Page 8 of The Movie Star and the Spy

“It’s karaoke night.” Destiny pointed to a group of female extras in the corner. They giggled and whispered when they saw him looking their way. “If you ask them nicely, I bet they’ll let you join.”

“As much as I love karaoke, I’m going to have to pass. I’m sorry, gentlemen, but I’m stealing this lovely lady. We have some business to attend to.”

Anger darkened Destiny’s features, so brief, so subtle, that no one else noticed. But somehow he could tune into her feelings. She waslivid.

“I thought we were done for today.” Her voice sounded sugary sweet, and the men drank it up like soda pop. Couldn’t they see her insincerity?

He did. “We have matters to discuss.”

She couldn’t hide a whisper of wariness, as she darted her gaze to the other men. She wouldn’t be getting any help from them – he would make sure of it. “What sort of things?”

“Just some basic questions related to the script.”Like why can’t I stop noticing you? Why do I want to growl at the men who are staring at you? Why do I want to throw you over my shoulder and carry you away?

Okay, so maybe they wereslightlyoff script.

“I’m afraid I can’t make it. I− hey, what is that guy doing?” In an instant, Destinychanged. Her annoyance vanquished, replaced by pure challenge and determination, a confident warrior instead of a coy actress. She stood tall and strong, her entire body poised like an action movie heroine.

What had she seen? Julian pivoted, straining to locate the source of her actions, when she yelled words he never thought he’d hear outside of the movies, “Everyone get down! He has a weapon!”

A thunderous boom splintered the world.

CHAPTER 3

The man was targeting Julian.

The man with the gun.

Instinct took over, reflexes responded, as Cheyenne pummeled into Julian, to knock him over before a discharging gun did it for her. Although he far outweighed her, she had learned techniques to topple most guys.

Julian Starcroft was not most guys.

Instead of going down, he caught her easily, then crouched down, bringing her underneath him, protectingherfrom the bad guy. She tried to rise, but he pinned her easily underneath him. “Stay put,” he ordered as he twisted around. He kept an arm down to secure her.

Damn.Why couldn’t she extradite herself from his grip?

She continued struggling but to no avail, finally halting when the futility of her actions became clear. Since she couldn’t see beyond the mountain that was Julian, she listened to the rapid conversation, preparing for another gunshot. However, no discharge sounded, and the original chaos at her scream had turned into light banter and relieved laughter. And finally, after an eon or two, Julian released her arm.

Cheyenne shot up, automatically reaching for the gun at her waist, only too late remembering its absence. She didn’t know what was happening, but someone needed to take charge. “They have to get away from him.” Cheyenne started toward the man with the gun, when Julian decided to do something no one else had done since she was a little girl.He picked her up.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, kicking and screaming. “I have to get back there. Put me down!”

People turned and gawked at them. “Ignore us,” he commented. “We’re just practicing a scene. This is the part where I carry her off.”

Cheyenne twisted and squirmed, fighting to extricate herself from his grip, but no technique in any of the three martial arts she studied seemed to work on the guy. “Let go of me!”

Others watched with bemused expressions, obviously enjoying the impromptu performance. In seconds she found herself hefted past three security gates, across a wide lobby and through several hallways to a door with a bright gold star and Julian’s name emblazoned across it. He kicked open the door and “helped” her in.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped when he finally placed her down. “Do you know it’s a crime to mess with an offi… a person? This is kidnapping. I have to get back there.”

“No, Destiny, you don’t understand.” He matched her moves, easily stopping her. She was a trained professional − how was he managing it? “Everything is all right. He’s an actor, and the gun is a prop. Don’t you recognize Joe Struthers?”

Oh crap.

Oh crap. Oh crap. Oh crap.

“Joe Struthers?”

“One of the villains in the film.”

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