If you go to the Carina Press book page, you can get a bit of the opening of the book. But here's a scene from a bit later.
The sword came down at Rogan with lightning speed, or so it seemed. He got his own sword high enough to block the blow above his head, then spun out from under. Using his momentum, he came around swinging at his enemy’s exposed side, but the man was ready. The clang of metal reverberated up Rogan’s arms and into his chest.
The two men stepped back, circled. Both were breathing heavily. His opponent thrust suddenly, and Rogan jumped to the side, grabbed the man’s wrist and jerked him forward, slapping him on the ass with the flat of his weapon.
Charlie yanked off his headgear and glared at Rogan. “Nice. Slapstick. Just what I need.”
Rogan apologized. “It wasn’t intentional, man. I practiced that move a hundred times for my last film.”
“I know.” Charlie dropped onto a thick roll of mats against the wall, the tip of his weapon drooping to the floor. “It’s just, she doesn’t even want to try anymore, you know?”
Rogan turned away so his friend wouldn’t see his eye roll, and retrieved two bottles of water from the mini-fridge on the far wall. Charlie and his wife Holly, both actors, were breaking up after six years of marriage. Charlie was miserable, but they hadn’t spent more than three weeks at a time together in all those six years. Both had successful careers and loved their work. More than each other.
Or at least Holly felt that way. Since they’d made the decision, Charlie had been blabbering on for hours every day about how much he didn’t want this breakup. Rogan was tired of it.
“Up.” He tossed the water bottle to Charlie, then grabbed two wooden staffs from the wall. “Work.”
They renewed their pseudo-combating. Rogan didn’t need the training anymore, not for Coming of Day, anyway, but it was the least boring way he’d found to keep in shape. When Charlie wasn’t around to spar with, he brought in a trainer. Usually on a picture he didn’t have the space or time to do this, but he had a few days before they finished moving the set. So he’d get his exercise and provide therapy for his friend.
Whack, whack, whack.
"So, they’re sequestering you, huh?” Charlie asked between moves. “Trying to keep the paparazzi from blowing the ‘secrets of the film’?”
“Nah, it’s a security thing. Threats and stuff.” Thud. Charlie doubled over. “Sorry.”
“Good one.” He wheezed for a moment before straightening. “Being in solitary with Bailey Mutchinson could be good.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Rogan made a face. He and Bailey had worked on a picture together when they were very young. She was like an annoying sister. And he didn’t get involved with actresses. He swung the staff low. Charlie jumped over it, aiming high with his own. Rogan ducked.
“Well how about that little actress from India, Miraya-what’s-her-name?” Charlie paused to wipe sweat off his forehead. “She’d be a nice diversion.”
“Quit projecting. I’m not getting involved with anyone on this film.” He walked over to the fridge where he’d left his water bottle and took a swig. “You and Holly are a good deterrent.”
Charlie’s laugh turned into a moan. “You had to say that.”
Rogan shrugged and drank again. “It’s an excellent example. Getting involved with actresses is a mistake.”
Charlie leaned his staff against the wall and grabbed a towel to swab his face and neck. “I don’t get it, man. You’re, like, the most celibate guy I know.”
Hardly. He didn’t need to be alone when he didn’t want to be, and sometimes that’s what he chose. But over the past few years he’d become very clear about what he didn’t want.
“Sex is one thing. Complications are another.”
“Sure.” Charlie slumped onto the floor, his back against the roll of mats. “Not that I’m advocating marriage or anything, but at least an actress understands the business. Wasn’t your last girlfriend a secretary or something?” He grimaced. “She couldn’t handle you doing premieres in New York, never mind being on a shoot for six months.”
“Yeah, and do you see her around?”
Behind the Scenes October 31, 2011
Carina Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible coming soon.
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