Page 5 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“I was beingpolite,“ Harley stated. “But obviously, your personality hasn’t adjusted from rude New Yorker to polite New Englander yet!”
“I’m not the one who rushed into the cafe like a kid in a candy store!” Jennifer shot back.
Her eyes turned a deeper shade of blue that Harley had seen happen a lot in the past three days. He’d come to think of the color as a dangerous blue. It meant her anger gauge had hit the top of the red, reminding him of the high striker machine at a fair, and Harley seemed to be the one that always struck the jackpot. Only there was no ding or a parade of flashing lights, but a spitting mad Jennifer with a tongue as sharp as a razor blade.
For some reason, Harley’s mind shifted out of gear, and he couldn’t stop himself from giving as good as he got. The woman just pushed all his wrong buttons and made him crazy! Harley had never met anyone as infuriating, stubborn, and unyielding as Jennifer Gains.
“Oh, don’t act like the victim here!” Harley sneered.Oh no! Just let it go!His subconscious pleaded, but he was again ensnared in a verbal battle with Jennifer and determined not to allow her to have the final word. He glanced pointedly at her phone. “You weren’t paying attention to where you were going either!”
Jennifer’s eyes narrowed some more, and she was about to say something when Finn’s voice came from behind Harley.
“Not that the two of you aren’t very entertaining!” Finn popped his head around Harley. “But you’re blocking the door and scaring my customers.”
“What customers?” Harley and Jennifer said in unison, looking around the cafe.
“The ones that climbed out the window rather than get between whatever the two of you are standing off about.” Finn pushed past Harley and grinned. “I have a gym with a boxing ring out back if you two want to finish this up there.”
“Funny!” Jennifer pulled a face at Finn and then looked at her watch. “I have to get going.” She gave Harley a scathing look. “I have to get in somerealwork before overseeing the contractor renovating Beach Plum Cottage.”
With that, she pushed past Harley, not bothering to say goodbye.
“How rude!” Harley turned, staring after Jennifer in disbelief, before turning to Finn and pointing his thumb over his shoulder. “Can you believe her?” He shook his head. “She didn’t even apologize for ruining my favorite shirt.” He flicked tiny black seeds off his shirt. “What is this?” He eyed the purply red stain on his shirt.
“Hmmm.” Finn tilted his head, examining the stain. “I’d say that is a Raspy Blueberry ice smoothie!”
Harley’s eyes shot up in surprise. “Seriously? You can tell what smoothie it is just by the stain.”
“Nope!” Finn shook his head, his grin widening. “It’s Jennifer’s go-to smoothie after an early morning surf.” He patted Harley on the back. “How about I buy you a smoothie and a clean shirt?”
“I’d appreciate that,” Harley told him, following Finn to the counter.
Finn reached beneath the counter and pulled out a t-shirt with a cartoon picture of the Beach Hut logo. “One t-shirt, as promised.” Finn put the menu in front of Harley. “Now, which delicious smoothie can I get you?”
“I think I’m going to try the one that killed my shirt!” Harley pushed the menu back toward Finn.
He pulled off his shirt and put the clean one on, feeling a lot less sticky and wet.
“That’s an excellent choice,” Finn agreed. “I’m going to join you.”
Harley watched Finn make the smoothies.
“Is Jennifer always like that?” Harley couldn’t stop himself from asking.
Finn chuckled as he divided the smoothie from the blender into two glasses. “Jen has always had a short fuse and is a force to be reckoned with.” He put the beaker behind the counter. “And it seems you’ve stirred up the force!”
Harley rolled his eyes, suppressing a smile. “Yay, lucky me.” He took a sip of smoothie and looked at it with raised brows. “Wow! That is delicious.”
“Uh-huh!” Finn nodded, savoring his smoothie.
“I think this has just become my new favorite smoothie.” Harley took another sip.
“I’ll let the creator of it know!” Finn raised his glass toward Harley.
“Oh, yes, please give your chef my praise.” Harley wanted to get the recipe to make it at home.
“Oh, my chef didn’t design this delicious concoction.” Finn looked at the glass.
“Oh?” Harley looked at him curiously. “May I ask who came up with this delectable drink?”
