stressful. Add a longer walk in the sweltering Florida sun because of a hospital remodel, and there was no motivation to go.
Well, except for him.
All bronze and beautiful, he’s a fantasy come to life.
But if a guy like that wanted to settle down, it wouldn’t be with someone with my baggage.
Doesn’t matter. I’m too smart to hook my dreams on another blue collar Beefcake. Any man for that matter. Those only come true in romance novels.
But I can still look. Right?
Harrison
What was I thinking, starting a construction business in Florida? Even dollar signs couldn’t tempt me to arrive at the work site early.
But she could.
I thought the oppressive heat had melted my brain. Is this beauty a mirage? No woman has ever gotten me excited for merely a glimpse of her.
Yet I keep building the wall between us. Flirty moments are all I can chance. There’s no place in my life for more.
As much as I’m dying to make her mine.
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Excerpt
I plop down in an empty seat and look up to see Shay coming my direction with a huge grin on her face. She’s worked with me at the hospital for years. While I’m permanently located in the emergency room, Shay floats to any department that needs her. So when she’s working with me in the ER, it’s a real treat.
“What a great surprise, huh? And it’s air conditioned.” She beams.
“I know. I still haven’t recovered from the shock,” I reply, settling in to the unexpected ride as if we’ve been given limo service instead of an old school bus touched up for the purpose of getting employees on the job quicker.
I tap my lip with my fingertip, reflecting on the sign at the entrance to the small bus. Courtesy of Hightower Construction. Figures. It wasn’t the hospital administration thinking about us at all. It was the construction company. Working all day under the harsh Florida sun, I’m certain their crew appreciates this small bit of generosity better than anyone. They’ve probably set this up for their other clients too, likely a selling feature to gain new building contracts in the area. Well, whatever their motivation, they’re to be commended. It’s nice to see the hospital doing business with a company that cares.
The bus feels as if it’s barely picked up speed before it’s slowing down to let us off. The distance from the shuttle stop to the ER doors seems so much shorter when you’re cool and comfortable.
“I almost want to ask him if he’ll make another loop before we have to get off.” Shay giggles as she stands from her seat.
Everyone gathers their belongings and exits the bus. There’s a low hum of appreciation at our good fortune as we all head to our final destination. Once I step down, I’m surprised to find the driver hasn’t let us off at the front entrance, but across the street. Heck, I’m not complaining. There’s probably a rule against blocking incoming traffic.
Shielding my eyes, I instinctively peer up into the overpowering rays of the sun to see the rugged hard hat hottie positioned on a platform a floor above me. As predicted, he’s staring down at me with a toothy grin, his bronze skin glistening in the summer heat.
“He’s so freakin’ hot,” Shay moans.
“Yeah.” I’m practically drooling at the sight. “Do you think if we accidentally broke something inside they’d let him come in and fix it?”
“Gah. One could hope.” Shay giggles. “But then again, none of the nurses would get anything done.”
I watch as he lifts his bright yellow hat from his head long enough to run a large muscular hand through his dark blonde hair, his smile never wavering.
Shay leans in to me and releases a heavy sigh. “I bet women just throw themselves at him wherever he goes.”
“Uh huh.” I breathe, biting into my lower lip as I picture him catching me, all toned and tan, his pecs and abs on full display.
“You two better get a move on or you’re going to be late,” Gretchen says as she walks by. It’s at that moment I realize the van has made a second loop in the time we’ve been ogling this sexy specimen.
I give him a short wave and a coy smile as I make my way to the entrance doors. It’s fleeting, this exchange at the start of each shift. There’s no obnoxious cat calls or whistles. It’s all in fun. Heck. He’s probably got a wife and kids. It’s not that I’d ever act on it. But that short greeting puts a spring in my step as I start my shift. And around here, much like the shuttle bus, that’s a rare delight.
“Harlow. How do you like that? We can start the shift without needing to wring out our clothes first.” Sadie laughs.
“She might still need to.” Shay gives me a knowing grin. “All buff and beautiful was giving her his usual welcome to work greeting.”
I can’t keep from smiling. “Yeah, he has about the same effect on me that sweltering walk used to.”
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About the Author
Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.
Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.
She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.
