Page 50 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“Wow!” Harriet said, alarmed. “I want to say the gall of the woman.” She looked at Finn, shaking her head. “But, Finn, really? Didn’t it occur to you before you rushed off to save Trudy yet again that she may just be wanting to use you as a fall guy again?”
“Honestly,” Finn sighed. “I can’t deny I did think of that on the way. But luckily for me, Trudy got my voicemail and left a message for me to bring her ID documents.”
“That’s a relief.” Harriet gestured with her hands. “But I still wonder what Estelle has on you.”
“Let’s not bend to her demands and find out!” Finn suggested.
CHAPTER 9
The calm serenity of Finn’s kitchen was a stark contrast to the storm brewing in Harriet’s life. As she’d listened to Finn’s story, Harriet found herself falling deeper and deeper under his spell. He was like no man she’d ever met. Finn cared deeply about people, even those who hurt him or betrayed him. The man would still drop everything to help.
Harriet’s heart dropped at the thought of how good people like Finn were always taken advantage of. And it was as if he didn’t know the people were doing it. It was just that he was too good a person not to help. The gentle hum of the refrigerator and the distant calls of seabirds were the only sounds drifting into the room as Finn and Harriet fell into a moment’s silence.
Harriet was just about to ask Finn about his old company when her phone vibrated sharply against the granite countertop, slicing through the momentary peace.
She glanced at the screen; it was Gray. Harriet excused herself and answered, “Hi, Gray.”
“Harriet, you need to come to the hotel now.” Gray’s voice was terse, the undercurrents of stress unmistakable. “Uncle Titus has arrived, and he’s not alone. He brought Gloria Gladstone with him, and they’re insisting on a family meeting. We’re all gathered at my hotel suite.” He lowered his voice. “He knows about you and Finn.”
Harriet went cold, and her eyes widened, “What does he know about the situation?”
“That you got engaged without announcing your intentions to Uncle Titus first.” Gray’s voice lowered even more.
The news hit Harriet like a cold wave. “He’s early as well.” Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Which means he knew before he arrived, so either my father told him, or Gloria found out through Estelle or Leon.”
“I’m not sure,” Gray told her. “Just get here and bring Finn, as his presence has beenrequested.”
“Alright, we’re on our way,” Harriet said, disconnecting the call. She turned to Finn, her expression grave. “That was Gray. My uncle has arrived early, and he’s brought Gloria Gladstone with him.” She slid off the chair and pocketed her phone. “Uncle Titus has called a family meeting.” She swallowed as she looked at Finn. “Which now also includes you. A bit of warning: my uncle specifically requested that you attend. So get ready for a grilling.” She stood staring at Finn. “It’s not too late to back out of this.”
“Nope!” Finn shook his head, taking the cups, rinsing them, and placing them in the dishwasher. He dried his hands with a teatowel. “Let’s go.” He stopped and looked at his usual attire of a T-shirt and board shorts. “Maybe I should change first.”
“You look fine,” Harriet told him, indicating her own outfit. She was wearing a pale blue T-shirt and cut-off jeans. “I’m going like I am.” She shrugged. “The way I see it, my uncle called an impromptu meeting and can’t expect us to arrive in court-appropriate finery.” She snorted. “Besides, this is the twenty-first century, it’s the middle of summer, and we live in a beach town.”
“I’m going to put on a different pair of pants,” Finn insisted. “Give me ten minutes.”
With that, he slipped out of the kitchen, leaving Harriet to sit back on the chair she’d vacated while she waited for him. Her eyes fell on a picture hanging on the wall next to the doorway. Harriet stood and went to look at it, a smile splitting her lips. It was a picture of Finn with his arms around each of his kids sitting in the kitchen. The silver badge on the photo read: The family’s first meal in our new kitchen.
She smiled at how happy they all looked. Finn was lucky that his kids were so well-adjusted, and it showed just how much he loved them. For a few moments with Estelle earlier, she’d almost let the woman weave some doubt about Finn into her mind. But Harriet knew that deep down, it was just her way of trying to find the bad so she could ignore her growing feelings for Finn.
Harriet had always had a giant crush on Finn. While surfing may be the one sport she hadn’t mastered or tried, she’d followed it just to follow Finn’s career. But not in the stalker type of way Estelle had. Or at least, that’s how Harriet thought things between Finn and Estelle had gone. She made a mental note to ask him about it when they were alone again. Thinking about being alone with Finn made her heart skip a beat, and the phantom fluttering things in her stomach went wild, tickling her belly.
Harriet knew Finn had returned to the kitchen before turning around as the smell of fresh soap and a soft aroma of musk drifted over to her. She turned, and her heart did a double skip when she saw he’d not only changed but managed to have a quick shower. Harriet glanced at her wristwatch. Finn hadbeen gone for eleven minutes and had managed to shower and transform himself into the suave man before her.
Her gaze traveled up his dark blue cotton pants, neatly tailored to accentuate his lean build, and ending in a pair of polished navy leather loafers. His light blue short-sleeve cotton shirt buttoned up the front, leaving the top three buttons casually undone, revealing a hint of his toned chest. The well-starched collar framed his broad shoulders, emphasizing his muscular physique.
Harriet’s throat went dry as her green eyes locked with his striking blue ones, which seemed even more vivid against his freshly styled hair. Gone was his usually tousled look, replaced now by hair neatly brushed back. Standing there, all six-foot-four of him, Finn looked incredibly handsome as he wore a more formal look as effortlessly as he did his beachwear.
“What do you think?” Finn asked with a half-smile.
“You showered?” These were the only words Harriet could get through her lips as her tongue lost communication with her brain over the loud pounding of her heart.
“I had to,” Finn admitted. “I was all crusty from my surf earlier.”
“Crusty?” Harriet’s brow crinkled.
“You know, from the salt water on the skin,” Finn explained. “It leaves a fine layer of salt on the skin.”
“Right!” Harriet nodded. “You look great.” She glanced at her own casual attire. “Although now I feel I have to run to my hotel suite and change.” She followed him out of the kitchen. “And trust me, I don’t take ten minutes.”
