Joy shrugged. “I was really upset and wanted to help.”
“Thank you for that.” Carly squeezed her hand. “That was all part of my act. I can’t have one of my guards turning on me, can I?” She grinned. “Not many people know Gary is my cousin. I prefer for people to not know that. It’s easier for him to move around in life without being the subject of tabloids. “
“And Quinn? How did you work with him if you suspected he had Harlow?”
Her smile vanished and was replaced with a scowl. “I’ll tell you, Joy, it was not easy. It took about a month of Harlow dating him for me to realize what a user he was. It was imperative that I got her away from him. In fact, I did a happy dance the day she broke up with him.”
Joy nodded. “I can see why.”
“I don’t know how he got cast in this movie, but if I had known before I signed on, there is no way I’d have accepted the role. No way at all. But I’m a pro, and how would it look if I threw a major temper tantrum because of a side character that I didn’t even have to interact with much?”
“It’s a dilemma for sure. But look on the bright side,” Joy said happily.
“What’s that?”
“He’s likely not getting out of jail on bail since he’s broke, but even if he does, I can’t imagine the film won’t recast him. So lucky me, I get to do another incredibly awkward sex scene with some kid who probably couldn’t find his way around a woman’s pleasure zone even if he had detailed instructions and a flashlight.”
Carly collapsed in her chair and laughed until her eyes leaked again, and Joy decided that she’d make a major effort to keep Carly Preston laughing every day that she was in Premonition Pointe.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Good morning, beautiful,” Troy said as he cuddled up next to Joy’s naked body and nuzzled her neck.
“Morning,” she mumbled as she gazed out his bedroom window at the crashing waves. It had been four weeks since the abduction, and since then her life had been eventful. Joy had shared a tearful goodbye with her daughter Britt and sent her off to Texas with a man who might or might not be good enough for her. Only time would tell if Dave could grow into the man Britt deserved. Joy hoped so. She really did, because she liked the guy and could see that Britt truly cared about him.
The movie had been delayed for two weeks while they found a new love interest for Joy. They’d also insisted that Joy go to counseling since she’d been drugged and abducted while on the set. She wasn’t naïve. She knew it was just to protect them in case she had a breakdown. But as it turned out, it had really helped when the anxiety had caught up with her. She’d never been an anxious person before, but traumatic events really were triggers for mental health issues, just like everyone said they were. The counseling was helping, and Joy was still going one day a week, just to keep everything in check since she’d gone back to work. The paparazzi, while still present, had found other more interesting people to write about, so Joy’s name wasn’t the talk of the town anymore.
That honor belonged to Harlow. It wasn’t long after she came home that she decided it was time to tell her story. So Carly had called a trusted reporter, and the story had been published a week ago. In it, Harlow detailed the events of her father’s death and her mother’s role in the aftermath. It turned out that ten-year-old Harlow had walked in on her father choking her mother. There’d been a gun on the dresser, and Harlow used it to save her mom. Then when it was all over, Harlow’s mom lied to cover for her daughter. She didn’t want her little girl to be known as the child who killed her father. It was a major trauma for Harlow, and she’d been estranged from her mother and in therapy for years over it. Carly hadn’t wanted her to do it, but Harlow insisted it was part of her recovery, and so far, she was handling it well. Even the press was mostly being respectful for the time being and leaving the Prestons alone. That didn’t stop them from publishing stories, but that was to be expected.
“I was thinking breakfast in bed,” Troy said as he ran his hand up the side of her body.
Joy shivered slightly, but it wasn’t from being cold. “Who’s making this breakfast?”
He chuckled. “Not you.”
Joy rolled over and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Then that sounds wonderful. But I think I’m hungry for something else first.”
They took their time making love to each other with the soundtrack of the ocean crashing against the rocks playing in the background. The past month with Troy had been everything she’d ever dreamed a relationship could be. They spent most nights together at either his place or hers. She was quickly becoming a huge fan of his, though. There was nothing more soothing than falling asleep and waking up to the sound and smell of the ocean.
Life with Troy was just fun. He was attentive and supportive and made her feel beautiful every day. And he was an excellent cook. It didn’t hurt that all of her children liked him.
After their morning love fest, Troy disappeared into the kitchen, and when he returned, he handed Joy a tray with a goat cheese omelet, fresh berries, bacon, and a large cup of coffee.
“You’ve already gotten me into bed,” she teased. “What’s with the full-court press?”
He chuckled and climbed back onto the bed with her and stole a piece of her bacon. She’d also learned from all their sleepovers that Troy wasn’t much of a breakfast eater. So the fact that he’d made it just for her was really pretty sweet. Or he wanted something. She decided both were probably true. Troy smoothed a lock of her hair behind her ear and said, “I was hoping you were free tonight.”
“Sure. Aren’t I always?” She took a long sip of her coffee.
“Not when you have a coven meeting,” he said.
“Oh, that’s true. Nothing stands in the way of time with my girls.”
“Don’t I know it,” he said with a smirk. “Heaven help the man that gets between a witch and her coven.”
“You said it, not me.” She held her bacon out to him, offering him a bite.
He took it and then snatched the entire piece. “Damn, that’s good.”
“Yes, my compliments to the chef. Now, what are we doing tonight?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise. Be ready at seven.” He crawled out of bed and headed to the shower.
Joy watched him go, eyeing his round backside with appreciation. “What do I wear?”
“That sexy red dress in your closet.”
“What sexy red dress?” she called back. But it was too late. The sound of water rushing through the pipes, followed by the squeak of the shower door, indicated that the conversation was over for the moment. And by the time he returned to the bedroom, Joy was so invested in her breakfast that she completely forgot about the mysterious red dress.
Kyle let out a low whistle as Joy strolled out of her bedroom wearing the halter top dress that showed just enough cleavage but not so much that she was in danger of a wardrobe malfunction. It was knee-length and did wonders for showing off her toned legs. It was a dress that Joy would’ve instantly loved but might not have tried for fear she was a little too old for such a look. But, whoa, when she’d looked at herself in the mirror, that assessment would’ve been way off. Way, way off, because the sexy red dress was now her favorite item of clothing. In fact, she was considering wearing it daily, just so when she looked in the mirror, she saw the dress that did wonders for her minimal curves. It truly was a miracle.