Page 59 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“I got in on my own,” Ethan lied, not wanting to get his friend into trouble. “I had to see you to tell you I had no idea about those interview questions.”
She looked at him warily. “I want to believe you.” Carly’s voice was soft. “But every time I give an inch, a mile gets swallowed up.”
He moved closer, opening his hands in a gesture of sincerity. “I understand how you feel.” An image of the look in Alex’s eyes flashed through Ethan’s mind after he’d accused his brother of forging Ethan’s name. “But you must know I would never intentionally put you in that position.” His brow furrowed. “The signature that signed the new questions wasn’t mine.”
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Carly’s features, and she broke eye contact, glancing at the door as it opened to admit Harriet and Jennifer, who stepped in behind Ethan.
Carly sighed resignedly. “It’s just... all too much.” Her eyes searched Ethan’s. “I feel like someone’s playing a game of cat and mouse with me—with us!” She shook her head. “I don’t know who to trust or believe.” She raised her eyebrows. “Honestly, I don’t know if I can do this. I have Reef, my cousins, and my family to think about. After that interview, the press will swoop onto Plum Island and go after all of them.”
“We have security measures in place,” Harriet assured Carly, stepping beside Ethan. “We’ve managed to secure a bigger security detail that will be in town within an hour.”
“There are a lot of celebrities here at the moment, and more will come when the filming starts,” Jennifer advised. “Harley and your uncle will oversee the security measures and team.”
“That’s something, I guess,” Carly said with a tight smile. “The teens aren’t going to like having security details tagging along with them.”
“Don’t worry, Oz has been tagging them the entire day already,” Ethan told her. “They haven’t even noticed. I’ve been getting reports from him all day about their whereabouts.”
“Oh!” Carly looked at him gratefully. “Thank you. While I don’t like thinking my son needs to have a bodyguard, I am grateful.”
“And I…” Harriet said, stepping forward with her phone to show Carly a photo. “I found out who the fan who sent in that photo of you and Ethan is.” She held a picture up to show her. “Do you know him?”
Ethan watched Carly’s brows shoot up as she looked at Harriet’s. “Yes, he’s the surfer my son saved this morning.” She frowned before another realization dawned on her. “He was taken to the clinic by my cousin.”
“He’s not a surfer, Carly,” Harriet told her. “He’s a reporter trying to get closer to Reef and Shay to get a story from them.”
Jennifer looked at Harriet. “Send his picture to Harley and Sam to ensure the man is made to leave.”
Harriet nodded. “I already did.” She looked at Ethan, her eyes shining with silent encouragement, before returning to Carly. “It’s been a harrowing day. I think we should all have dinner together at the Summer Inn tonight. Good food, good company, and we can go over the day’s events.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Ethan agreed and nodded, turning to Carly.
“I’m in,” Jennifer chimed. “I’m starving, and I’ll arrange for Harley to take Reef and Shay to Sam’s house. If I’m not mistaken, it’s lasagna night at Sam’s.”
“It is.” Carly nodded. “Thank you, Jennifer. I appreciate that.” She looked at Ethan and then Harriet. “Dinner at the Summer Inn sounds good.”
“Ethan, are you okay with Harley taking Shay to Sam’s house?” Jennifer looked at him questioningly.
“That’s fine. Shay loves lasagna.” Ethan gave her a tight smile.
“Then it’s settled.” Harriet smiled, turning to Ethan. “Why don’t we go downstairs and book a table while Carly finishes getting ready?”
“I’ll stay here with Carly, and we’ll meet you downstairs at the restaurant,” Jennifer added.
Ethan followed Harriet out of the suite, unsure how that meeting went. Carly hadn’t said much, and the look in her eyes mirrored the look Alex had given him earlier. A look of hurt, betrayal, and mistrust. Who could blame them? Ethan felt like he was walking through a minefield of doubt and deception. There was no way of telling if he was about to be blown up with his next step. All he could do was tread lightly and hold his breath.
Ethan looked up as the elevator dinged. He was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t realized they’d stepped into the elevator.Ethan and Harriet entered the hotel lobby, which was abuzz with guests checking in and out. As Ethan and Harriet approached the concierge desk, he heard a voice he’d never expected to hear on Plum Island.
“I’m here to check in,” the man said in a low voice, but Ethan and Harriet were standing near enough to hear him.
Ethan’s blood ran cold as he and Harriet turned to see his ex-father-in-law checking into the hotel.
“Paul Liddiard?” Harriet hissed, her eyes and voice filled with hostility. “What are you doing here?”
“Keep your voice down,princess!“ Paul Liddiard, the famous country and western singer who’d recently returned to the music scene after a five-year hiatus, sneered at her. “I don’t want to be stampeded by fans.”
“How arrogant!” Harriet gave back as good as she got.
Ethan’s anger spurted through him. His eyes bore suspiciously into Paul’s. “I’d like to know the same thing—what are you doing here?”
