Page 6 of Rescue My Heart

Mazey laughed, a melodious sound that filled the air between them. “Deal! But only if you promise not to be too heroic. I’d like to keep my makeup intact next time.”

McKenna raised her hands in mock surrender. “No heroics, I promise. Just snacks and good company.”

“Sounds like a perfect plan,” Mazey said, her gaze lingering on McKenna a little longer than necessary. “You know, it’s not every day you meet someone who makes a rescue feel like an adventure.”

“I could say the same about you,” McKenna replied, her heart fluttering at the sincerity in Mazey’s clear blue eyes. “You handled that situation like a champ. I was impressed.”

“Thanks! I’ve always had a flair for drama,” Mazey said with a wink. “But I have to admit, I felt a bit of panic creeping in. You were my calm in the storm.”

“Just doing my job,” McKenna replied, trying to sound modest, but the warmth spreading through her made it hard to hide her smile.

Mazey stepped a little closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. “Well, you’ve definitely got my attention. Maybe we can turn this rescue into a series of adventures? You know, where I don’t hang off cliffs.”

“I’d like that,” McKenna said, her heart racing again. The chemistry between them crackled like electricity, and she felt a connection she couldn’t ignore. “Just let me know when you’re free, and I’ll show you around Phoenix Ridge.”

Just then, Mazey was called over by the director.

“Well, thank you again. Bye.” She walked away.

As McKenna watched Mazey walk away, she thought about how she had always played it safe, keeping her emotions tuckedaway behind a wall of professionalism. But now, the thought of letting Mazey in sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

She let out a shaky breath, her resolve hardening. There had to be something more, some thread of connection between them that went beyond a momentary rescue. If there was even a chance, she owed it to herself—and Mazey—to find out.

McKenna walked toward the truck. Her thoughts continued to swirl, but now they were tinged with hope. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see Mazey waiting for her, a smile playing on her lips. The possibilities danced in her mind, and for the first time, McKenna felt excited about what lay ahead.

3

MAZEY

Mazey was still feeling the buzz of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her heart hadn't quite slowed down, and her mind was still replaying the moment she was hoisted up from the ledge. She had only been able to briefly talk to her rescuer, McKenna, a calm, collected firefighter with an undeniable presence. There was something about her that had caught Mazey off guard. A subtle connection, a flicker of something beneath the surface. But she pushed it aside, rationalizing it as a side effect of the intense situation. After all, she had been dangling over the edge of a cliff just moments ago, and the high emotions could be making her read into things.

Before she could dwell on it further, the director called her over. "Mazey, can we talk for a second?" His voice carried over the noise of the bustling crew, and Mazey noticed the concern etched into his features. The entire production team was still buzzing with activity, people rushing around to reset the scene, cameras being adjusted, grips hauling equipment back into place. But the director’s focus was solely on her, his face lined with worry.

She made her way over, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, trying to appear as composed as possible despite everything that had just happened. She could still feel the residual tremor in her hands, though, and as she reached him, she tried to shake off the remnants of fear that clung to her like a second skin.

“Oh my god. Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I should have never pushed you that hard.”

Mazey gave him a reassuring smile, brushing off his worry like the professional she was. “It’s no problem. Isn’t it good to have a little danger? Isn’t that what Lila Hart would be used to?”

Lila Hart was the character she had been cast to play, a highly skilled rescue specialist and former Navy officer who led a team of elite search-and-rescue specialists into the world's most dangerous locations. In a way, Mazey had to channel Lila's fearlessness today, more than she ever thought she would need to.

The director gave her a weak smile, shaking his head. “Yeah, but you’re not Lila Hart in real life. I don’t want to see you hanging from cliffs again, okay?”

Mazey chuckled, though her mind wandered back to McKenna the firefighter. No, I’m not Lila Hart. But McKenna…she is. The strength, the control, the calm under pressure. McKenna embodied the very traits that her character was supposed to have. But there was something more to it. Something deeper. Lila Hart was tough, unflinching in the face of danger, but underneath that exterior, she struggled with vulnerability. Mazey felt a strange kinship to that. Maybe it was why she had been drawn to the role in the first place. She wasn’t so different from Lila, after all.

Mazey thought that maybe, just maybe, playing this character would help her learn how to become more open. Lila’s story wasn’t just about being a hero; it was about learning totrust others, to admit when she needed help, a lesson Mazey knew she needed to take to heart.

Something about McKenna drew Mazey in. McKenna had stepped in when things got dangerous, but it was more than her competence that Mazey couldn’t stop thinking about. It was the way McKenna had looked at her, with a mix of admiration and…something else, something that felt like a pull. Was it real? Or was she just projecting the things she wished for into the situation?

Mazey realized she’d been zoning out, lost in thought. The director was still talking, but his voice had faded into the background. Her mind was stuck on McKenna. The firefighter’s confidence, her calm strength in the face of chaos. It had left an impression, one that went deeper than just gratitude for saving her life. There had been a spark, a connection—or at least she thought there had been.

"Okay, Mazey," the director said, pulling her back into the moment. "We’ll get the rest of the shoot rescheduled, but take it easy for the rest of the day, alright? You’ve earned it."

“Thank you. Would I be able to thank the firefighter personally, actually?” Mazey asked, her voice steady despite the lingering adrenaline still pulsing through her veins.

The director raised an eyebrow, glancing back at her. “Didn’t you thank her already?”

“Yeah, but I feel like if someone’s going to save my life, I should thank them while there aren’t a million people watching as well,” she replied, her tone firm. It felt important to her, more than just a simple acknowledgment. This was a moment that deserved intimacy, a chance to convey genuine gratitude away from the spotlight.

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