Page 32 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
Entering one of the living rooms, Harriet found herself surrounded by plush furnishings and tasteful decor. Large windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering breathtaking views of Cobble Beach and allowing natural light to flood the space. A comfortable sofa and armchairs invited relaxation, while a sleek coffee table and modern artwork added a touch of sophistication to the room.
Moving through the house, Harriet discovered not one but two living rooms, each offering its unique charm and ambiance. In one, she found a cozy reading nook tucked away in a corner, complete with a selection of books and a plush armchair. In theother, a state-of-the-art entertainment area awaited, featuring a large flat-screen television, surround sound system, and comfortable seating for movie nights or game days.
Venturing further, Harriet explored the entertainment area and bar, marveling at the sleek design and high-tech amenities. A fully stocked bar offered a tempting array of beverages, while a spacious seating area provided the perfect spot to unwind with friends or family.
Stepping out onto the deck, Harriet was greeted by a sparkling splash pool, its waters shimmering in the moonlight. Beyond, the beach stretched out before her, its soft sands beckoning her to come and explore.
With a contented sigh, she turned to Finn. “Yup. I think I’ll take it.” She grinned. “My uncle and parents can stay at the hotel. This house wants younger people to stay in it.” her grin widened. “Like me.”
“Just you in a six-bedroomed house?” Finn nodded, looking amused. “I guess it was my first idea.”
“Yup,” Harriet agreed. “I think we should go with your first idea.” She turned, looking around the deck and into the house. “Finn, this is amazing. It’s like a mini version of Alex’s glass house.”
“I did sort of steal a bit of the glass house’s design,” Finn admitted.
“Are all three of your houses built the same?” Harriet asked him, suddenly eager to explore the other two.
“No, they have the same sort of structure,” Finn told her. “But they have their differences.”
“I noticed it’s also a SMART house,” Harriet noted.
“Semi-SMART house,” Finn corrected her. “The house controls things like the lighting, sound system, TV, the heating, and a few other small things.”
“You don’t trust that technology either?” Harriet asked.
“I don’t want to give a house too much control over my living space,” Finn answered.
“I get that.” Harriet suppressed a shudder.
The idea of a house being in total control of everything inside it did creep her out. She was old school and liked to be in charge of her own lighting, heating, and music.
“Do you think your parents and uncle would be happy staying here?” Finn enquired.
“Absolutely.” Harriet nodded. “My father was willing to stay here, thinking it’s just a house.” She smiled. “You failed to mention it was a mini-mansion.”
“Great,” Finn said. “I’ll make a list of potential staff and a few phone calls later in case they take it.”
“Does it get rented out often?” Harriet wondered why it was empty.
“It’s usually full most days of the year,” Finn told her. “A family who were going to take it for the summer backed out at the last minute. I was going to offer it to Alex when his house burned down, but Carly got in first.” He looked out toward the sea. “When I heard Alex and Daniella were having their wedding celebration, I decided not to advertise it again until after that.” He smiled at her. “Just in case Liam needed it in case the hotel got overbooked, as I know it currently is with Alex’s wedding guests.”
“Whose house is that?” While Harriet was facing the sea, she pointed to her left.
“That’s Liam’s house,” Finn said. “Mine is the next one along, closer to my businesses.”
“Why didn’t Liam take this one that has no one on the one side?” Harriet was curious to know.
“His house is smaller,” Finn explained. “It’s just Liam and his daughter Lila.” He glanced in the direction of Liam’s house.“And this one wasn’t finished being built when he bought that one.”
“Ah!” Harriet nodded in understanding. “How big is your house?”
“About the same as this one,” Finn shrugged. “I was thinking of hosting dinner at my place tomorrow night.” He looked at her questioningly. “I thought it would be more family-oriented and give your parents a chance to see who I am.”
“Finn, you don’t have to go to all that trouble,” Harriet’s heart kicked into overdrive as it hammered against her ribs at how thoughtful the man was.
Surely, there must be a flaw in him somewhere!At least then, Harriet wouldn’t feel as awful as she did at the lengths Finn was going to be playing the part of her fake fiancé.
“It’s no trouble,” Finn assured her, his eyes sparkling with a teasing light. “Besides, I’m quite enjoying it. I forgot how good it felt to have parents buzzing around.”
