Page 9 of A Very Crumbleton Christmas
Now that she was almost at her destination, Caroline’s stomach was busy reminding her that she was about to do something spectacularly silly. She hadn’t considered what she’d actually do when she got to Jack Jones’s house. Would there be a security guard? Gates? Maybe there’d be one of those intercom things where she had to announce her arrival and wait for one of Jack’s lackeys to buzz her inside.
‘Might as well face it… I’m doomed,’ sighed Caroline, wishing she’d managed to extract more information out of Lee before she’d dashed off on this fool’s errand.
No celeb in their right mind would let some random visitor wander into their home after turning up unannounced – let alone a member of the press.
Maybe she could do a bit of a drive-by first. That would give her the chance to figure out the lay of the land and make a plan. Of course, itmightbe a good idea to leave her car elsewhere and walk the rest of the way to the house - but considering the sky was thick with snowflakes and the road was getting more slippery by the second, she really wasn’t up for that!
As she approached the stunning seaside property, Caroline slowed down even further so that she could have a good look. From what she could remember, the house had a vast front gate – an imposing metal affair with spikes along the top…
‘Okay, I wasn’t expecting that!’ she gasped.
The gate stood wide open. If she was brave enough, there was nothing to stop her from pulling right into the driveway.
‘No point chickening out now!’ she muttered.
Yanking at the indicator stalk, Caroline pulled through the open gateway before she could change her mind.
She was about to knock on Jack Jones’s front door.TheJack Jones. The one she’d had a crush on ever since she’d watched that first awful flop of a film. Jack Jones, who she’d basically torn limb from limb in the paper on a number of occasions.
Get a grip, woman. It’ll be fine – there’s no way he’ll know about that!
Drawing the car to a stop on the paved driveway, Caroline killed the engine. Then she took a deep breath and clambered out before her nerve deserted her.
The driveway was already turning slick with snowflakes as they started to settle, and Caroline sent up a little prayer ofthanks that she was wearing flats. Moving gingerly towards the glossy red front door, Caroline took another deep breath as she peered around for an intercom to announce her arrival… or a camera… oranythinghigh-tech.
‘Really… just a doorbell?’ she whispered. ‘Well, here goes nothing.’
Reaching out a shaking finger, she pressed hard on the metal button and then strained her ears.
Nothing.
No resulting trill of a bell deep inside the house. No footsteps. Nada. Just the not-so-distant sound of the waves crashing against the shore.
Caroline frowned. Perhaps the bell wasn’t working. Maybe she should just call it quits and leave?
‘Maybe not!’ she muttered, her signature stubborn streak rising to the surface.
Reaching out again, she rapped hard on the shiny red paint, tapping out a jaunty little beat. Then she cringed. What a great first impression to give a film star!
After listening intently for several long seconds, Caroline let out a disappointed sigh. There were still no signs of life from inside. Either Jack Jones wasn’t in, he’d spotted her pulling up and was currently hiding as though his life depended on it, or Lee had been pulling her leg and the man wasn’t even in the country – let alone this house! The third option seemed to be the most likely – especially considering the gate had been left open.
If Lee had been messing with her and she’d risked her neck on the slippery roads for nothing, she was going to wringhisneck… but then… therewerelights on inside.
Caroline hammered on the front door again, not being quite so demure and cutesy about the whole thing this time around.
Still no answer.
Well, she clearly wasn’t going to get to meet Jack Jones today… but maybe she could sneak a peek inside while she was here.
Turning her back on the front door, Caroline crunched her way along the narrow strip of honey-coloured gravel that ran around the house. She made her way towards the enticing beam of golden light that spilled through one of the ground-floor windows.
Cupping her hands against the glass, Caroline was just about to have a good look inside when the sound of swift footsteps made her jump back as though the house had just smacked her in the face.
Only just in time, too!
A figure came jogging around the corner, wearing a wetsuit and a sodden Santa hat.
‘Hi!’ she squeaked.
