Page 56 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“It gets messy,” Titus told her. “And the thing is…” He rubbed his eyes, and Harriet was shocked by how tired he looked. “Gloria knows she has some power over us at the moment because it will become a huge legal battle with our olive trees on their land.”
“Why is she so adamant about getting her family attached to ours?” Harriet shook her head.
“Gloria was in love with your father, and she’s never gotten over that,” Titus explained. “You know a woman scorned and all that.”
“She’s taking it to a whole new level!” Harriet blew out a breath. “But there must be something you can do, Uncle Titus, other than try and use me as your bartering tool.”
“Harriet, I’m sorry I did that.” Titus sighed. “I panicked. You see, there’s something I haven’t told anyone, and we’ve been trying to keep it under wraps so the Gladstones don’t get wind of it.”
“Okay…” Harriet turned her head slightly and raised an eyebrow.
“This trulycannotleave this room, Harriet.“ Titus looked at her.
“I’ve already said it won’t!” Harriet gestured with her hands.
“We need those olive trees as they may be the only Joyce Olives left soon.” Titus’s words sent tiny pinpricks of shock through Harriet. “We’ve had to destroy a lot of our olive trees on Joyce Isles because of the Xylella fastidiosa outbreak on the island.”
“What the heck is that?” Harriet’s brows creased.
“It’s a disease that has broken out across Joyce Isles and has not only affected the olives,” Titus admitted. “That’s why we need the olive groves, as that’s the only other place that has the Joyce olives.”
Harriet stood staring at her uncle in shocked disbelief as her mind reeled at the news, and a plan took root.
CHAPTER 10
Finn stood nervously outside Gray’s suite’s door. He wasn’t nervous about being in the presence of royals. He’d met a few of them during his time as a world-champion surfer. Finn was anxious about Harriet being alone with her uncle, the king. He kept expecting the door to burst open at any minute, with King Titus demanding his guards take her away and throw her in a dungeon.
While he and Harriet hadn’t interacted much over the last year, they had moved in the same circles, and he’d taken notice of how feisty she could be. Especially when she was protecting a loved one or standing up for something that wasn’t right. Harriet seemed to throw all caution to the wind when she dived into right and wrong, and that was why he loved her…
Finn’s eyebrows shot up, and his heart seemed to skid to a stop as his breath caught in his throat, and the realization hit like a fist to the solar plexus—he’d fallen in love with Harriet. And it hadn’t been a sudden thing either. He’d been falling for herfrom a distance that Finn now understood he was so desperately trying to keep between them. An image of a defiant sixteen-year-old with beautiful green eyes flashed through his mind.
Finn could remember that he’d been more intrigued by the teenager than angry over his broken board. He was angry because he couldn’t find her after she’d disappeared on the stolen quad bike. While he’d avoided her over the past year, thinking she was nothing but trouble, he’d secretly admired her courage and loyalty to those she loved or her willingness to help a stranger in need.
Before he could mull over the revelation further, the door flew open, and his heart jolted when Harriet popped her head out, and their eyes met.
“Finn,” Harriet said, the urgency in her voice making his heart race with shock. “Can you come inside, please?” Murphy stepped up, and Harriet held up her hand. “Not you, man in black.”
“Is something wrong, Princess?” Murphy’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he tried to look into the room.
“King Titus is still alive if that’s what you’re worried about, Murphy.” Harriet pushed the door wider so Murphy could see. “See?”
“You could’ve just propped the king up to make him look like he’s alive,” Murphy said, raising his brows.
“Wow, you really do have trust issues, Murphy,” Harriet told him.
“Can you blame him, dear?” Julie stuck up for Murphy. “You’ve always run rings around everyone.”
“Oh, for pity’s sake.” Harriet turned to the king. “King Titus, could you please wave at the masses outside before they somehow get pitchforks and attack me.”
“I’m okay,” King Titus assured them. “Nothing has been thrown or broken.”
“There!” Harriet said. “Happy?”
Murphy gave her a warning look before nodding.
“Excuse me,” Finn said, stepping around Murphy and trying to hide his smile.
Harriet really was an extraordinary woman.
