Swamp & Circumstance (Harmony Glen #23)

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

Finn & Margaid’s Wedding

Room with a Tomb, October

Ask her to dance, idiot.

Phineas pulled at the bow tie around his throat. He wasn’t used to wearing a suit, but he gladly did for Finn’s wedding. Finn had bought the suit for him as a best man gift, which was so nice.

Though, in all honesty, he would’ve preferred some maki or rice as a gift instead of an itchy formal outfit.

Even tofu or falafel over clothes, but he understood Finn’s reasoning.

It was Margaid’s wedding and she wanted everything to look nice and classy.

It was Margaid’s wish: no flannel, or rubber boots, or fishing lures.

Phineas knew it was a direct warning to Finn, her glashtyn fiancé, who ran Harmony Glen’s bait and tackle shop.

Finn had a propensity for dressing like he was going out on the lake every single day.

Phineas would’ve looked totally out of place because everyone who attended the wedding at the dead-and-breakfast was dressed up. So he appreciated his new suit.

Still, food was always a better present as far as he was concerned.

Stop thinking about food. Focus on Pearl.

Phineas straightened the jacket and rolled his shoulders, trying to ignore the discomfort.

He only wore clothes to be conventional.

It’s not like he had anything to hide when he went about with the norms. It was a perk of having your junk safely encased in a cloaca.

When he was at home though, not a stitch of fabric was on him.

It was all gills and free-balling it, all the time.

However, this was a nice occasion in town, and he was the best man. Phineas was so honored to be Finn’s best man, because Finn was like a big brother to him and his best friend.

When Phineas was orphaned at a young age, it was Finn Clague’s father, also a glashtyn, who took him under his wing and helped him stand on his own two feet.

When the senior Clague died tragically, Finn stepped up and watched out for Phineas too.

Water horse and gill man, it was the perfect family for Phineas to be included in.

It meant everything to Phineas to have this adoptive family.

And Pearl was part of all that. Except, he loved her more than anything.

He always had.

Now, he was at the wedding reception, the music jamming thanks to Asher, the town’s werewolf late-night DJ, and he was once again standing on the sidelines, just staring at the beautiful, proverbial flower that was Pearl Clague.

Finn’s little sister.

Pearl had been his childhood friend and then, as they grew up, she was much more. There was so much to love about her, it felt as if his heart would burst.

And today, she looked as beautiful and ethereal as ever.

Her hair shimmered like an opalescent pearl, silvery with some light lavender hues.

It was subtle. Her skin seemed to sparkle in the dim lights of the opulently decorated hall where wedding guests were dancing.

He’d never seen Room with a Tomb so dressed up, it was like a whole new world and made tonight extra special.

As if knowing he was staring at her, she glanced shyly at him.

Her big violet eyes and long lashes beckoning him.

Her plump pink lips turned up in a smile, with a faint hint of pink on her pale cheeks.

There were old stories about unicorns and their enchanting beauty. Yeah, he totally got that, but it wasn’t just her outward beauty. Pearl was a beautiful, kind and empathetic soul.

She was special.

Something to cherish.

She was aptly named, for he thought she was the most precious thing of all.

He tugged on his tie again, staring at her like a goofball, of that he was certain.

Ask her to dance. It’s a wedding. No one will pay attention.

He genuinely liked most people in Harmony Glen, but his late parents had taught him to be cautious, so he didn’t like attention on him.

As he glanced around at the guests, all enjoying the reception, he realized no one was even looking at him.

He was safe here.

Phineas took a deep breath and headed over to her. Pearl was chatting with Mercedes, who worked as a housekeeper at Room with a Tomb dead-and-breakfast and was also now dating Magnus, one of the owners.

Mercedes smiled knowingly at him and then turned to Pearl. “I better go see if Magnus needs any help with the appetizers.”

“Okay,” Pearl said.

Mercedes grinned and squeezed his arm as she walked by, which gave him a bit of courage.

“Hi,” Phineas greeted.

Great opening line, dude.

“Hi,” Pearl responded, smiling and tucking her hair behind her ear. “It’s good to see you and finally get a chance to talk. I’ve been so busy helping my mom and Margaid get ready for the wedding between studying.”

Phineas understood. Pearl was at college, studying to be a nurse. He hadn’t seen her in a long time and he missed her.

“It’s good to see you too. It’s been what…a couple of months since your going-away party?”

“Yes. It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like forever, doesn’t it?”

“It does! Why is that?”

Pearl shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“How is college?”

“It’s good,” Pearl responded politely, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice. “I’m homesick though. I love Harmony Glen. I miss…everyone.”

I miss you too. Except he couldn’t tell her that.

“How long are you home for?” Phineas asked.

“Just a week. It’s a break right now. Like a study break. I’m looking forward to coming back for the summer. I’m hoping to do some work placement hours at the hospital or maybe at the clinic.”

His stomach knotted. The summer seemed so far away.

“Oh, that will be nice.” Phineas rubbed the back of his neck, annoyed with himself. Why was it so hard to talk to her? When they were young kids, they could talk about everything. They used to swim for hours together, go frogging and fishing.

Something shifted when they became teenagers and he saw her differently, but there was nothing he could offer her. Plus, she was Finn’s sister, and he had it in his mind that she was off-limits. His heart, however, disagreed because she’s all he’d ever wanted.

“Phineas,” Pearl said softly. “Are you over here to ask me to dance?”

“Yes.”

She smiled, her eyes lighting up. “Good, because I would love to dance with you.”

“We’re going to slow things down and the bride and groom would like everyone to join them out on the dance floor for one of the bride’s favorite romantic melodies,” Asher said in a sultry, growly tone.

The music started and Etta James’ “At Last” came on.

Finn and Margaid were the first to head onto the dance floor, and it wasn’t long before other couples followed. Phineas offered his arm and Pearl slipped hers through as he escorted her to the dance floor.

The problem was, he didn’t know how to dance. So he froze.

“Put your hand around my waist,” she whispered, as if knowing.

“Thanks.”

Pearl never judged him.

Phineas slipped a hand around her tiny waist, and she rested one hand on his shoulder and then set her other delicate hand in his as they swayed gently to the music.

He gazed down at her in his arms, and all these emotions raced through him. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but he just couldn’t get the words out and it was so frustrating. She was so soft and vulnerable in his arms. All he wanted to do was protect her.

Of course, it didn’t matter how much someone wanted to protect someone else. There were some things you couldn’t control, and he tried not to think about the angry mob and what happened to his parents.

He didn’t want that memory infiltrating tonight or this moment.

And it wasn’t just that he might not be able to protect her.

He never wanted to hold her back. Pearl wanted to be a nurse so badly, and she needed to be in the city to attend college.

There was no way he would keep her from her dreams. This is something she’d wanted since they were kids, but it was hard to let her go.

The song ended, but he stood there with his arms around her. Pearl was still gazing up at him.

Just tell her!

“Pearl, I—”

“Everyone, it’s time for the bride to throw the bouquet,” Asher announced, and the lights came back up.

“Oh. I want to go to this.” Pearl stepped out of his arms and ran out into the lobby where he could see Margaid on the landing of the staircase, her back to the crowd below, getting ready to throw her bouquet.

Pearl was next to Mercedes and they were both laughing and excited, like all the other single females in the crowd.

Pearl deserved so much more than him.

More than he could offer.

When his parents had fled to Harmony Glen, they’d brought him, and that was it. All he had left of his parents was the swamp where he ran his peat moss business and the home his father built.

It was not enough to offer her. Not enough to keep her safe.

Especially when wanted to give her the world.