Page 100 of Rescued Heart

“How can we fix this? I don’t want to fake date Carter.” She dropped her voice. “I don’t even want to fake date Eddie. Grace, we were going to try the real thing. Me and Eddie. I don’t want this scaring him away.”

Grace glanced over at Eddie, who had his shoulder pressed up against the tree as he stared at the sky. “If you’re sure, I’ll try to set a meeting up with Leo and the producers to figure out a way to get you and Cartercouplingoff the agenda.”

Bianca pressed her hands together. “Yes, please. I’ll even do a hundred more interviews.”

Grace pulled up an email. “Okay, I’ll take care of the meeting. You better go let Eddie know before he sees this online.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Grace. Thanks.”

Bianca jogged over to Eddie. With the dark shadows under his eyes, he looked as tired as she felt. How many callouts had he been on since they had sat in Officer Ramble’s car?

Last night, when he hadn’t shown up for their date, she’d called. No answer. Waited. Texted. When she hadn’t received a word, she’d found out online that he hadn’t stood her up but was doing the job he loved—saving lives.

“Hey.” She smiled and opened her water bottle. “I believe the news clip I saw mentioned that you needed a badge of honor for saving that little girl. I can’t do that, but I can reward you with a slice of pizza or three. If you’re as hungry as me?—”

“I don’t need any special treatment for rescuing people. Those videos should never have been recorded in the first place.”

Back to hangry Eddie. Noted. “I know, but they were a little helpful because they let me know you were safe.” He was a perfect firefighter. Always had the needs of others in his mind. She wanted to erase some of the stress that lined his eyes.

She pulled the end of her ponytail around in front of her and ran her fingers around the curl. “I was thinking about having pizza delivered to my trailer. It’s not exactly fancy, but it’s all the date I need, if you’re up for rescheduling for tonight?”

His attention snagged everywhere except on her.

He dragged his hands through his hair. “Unfortunately, pizza isn’t going to fix yesterday.”

No, but it could fix his hangry situation. Or was there more going on? She cradled her water bottle to her chest. “Did anyone die…yesterday?” Was she allowed to ask that? “Or did something else happen to Mary or Joel?”

Eddie paced under the tree. “People could have died. Accidents usually attract a crowd, but last night, they wouldn’t listen. Too busy trying to gain my attention. A three-year-old could have been killed because paparazzi were trying to take my picture on a callout. One photographer was lucky he only sustained a concussion from the explosion.”

Bianca flinched. She hadn’t seen the explosion part. “I’m sorry, Eddie. People get so caught up in?—”

“You.” Eddie watched her long enough for Bianca to drop her gaze to her shoes, which were scuffed from the stunt he’d helped her get through. Shoes that were a part of her job, not who she was as a person. Because right now, she really could go for the comfort of her flip-flops.

Bianca pushed the sleeves on her character’s jacket. “You’re right. People do get too caught up in not only me but most of the things centered around acting. If you don’t want to eat with me tonight and need to be with your crew, I understand. I can have a pizza sent to your apartment or the firehouse. I’m sure the guys wouldn’t mind some free dinner.”

He slipped his hands into his pockets. “I don’t think I can dothisanymore, Bianca.” His words were soft, but their meaning hit like another stunt gone wrong.

Bianca blinked. “This what? The pizza? The deal…or the real part of us?”

Please, not the last part.

A storm of emotions crossed Eddie’s brown eyes. “My job is very important, not only to me but for the safety of this town. I can’t work with the paparazzi interfering. If that child had died because of?—”

“She didn’t.” Bianca crossed her arms over her chest. “We shouldn’t worry about things that didn’t happen. Didn’t you say that once? Not to borrow trouble?”

“This”—he motioned between them—“can’t really work in real life. Not with you being who you are and me having to worry about people stopping me from doing my job.”

“Me being who I am?” She’d thought he’d seen the real her. “If this is because of what Carter put on social media, it isn’t true. Grace is going to try to set up a meeting so I don’t have to keep pretending. I’m ready to be real, Eddie. With you. We can figure the rest out together.”

He dipped his chin. “I don’t want to take your money either, Bianca. You have your own money battles to worry about besides my burden too. You were right the other night. We don’t need any more deals. I’ll figure something else out about the youth center.”

Bianca squeezed her eyes shut. This was beginning to sound too much like the last time she’d talked to her father. “My money’s not tainted, Eddie. You keep thinking my kind gestures are something they’re not. We had a deal, and I’m going to keep my end of the bargain. Relationship or not.”

By the shocked expression on his face, Eddie had gotten better at his acting skills. “I never said your money was tainted.”

No, she didn’t need his pity. “Are you going to take my donation or not?”

Eddie shook his head. “I can’t, Bianca. I’m sorry. It wouldn’t feel right.”

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