Page 52 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“Do they really do that?” Finn ducked his head to look through her window, grinning. “That’s so cool.” He raised his eyebrows. “I like your call name, The Rebel.”
Harriet gave a huge sigh and rolled her eyes. “It used to be The Mermaid.”
“Not as cool as The Rebel,” Finn pointed out. “Before we get out, do I bow to your uncle? What do I call him.”
“This is not the Dark Ages,” Harriet told Finn. “We aren’t in a formal setting. So you can call him McCrazy Pants for all I care.” She snorted. “In fact, I did do that a few times when I was younger.”
“Don’t listen to Princess Harriet,” the bodyguard called through the window. “You address the king as Your Majesty and give him a slightly bowed nod.”
“What do you know?” Harriet said. “And it’s rude to listen to other people’s conversation.” She frowned. “How can you even hear us through the window?”
“Mr. Shaw’s window is slightly down,” the bodyguard pointed out. “Now, Princess Harriet, will you please unlock the door so I might escort yourself and Mr. Shaw to Prince Grayson’s hotel suite.”
“No!” Harriet pushed her nose against the glass. “Mr. Shaw and I have walked to my brother’s hotel suite on our own many times. I don’t need the men in black to escort me there.” She gave him a smug smile. “Besides, as far as I know, there have been no alien sightings this far northeast, and this is a small town, so everyone would know.”
Finn’s side door was pulled open, and they turned as Harley, dressed in the same outfit as the bodyguard, poked his head in. “Hi,” he said. “I’ve come to help escort the two of you to King Titus’s room.”
“Oh no!” Harriet breathed, pulling Finn toward her. “Quick, close the door. They’ve gotten to Harley and don’t look into any pen-like devices, or we’ll have our memories erased.”
“Funny, Princess.” The bodyguard shook his head again. “Now, are you going to come quietly, or are we going to do this theotherway?”
“Oh, please, can we do it theotherway?“ Harriet looked at him innocently. “Because that always works out so well for you. Have you forgotten the last time?” She raised a brow. “How many stitches did you get?”
Finn’s brows shot up as he looked at her in alarm.
“Eight, and rabies shots.” The bodyguard physically shuddered. “How did you get that lynx to follow you, by the way?”
“I didn’t.” Harriet grinned. “Don’t you remember? I just have a way with animals.”
“What’s this about a lynx?” Finn and Harley asked, looking at her in amazement.
“We can fill you in on the way to meet King Titus,” the bodyguard told him. “If you’d kindly unlock the door, please, Mr. Shaw.”
Finn glanced at Harriet curiously. “Now I see why that line about keeping the king waiting has been used on you so many times.”
Harriet nodded. “I don’t know why, but as soon as I’m forced to go anywhere, I get this feeling inside me that makes me not want to do it.”
“It’s called rebellion, Princess,” the bodyguard told them. “I have been given permission to get you to Prince Grayson’s suite by any means necessary.”
Again, Finn’s brows shot up, and he moved a little closer to Harriet, making her feel warm inside as his protective instincts kicked in.
“Really?” Harriet hissed at the man. “Come a bit closer. I have something I want to say to you that I don’t want everyone else to hear.”
The bodyguard stepped closer. His face was nearly plastered against the window when Harriet quickly unlocked it and pushed it open. Only, the bodyguard jumped out of the way before she hit him with the car door.
“Nice try, Princess.” The bodyguard grinned as she stepped in front of him and, to Harley and Finn’s surprise, hugged the man. “Don’t think I don’t know all your tricks by now.”
“Hey, Murphy,” Harriet said, stepping back. “Long time no see, old man.”
Finn slid out of the car and came to stand beside them with Harley close by his side. He glanced at Harley. “This just feels weird.”
“After the other night, sir, we can’t be too careful with your and Princess Harriet’s safety,” Murphy told him.
“Please don’t tell me that you’re going to have a detail on us?” Harriet’s eyes narrowed at Murphy. “Because I’ve been on Plum Island for over a year with no bodyguards.”
“Actually…” Harley jumped in. “You have had a security detail with you. You’ve just not noticed them.”
“Harley and his uncle graciously helped out Mr. Blackwell’s security,” Murphy informed them as he walked near them, and they entered the hotel.
