Page 88 of Rescued Heart

The blonde seemed to use all her teeth to smile. “Oh, Ms. Pearl, can we get a picture?”

The brunette beside her held out a phone as if Bianca had never seen one before.

Bianca stepped away from Eddie. “I have time for one photo tonight.”

Eddie extended his hand. “I’ll take it with your phone.”

The brunette hesitated, looking between Eddie and Bianca as if that wasn’t exactly what she’d hoped for. Finally, the blonde handed over her phone from out of her pocket.

Eddie snapped three photos. “Here you go.”

The brunette’s gaze flicked back toward the table. “Could we get one with you and Joel Gillian together? I can’t believe he’s your life coach. I mean, his books are so great. It totally makes sense for him to agree to coach you?—”

“He’snother life coach.” Eddie took in a deep breath.

It didn’t help.

Bianca pressed her shoulder against his. “We’ve got to go, ladies. Thanks so much for the pictures.”

After he turned, she put her hand on Eddie’s back. “Eddie?”

One word, and he knew what she’d asked. Just as she’d known how to anchor him with her touch.

Eddie’s back muscles coiled. “Mary read one of Joel’s books in jail. Thatwiselife coach advised people to get rid of the things that held them back. When she was released, she relinquished her rights to parent me so she could find her happiness. Apparently, I was holding her back.”

Bianca sucked in a breath. “How could she have brought him here tonight? Let’s go. Milkshakes and fries sound way better than lasagna. Mary shouldn’t have tried to manipulate this meeting.”

Eddie placed his hand on top of Bianca’s. “She gets tonight to explain.”

Then that was it.

They reached the table at the same time as a server placed down Eddie’s water and Bianca’s lemonade. She set another lemonade next to Joel’s empty glass before turning and walking away.

As Bianca and Eddie sat, Joel motioned toward his and Bianca’s glasses and then toward the archway. “We’re similar in more than one way. Except I’ve found that the more you cater to people in public, the more they expect for you to give up your own happiness for theirs.”

Eddie almost spat his gulp of water out. “You’re nothing like Bianca. Now, why are you here?”

Mary reached for Eddie across the table as if she could touch him over the candles and flower vase. “Eddington, dear, Joel’s not only my favorite author, or my favorite wise man, he’s my copartner in life. I thought it best for my two favorite men to meet.”

Eddie tugged on his ear. Was he going deaf? Surely he hadn’t heard what he thought she’d said. “You married Joel? The man who told you to get rid of me.”

And he’d thought anyone would be an improvement over his father.

“You misheard.” Joel took a drink from his lemonade and wrinkled his nose. “She’s my copartner. We don’t believe in needing a piece of paper for joint happiness. Like emotions, marriage only complicates things.”

Eddie squeezed the stem of his glass until his knuckles paled.

Bianca straightened the fork beside her plate. “Marriage is a blessing.”

Joel removed his locked gaze from Eddie and smirked at Bianca. “Strange coming from the woman who had been co-partnering with a con artist.”

Eddie stood. “Don’t belittle Bianca. And Mary, last chance. Why am I here? Time to talk or we’re out of here.”

Mary opened her mouth, but Joel paused with his lemonade halfway to his mouth. “She’s here because you’ve caused a break in her happiness that needs to be fixed.”

Eddie aimed his thumb at his chest. “I’ve caused?”

Joel clanked his cup down, and lemonade sloshed onto the white tablecloth. “Picking up the phone once could have saved me a trip out here.”

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