Page 68 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
One of King Titus’s security detail stood at the door. He nodded when he saw Finn, who he allowed to quietly slip into the room. Finn walked over to the bed. Machines that were monitoring Harriet’s vital signs blipped and beeped softly in the dimly lit room. Finn took Harriet’s hand and looked down at her. Her long dark hair was pulled back off her face, showing off herhigh, delicate cheekbones and perfectly straight, cute aristocrat nose. Her pale eyelids shuttered her beautiful green eyes with a fan of long, thick, dark lashes.
“I love you so much, Harriet,” Finn whispered to her, his hand brushing her cheek. “When I saw you in Gray’s arms…” He swallowed and pushed back the sting, burning the back of his eyes as a lump formed in his throat. “You looked so lifeless. I thought my heart was going to stop beating when just for a moment I thought…” He swallowed again and dropped his head back, taking a breath before looking at her again. “After this, I’m not letting you out of my sight.” He warned. “Not until all this craziness is over.”
Finn leaned down and gently kissed her lips. As he lifted his head, Harriet started to stir. Finn’s eyes widened as his heart jolted, and he sucked in a breath.
“Harriet?” Finn said, staring at her as relief flooded him.
“Finn?” Harriet’s eyes opened and shone with confusion as she coughed. Her hand went to the oxygen tubes by her nose. “What…”
“No, no,” Finn said, grabbing her hand. “Wait for the doctor.” He looked toward the door. “Sam.” He yelled for the security guard, who instantly popped into the room, his eyes widening with relief when he saw Harriet awake. “Call Doctor Thornton.”
The man nodded and disappeared out of the room.
“Where am I?” Harriet tried to sit up, but Finn stopped her.
“Please, Harriet, stay still until Daniella gets here,” Finn told her, feeling weak from relief.
“Why am I in the hospital?” Harriet frowned in confusion. “Was I in an accident?”
“What’s the last thing you remember?” Finn asked her.
“Going to bed with some ginger tea,” Harriet told him, her frown deepening. “Although I had this crazy dream about a firein the hotel.” Her eyes widened, and they found Finn’s. “Was there a fire at the hotel? Is that why I’m in hospital?”
“No,” Finn said, shaking his head. “Someone pulled the fire alarm at the hotel. When you got to the car park, you collapsed.”
“No.” Harriet shook her head. “I don’t. It’s all fuzzy.” She rubbed her head.
“Are you okay?” Finn frowned as she winced.
“I’m fine,” Harriet said with a weak smile. “Just a bit of a headache.”
“It’s one of the side effects of the sleeping powder,” Daniella told them as she entered the room, smiling at Harriet. “Hello, sleeping beauty.”
“Sleeping powder?” Harriet looked at Daniella, even more confused. “I don’t use that stuff.”
“I know,” Daniella nodded and looked at Finn. “Didn’t you tell her?”
“No, I haven’t had the chance to,” Finn said and looked at Harriet. “We believe you were drugged. Someone must’ve put sleeping powder on your pillow as your hair was covered with it.”
“Sorry, we had to wash it with the shampoo we use here,” Daniella apologized. “We got rid of your pajamas as well.”
“Are you talking about the sleeping powder that was designed for my family?” Harriet asked Daniella in disbelief. “That stuff was banned.” Her eyes widened. “Who would’ve drugged me?”
“Harley and your uncle’s security team found a tin of the powder and have a suspect they’re questioning,” Finn told Harriet. “We don’t want to alarm you, but we think whoever pulled the fire alarm last night did so as a distraction to kidnap you.”
“Mr. Shaw,” Sam, the bodyguard, stepped back into the room, “Mr. Gains is in the waiting room. He needs to talk to you urgently.”
“Go,” Harriet said.
“I need to check Harriet anyway,” Daniella told him.
Finn kissed Harriet on the forehead. “I’ll be back.”
“I know,” Harriet said, smiling at him.
Finn reluctantly left the room and went to the waiting area, where Liam ushered him into the library through the door only Daniella and other staff members had access to. They went into Daniella’s office in the library where Liam closed them in.
“What is going on?” Finn asked Liam. “Why are we in a library?”
