Page 40 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
A few minutes later, she’d brushed her teeth, pulled on a running outfit, and was walking toward the beach, pulling her hair into a ponytail, when a smile split her face.
“Hey, princess,” Finn called, waving at her as she jogged toward her. “I thought I’d join you for an early morning run.”
“Hey, there,” Harriet greeted back, trying to catch her breath, and she hadn’t even started running. “Aren’t you usually in the waves by now?”
Harriet walked toward Finn. He glanced at the sea. “Nah, the waves aren’t that good this morning.” He smiled at her. “Besides, I do need to work on my cardio.”
“Okay, then,” Harriet said. “I don’t mind company on my runs.”Especially if the company’s Finn Shaw, her subconscious finished for her. “I hope you can keep up because I run. I don’t jog.”
“I will try,” Finn told her. “Just how far do you run in the mornings?”
“It depends what mood I’m in,” Harriet told him. “Some mornings, I run as far as Alex’s house.”
“That’s almost five miles,” Finn calculated with a pained look on his face.
“If that’s too much for you…” Harriet’s voice faded off but was loaded with a challenge. “It’s okay if you no longer want to run with me.”
“Nope, I’m good to go,” Finn assured her.
“Okay.” Harriet set her watch, stretched, and looked at Finn. “Ready?”
“Whenever you are.” Finn indicated that she should lead the way.
As they ran they discussed the events of the previous evening. “Did you manage to get some sleep?” Finn asked Harriet.
“I should be asking you that.” Harriet looked at him curiously. “You’re the one that went with Harley and Alex to the police station.”
“Oh, that didn’t take too long,” Finn told her. “We gave our statements and left.” He corrected himself. “Well, Alex and I left. Harley stayed behind to make sure the police got the correct story.”
“I’m so sorry about what Leon did,” Harriet said. “I bet you’re wishing you’d never said you’d help me now?”
“Nope.” Finn shook his head and smiled at her. “If anything, I’m really glad that I did.”
His eyes darkened, and the look in them did crazy things to Harriet’s system, including almost making her lose her breath. Something that she didn’t need when setting off for a run and then she nearly choked.
“Are you okay?” Finn stopped and looked at her worriedly.
“I think I may have swallowed a bug,” Harriet lied.Really, Harriet? Swallowed a bug?She gave herself a mental shake and then said something so stupid again. “That’s what I get for running with my mouth open.”Seriously?“Well, more open than usual.”Agh. Just shut up!“Or, well, talking.”
“Sorry, that’s my fault, conversing while we run,” Finn apologized.
“No, I enjoy talking with my mouth open,” Harriet fumbled over her words. “I mean running with my mouth open…”Mayday, Mayday, I’m going down in a blaze of bumble here.“Sorry, I’m so tired I’m tripping over my tongue.”Well, that’s being sort of truthful.
“I can totally understand that,” Finn said as they started running again. “I didn’t get a lot of sleep either. But I woke up, and it was such a beautiful morning, I thought I’d come to enjoy some fresh air with you.”
“And make sure that my crazy ex-fiancé didn’t try to kidnap me,” Harriet guessed and shook her head as she still couldn’t believe Leon had tried to kidnap Finn.What on earth was going on?“I have no idea what’s going on lately with some people I’m acquainted with,” she admitted to Finn. “I think maybe there’s something in the water on Joyce Isles and wherever it is that Leon and Estelle live now that’s making them all a little loopy.”
“I’ve got my bets on it all coming down to money and power,” Finn stated. “At the end of the day, when people start acting like Leon, it usually has something to do with that.”
“I can’t argue with that logic,” Harriet said as they set a steady pace along Cobble Beach. “But that doesn’t explain why my uncle has taken up his quest to get me married to Leon.” She frowned. “As far as I know, there are no problems with our family’s finances.”
“Power?” Finn suggested. “Or finally owning the property your family has coveted?”
“No.” Harriet shook her head. “After last night, I’m even more convinced something else is going on.” She glanced at Finn, and an idea took root. “Do you like mystery movies or whodunnit type shows?”
“Love them,” Finn admitted, one eyebrow raised as he looked at her curiously. “Why do you ask?”
“Want to solve a mystery with me?” Harriet asked.
