Page 31 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“Yes, he and my mother,” Harriet told him. “That’s how they met.”
“Oh!” Finn nodded, pursing his lips and glancing at his wristwatch. “We have to be up early. I should go.”
Harriet gave him a tight smile and nodded. “It looks like we have quite the day ahead.” She walked him to the door. “Thank you for offering the house to my parents. You know my uncle will pay you double its worth. And if they all stay there, please ensure the staff are compensated at a top rate.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Finn told her. “Well, not the charging your uncle double part.” He laughed. “But I’ll make sure the staff are well compensated.”
“Please, charge my uncle double.” Harriet opened the door. Anger spurted through her at the mention of her uncle. She knew he might be ill, but that wasn’t a reason to trade her for an olive farm. “Trust me, he deserves it after trying to trade me for an Olive farm.”
“What?” Finn’s brows drew together.
“My uncle wants the Gladstones olive business and groves,” Harriet explained. “My family has been after those properties for years.”
“Your uncle would do that to you?” Finn was amazed.
“He tried it before he was going crazy,” Harriet said bluntly.
“I don’t even know if the house is up to the standards a king would expect,” Finn confessed, stopping as he stepped through the door. “Would you want to come look at the house quickly?”
“Now?” Harriet’s eyes widened, and her heart jolted as if to sayyes!“Sure, why not.”
“Okay.” Finn nodded.
“I’ll just grab a sweater and my purse,” Harriet said.
She dashed to her bedroom, where her suitcases were still open on her bed, and stared at them for a few seconds. A couple of hours earlier, Harriet had been planning her escape to Cape Town for a couple of months, but now she had a fake fiancé. She looked at her ring finger, and her heart fluttered. Harriet hadn’t had a chance to look at the ring.
It was gorgeous—a square-cut diamond in an elegant antique gold setting that belonged to Finn’s mother. Her breath caught in her throat at how seriously Finn was taking his hero duties. Again, the tidal wave of guilt nearly knocked her off her feet. Harriet closed her eyes for a few seconds, letting the shock waves settle as she absorbed the impact.
“Everything’s going to be okay, Harriet,” Harriet told her image in the mirror. “Just roll with it.”
“Harriet?” Finn called. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh!” Harriet grabbed the first sweater she could find, not caring that it didn’t match her outfit, and rushed out of her room. “Sorry. My closet is in a jumble.”
“I don’t know about that,” Finn teased. “It looked pretty neat to me, and it was all color-coded, too.”
“That’s the hotel staff,” Harriet told them. “It drives me crazy that they are so neat. I can’t find a thing.”
She led Finn out of the suite and closed the door behind her as they made their way to the elevator.
“Ah!” Finn nodded, hitting the down button. “You operate better in chaos.”
“Something like that,” Harriet laughed as they stepped into the elevator.
Harriet was amazed at how quickly she’d gotten over her inability to talk to Finn without becoming a bumbling idiot. In the past couple of hours, she’d found he was so easy to talk to, especially after the incredibly awkward situation their friends and family had put them in.
Ten minutes later, the remote-controlled gate slid open, allowing them to pull into the driveway of Finn’s holiday rental home. The sensor lights lit up the neatly trimmed lawn and surroundings as they drove in. Harriet was amazed to see the ultramodern design woven into a house that blended in with its surroundings. They stopped in front of the double garage and climbed out to the gentle whisper of the ocean beyond, topped with a sparkling night sky and welcomed by the soft evening breeze.
“This is beautiful.” Harriet followed Finn to the oak front door, which was lined by two frosted windows on either side. “It’s like a mini beach cottage mansion.”
“That’s exactly what I was going for,” Finn teased with a laugh, unlocking the front door, pushing it open, and stepping back so Harriet could enter first. “Lights.”
As Harriet stepped into the entrance hall, she couldn’t help but admire the sleek and modern design of Finn’s holiday rental home. The tiled floor shimmered under the soft glow of the spotlights above, creating an inviting ambiance. A long mirror hung elegantly on one wall, reflecting the warm hues of the lighting and adding depth to the space. Beside it, a silver and glass-topped table displayed a bowl filled with colorful glass stones, adding a pop of color to the neutral tones of the room. Nearby, a small hook tree stood, offering a convenient spot to hang keys and other belongings.
Opposite the entrance, a low-slung modern fireplace commanded attention, its sleek lines complementing the room’s contemporary aesthetic. A discreet door at the far end of the fireplace led to a coat room, providing convenient storage space for outerwear and accessories.
As Finn led Harriet further into the house, she couldn’t help but marvel at its spaciousness and thoughtful design. Each room flowed seamlessly into the next, creating an open and welcoming atmosphere.
