Witching For Joy (Premonition Pointe #3) - Deanna Chase Page 0,42

Fourteen

“Here. The one here on the right,” Joy said, pointing to Carly’s beach rental.

Troy pulled to a stop against the curb and glanced around. “I would’ve thought there’d be at least a few paparazzi considering everything that’s going on.”

Joy scanned the area and let out a sigh of relief. She’d anticipated being mobbed again, and had been worried about how they’d spin that story in the gossip rags, but Harlow was more important than worrying about bullshit stories. “I guess they’re all at Prissy’s for the evening. It’s not that surprising, I suppose. Carly hasn’t been giving them much to print since she’s been holed up in her house and not going anywhere.”

They hurried up to the front of the house, and just as Joy was about to knock, the door swung open, revealing Baldy, the guard who’d given her and Hope a hard time the day before.

“What are you doing here?” he barked. “Do you know what time it is?”

Joy took in his bare feet, faded blue jeans, and the long-sleeved shirt that had obviously been hastily buttoned, causing the buttons to be misaligned. “Yes, I do. I need to speak to Carly. It’s important.”

“Come back tomorrow.” He started to slam the door, but Troy put his hand out, stopping him.

“Ms. Lansing said it’s important,” Troy said, his tone full of steel. “We aren’t leaving until she talks to Carly.”

“Oh, no?” The guard reached around to his back and pulled out a Taser. “I guess we’ll just see about that. You two are trespassing, and if you don’t get out of here right now, I’ll see to it that you regret that decision.”

Joy narrowed her eyes at the man, ready to claw his eyes out. “It’s about her niece. Remember what happened the last time I was here and you tried to keep me from Carly?”

“You seem to be under the impression that Ms. Preston was cross with me for initially stopping you from seeing her,” he said. “But you’d be wrong. It’s my job to protect her from people who don’t have her best interest at heart. And from where I’m standing, Ms. Lansing, that’s usually most people. So forgive me if I don’t make it easier for you to invade her privacy.”

“Look, Baldy,” she started.

“Gary,” Carly said from behind him, cutting Joy off. “It’s all right. Let Joy and her young man in.”

He turned to look at her and shook his head. “We do not know who he is, and it’s far too late in the evening for anyone to be calling. Whatever this is about, it can wait until I can run some checks on them.”

Carly patted him on the arm patiently and said, “There’s no need for that. I trust them.” She waved to Joy. “Come in. Bring Troy with you.”

Joy smiled triumphantly at Baldy as she brushed past him. But as soon as she was in the house, her smile vanished. There was no space to be petty about a man who was obviously just trying to do his job, even if Joy thought he was being a jackass about it. She’d had a taste of what the press could take from a person, and she was already questioning if she’d made the right decision by pursuing acting. Considering Carly was a world-famous actress who’d dealt with unwanted intrusions for years, she must’ve felt like she lived her life in a fishbowl.

Carly was wearing a white silk robe over matching white silk pajamas, and despite her face being free of makeup and her hair tied up into a messy bun, the woman was still flawless. Her skin glowed, and if it hadn’t been for the worry lines around her eyes, Joy could’ve easily mistaken her for a woman much younger than she actually was.

“Take a seat,” Carly said, waving to the armchairs opposite her white couch.

Joy did as she was told, but Troy stood behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder in an unspoken gesture of support. She glanced up at him, giving him a grateful nod. Joy glanced over at Baldy, who was standing in the entrance to the living room with his arms crossed over his chest. Joy met Carly’s eyes. “I had another vision.” Then she glanced at Baldy. “Do you want me to…” She waved a hand at him. “Should he hear this?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Carly asked, bewildered.

Because he’s the one who wanted to sell a story to the press? Joy thought to herself, but trying to be tactful,