Page 14 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“Unbelievable!” Caroline raised her mom’s voice. “Both of you are acting like you’re five.” She narrowed her eyes and gave them the no-nonsense stare she used with unruly children. “Harley, please help Aunt Betty inside. She’d like you to help her with her new bed.” She turned to Jennifer. “You need time to cool off, so you’ll walk me home.”
“We don’t need help with the bed. Liam can do it.” Jennifer and Harley didn’t take their angry eyes off each other.
“Liam isn’t here, and I want to try out my new bed tonight,” Betty said as she stepped into the ring. She addressed Harley. “I would like your help sorting out my room, moving my old bed out, and setting up the new one, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, I’ll help you, Betty.” Harley smiled at Betty, and all anger disappeared from his eyes when he addressed her.
“Aunt Betty—“ Jennifer started to object, but Caroline stopped her.
“Go cool that hot head of yours off,” Betty snapped, not looking at Jennifer. “Don’t come back here until it has.”
“Might I suggest a dip in the ocean?” Harley gave her a smug smile.
“If you don’t stop tormenting my niece, I’ll push you into the ocean myself,” Betty warned him. “Now break it up, you two.” She started hopping toward the cottage on her crutches. “Come along, Harley.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Harley shot Jennifer one more glare, and she had to suppress the urge to pull a tongue at him before he rushed after Betty to help her inside.
As they disappeared into the cottage, they heard Betty say, “Why do you have to rile her up like that?”
“See!” Jennifer looked at Caroline and pointed toward the empty doorway of the cottage. “Even my aunt agrees that he deliberately torments me.”
“I don’t think that’s what she meant,” Caroline told her, suppressing a smile before slipping her arm through Jennifer and maneuvering her toward the cove. “Instead of driving me home, I think a walk to the lighthouse and back is just what you need to cool down.”
“Never seeing that arrogant, smug face or having to deal with the man again will alleviate all the stress and irritation I’ve been living withover the past week,” Jennifer told her as they navigated the stone stairs into the cove.
The sound of the sea washing onto the shore and the tangy, salty breeze flowed over her, draining away her tension. Jennifer and Caroline slipped off their shoes and walked along the water’s edge as they made their way toward the lighthouse side of the cove. They walked in companionable silence, each lost in their thoughts, until they neared the stairs leading to the lighthouse and Caroline’s house.
“Do you want to come to my house and stay for some warmed-up takeout?” Caroline smiled at Jennifer.
“No, thanks, Caro,” Jennifer sighed. “I think I’m just going to sit in our secret spot for a while and clear my mind and nerves.” She shook her head. “I hope Aunt Betty isn’t unfiring him.”
“You know she’s already done that,” Caroline commented. “So, I think you and Harley will have to learn to get along for everyone’s sake around you.” She grinned at the glare Jennifer pinned her with. “At least for the next six months or so until the cottage is finished.”
“I’m going to find another contractor and then go into town to pay Harley a visit to let him know his services are no longer required,” Jennifer plotted. “By the time Aunt Betty realizes we’ve switched contractors, it will be too late.”
“Or—“ Caroline pointed with her index finger. “And hear me out now.” Her smile broadened. “You and Harley look beyond the reason all those sparks fly whenever you’re around each other.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jennifer had a fair idea where her friend was going with this.
“You know that old adage: wherever there’s sparks, there’s fire!” Caroline reminded her. “If you and Harley don’t contain those sparks soon, you’ll both get badly burned.”
“Are you implying that I’m attracted to the man?” Jennifer looked at Caroline incredulously. “Because you’d be way off the storyline.” She gestured with her hand, arcing it. “You’re not even on the same page; you’re in a different book—like some soppy love story while I’m trapped in a comedy of errors.”
“I like the writing analogy,” Caroline told her, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “Very apt considering our professions.” She patted Jennifer’s shoulder. “But my dear, dear friend, I’m afraid you’ve met your match with Harley, and deep down, you know it. That’s why your heart and mind are warring.”
“He is not my type!” Jennifer huffed.
“Oh, I think he is. That’s what makes you so angry because instead of fleeing when you try to push him away, Harley stands his ground and pushes back.” Caroline raised her eyebrows. “And you’re terrifiedthat he’s going to break through that fortress you’ve constructed around your heart, and when he does, you won’t be able to scare him off like you have all your other relationships.”
CHAPTER 4
Harley strolled into the grand entrance of the Summer Inn, admiring the polished floors that shone under the soft lighting. He was always impressed by the hotel’s magnificence, and tonight was no exception.
He made his way through the brightly lit foyer, marveling at Alex Blackwell’s persuasive power to get people to do things they ordinarily wouldn’t do, like attending an impromptu dinner party on a superyacht.
Harley liked to think he’d only caved because of the day he’d had going head-to-head with the obnoxious Jennifer Gains—the huge thorn currently twisting in his side.
But it wasn’t only Jennifer Gains who drove him to the party. It was Alex’s superyacht! Or, as Harley referred to it, Alex’s super-superyacht, which the man had custom-designed. At the end of shooting the second season of The Cobble Cove Mysteries, Harley, Finn, Liam, Brad, and Alex were setting sail for a high-seas adventure on the super-superyacht called Black Ocean. And Harley was looking forward to that.
