Page 27 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“Oh no!” Harriet looked pained. “That’s another thing. Now everyone knows my dirty little secret.”
“It’s hardly dirty or little,” Finn pointed out. “But as a former surfing champion trying to live a quiet life incognito…” He drank some wine and paused. “I understand why you wouldn’t want to advertise who you were.”
“Thank you.” Harriet’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears, and her voice was soft. “And I’m sorry I stole your pickup and boat.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Finn laughed. “It was for a good cause.”
They fell silent for a few seconds before Harriet broke it.
“Thank you for wanting to help, Finn,” Harriet said. “That’s so sweet and kind.”
“I hear a but,” Finn said.
“But…” Harriet smiled. “This is my mess and my family drama. I couldn’t possibly drag you or any of my friends, who are my family, into this.”
“You’re not dragging anyone into anything,” Finn assured her. “We all want to help. Yes, including me.” He smiled as their eyes met.She is wonderful inside and out.“I’m sorry but I can’t take no for an answer, or I’ll have a lynch mob after me. Which means that wherever you’re running to, you’d better book for one more because I’m disappearing with you.”
That elicited a soft, rich laugh from Harriet. “I was thinking of visiting Cape Town.”
“That’s it!” Finn exaggerated with his hand. “Let’s go. I love Cape Town.”
Before she could answer, her phone rang. Finn saw Harriet frown.
“It’s Dawn.” Harriet looked at Finn. “Do you mind if I take it?”
“No.” Finn shook his head.
“Hello?” Harriet answered. “You’d better be phoning to grovel for interfering with my plans to move to Cape Town.”
Finn grinned and turned toward the ocean as he breathed in the cool evening air.
“What?” Harriet’s shocked voice had his head swiveling toward her as he looked at her questioningly. “Now?” She glanced at him wide-eyed and looked toward the door. “I…” She looked at Finn again. “I’ve got to go.” She hung up.
“What’s going on?” Finn asked worriedly.
“My parents!” Harriet said breathlessly. “They’re here, making their way up to my room.”
Finn looked at her, not registering the urgency in her voice or eyes for a minute before it dawned on him. “Oh!” he said, fumbling in his pocket and pulling out a beautiful diamond ring. “Here, put this on.”
“What?” Harriet looked at him dumbfounded.
“Here.” Finn took her ring finger and slid the ring on. “I guess we’re engaged.”
He saw the protest form on Harriet’s lips as there was a knock on her door. Harriet sat staring at the ring on her finger as if she was in a trance as another knock rapped at her door.
“Harriet,” Finn stood and pulled her up with him, “you need to close your mouth. There you go.” He smiled.She’s adorable.“You can do this.”
The knock resounded through the suite once again. “I’ll get it,” Finn said and, on impulse, leaned forward to kiss her forehead, the contact sending electric shocks through his system.
Finn gently pulled away, turned, and went to answer the door, taking a few deep breaths as he did.How hard can it be pretending to be engaged to a beautiful woman who just happens to be a freakin’ princess?As Finn wrapped his hand around the door handle, he hoped he could remember how he was supposed to greet royalty.
Finn pulled the door open and stood facing a woman who he, even without knowing who she was, would’ve known she was Harriet’s mother.
“You’re Finn?” Harriet’s mother looked at him in surprise.
“Yes.” Finn nodded with a warm smile. “You must be Harriet’s… sister?”
Julie Joyce’s face instantly lit with a smile. “Now that’s the oldest line in the book, young man.”
