Page 55 of Love on the Byline

“I haven’t done anything with this scene.”

“It shows.”

Her compliment warmed him through and through.

On the platform, the other actor waved a prop gun back andforth as if taunting Bran’s character. “Let me go and no one else has to gethurt, or…”

“Or, let me guess, I won’t live to regret it?” Bran’s voicesomehow managed to sound both disgusted and amused. It was a gift. But hewinced when his scene partner pushed the gun into his temple. Breaking character,he stepped back.

“Dude, what the fuck?”

The other man’s eyes went wide. “Shit. Sorry. I got a littlecarried away.”

“A little?” Bran gingerly touched his temple, checking hisfingertips as if expecting to see blood there.

“Cut!” The director’s voice heralded a flurry of activityand sound as the lot came to life. “Take ten, folks.”

“What the fuck?” Ollie growled.

“I take it that wasn’t in the script?”

“No.”

“Are you okay? You look like you’re going to killthat guy.”

He turned to her, unclenching his hands that had curled intofists. “I’m good. Sorry. I hate guns, even prop ones. Too many goddamned accidentson set.”

She nodded. “I read about some of those. You’re goodthough?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, conjuring up a smile. “Pissed on Bran’sbehalf.”

“Jesus.” The other actor looked terrified as they rode thejig down. “I’m so sorry!”

Even from a distance, Ollie could see the tick in Bran’sjaw.

“It’s… It’s fine.”

“Mea culpa!” the guy called out again, this time to thedirector, who waved him off.

Bran stepped off the lift and headed towards them. “Did yousee that?”

“I did.”

“Fucking rookie.”

“Calm down. We have a guest.”

His best friend drew up short. “Oh. Hey, Blake.”

“Brandon.” Her tone was icy but colored with something else.

“I’m surprised to see you here.”

“She’s agreed to do the interview in La Jolla.”

Ollie met Bran’s murderous gaze, tossing out a silent challengeof his own. You want this to work, don’t you?

“That’s...great.”

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