Page 43 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“Shall be breakfast inside?” Harriet’s tongue once again decided not to take direction from her brain and to try things on their own. “I mean, shall we eat breakfast?”
“I think what Harriet’s trying to say is—“ Finn put an arm around Harriet. “Shall we go inside and have breakfast? We’re both exhausted from a long night, long run, and the sea air.”
“Thank you,” Harriet whispered. “It seems my tongue and my brain aren’t connecting today.”
“You know I sometimes have that problem with my brain and my feet,” Finn whispered back, a glint in his eyes. “Especially when I try to dance or ice skate.”
“You’re a surfer who can’t ice skate?” Harriet looked at him in surprise.
“Want to know an even more shocking secret?” Finn said as they walked into the Beach Hut arm in arm. “I can’t roller skate either.”
“No!” Harriet feigned shock. “That’s okay. I can’t do that either.” She laughed.
“I think we’ve done good,” Dawn turned toward Jennifer, Carly, Daniella, and Caroline.
“I think so too,” Caroline stated as they watched Finn and Harriet follow her parents into the Beach Hut from their bird’s eye view on Dawn’s hotel suite balcony.
“I wonder when they’ll realize that while we started off wanting to help Harriet, we landed on the plot to play matchmakers,” Jennifer added and sipped her smoothie.
“Somewhere between us either being elated that our plan worked or not,” Daniella said.
“Or when we’re all running away screaming as Harriet chases us, enraged that we meddled in her business.” Carly laughed.
“We’ll buy the plane tickets to get out of Dodge when or if that day comes,” Jennifer told her with a grin and looked at each of the women gathered there. “Let’s just remember to keep on top of this and make sure we keep each other updated on their progress.”
“What did we miss?” They were joined by Alex, Ethan, Harley, Brad, Liam, and Gray.
Dawn brought them up to speed, and all eyes turned to Gray as Jennifer asked, “Shouldn’t you be having breakfast with your parents and our targets?”
“We’re not assassinating them, sweetheart,” Harley said, kissing Jennifer’s cheek. “But I’m so proud of how you’re running operations. Save Harriet and matchmake her with Finn.”
“That’s a terrible name for the operation,” Daniella rolled her eyes.
“Harley was never good at naming things.” Carly laughed, linking her arm through Ethan’s. “Do you remember that big black cat? He called it Cat.”
“I was ten,” Harley defended his naming prowess.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it,” Gray stated. “I called my pet mouse rat.”
“Why are you still here?” Dawn’s eyes narrowed to slits as she looked at Gray. “You’re supposed to be spying for us at the Beach Hut.”
“Oops!” Gray stood to attention and saluted Dawn. “I’m on it. I just thought that it would look less suspicious if I rocked up late. After all, I did pop up from nowhere to spy on them last night as well.”
“Good thinking,” Alex agreed with Gray. “And you’re never on time for anything, so that would’ve looked a little suspicious.”
Dawn tapped her wristwatch. “Well, now you’re a good fifteen minutes late. It will be twenty by the time you get there.”
“I’m gone!” Gray rolled his eyes and left.
“Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like a terrible busybody?” Ethan asked.
“Nope, it’s just you,” Dawn assured him.
“Yes, brother, you were always the stick in the mud, goody two shoes,” Alex reminded him.
“We’re interfering in two people’s lives here,” Ethan pointed out. “Not only are there ethical issues, there are moral ones too.”
“Seriously, none of us will think badly of you if you want to dump my stick in the mud brother.” Alex laughed at the black look Ethan shot him.
