Page 92 of Rescued Heart

Bianca unclicked her seat belt. “That’s why I needed this contract. To prove to them that I’ve changed for the better by doing a more family-oriented film and that I’d keep my word about helping them with their house. I’d hoped it’d be enough that it wouldn’t be too embarrassing to let me attend my sister’s wedding.”

“You’re not an embarrassment, Bianca.”

She grabbed the passenger-door handle. “That’s because you haven’t been around me long enough.”

Eddie let out a low growl, unbuckled, and reached his hand over, landing it on top of hers. The door was only cracked open wide enough for the soft glow of the dome light to highlight his heated glare. “They’re wrong, B. It didn’t take long for you to prove that you’re reliable in chaos. The fire. The baseball game. Even tonight. You held Mary’s hand in the waiting area when I could barely stand to be in the same room with her. That’s the opposite of being an embarrassment.”

Bianca shook her head. “I brought Mary to you. Tonight was partly my fault to begin with.”

He leaned closer and gently tugged her hand away from the door, resting it on her thigh. “Something you’ve already sought forgiveness for, which I’ve granted, and now it’s my job to keep no record of that wrong. Especially since you didn’t even know who you had brought to me because she hid that fact. You’re not responsible for someone else’s lies and actions.”

Bianca closed her eyes. But he still didn’t understand all that came with just being around her. “There were people recording us at the restaurant. The media will spin their own view of tonight, and then you’ll have to deal with the lies they spread.”

He ran his thumb over the top of her hand and lowered his voice. “I’m not afraid of them.”

It’d be too easy to lean her head forward, rest it against his. Draw in the strength he so willingly seemed to offer. How did he make it seem so easy not to care what the world thought?

“Though…” Another swipe of Eddie’s thumb on her skin sent a current up her arm. “The truth is that sometimes…I’m a little afraid of you.”

She popped open her eyes.Her?“You’re afraid of me?”

When she pulled her hand away, he let her go but didn’t slide over. “I’m not an actor. It’s hard for me to remember that when you’re showing compassion, it’s out of duty, not because, you know…”

She pressed her back against the seat. “You think I’m faking being kind?” The one person she’d hoped was starting to understand the real her believed she faked kindness.

Bianca pushed the door all the way open. “Thanks for bringing me back. I’ll keep your mom and Joel in my prayers. And I’m not faking that. I actuallywillpray for them.” She shut the door harder than necessary.

As her feet pounded the pavement, her eyes burned with unshed tears. She sought the parking lot lights and blinked up at them. Crying wasn’t an option. Someone could be recording her from somewhere.

God, You see my heart. Why doesn’t that seem like enough?

The slam of the truck door echoed behind her, and Eddie’s footsteps hit the ground. “Bianca, wait.”

She sent a wave over her shoulder. “You don’t need to walk me to the trailer. I know the way.”

His stubborn footsteps kept coming until she stopped and turned around. She opened her mouth, but Eddie spoke first.

“I forget that you have to spend time with me.” He stepped closer and slid his hands into his pockets. “I forget that your smile isn’t only for me. I know your kindness is real. I know that when you say to trust you, you mean it. You’re so much more than you show the world, but I’m afraid of you because I forget that we’re just a deal. Nothing more.”

His sigh made her want to erase the space between them. “Sometimes I forget that this relationship is actually fake, and that’s a little frightening. My heart doesn’t have much left.”

And tonight had only shown a portion of what he’d survived.

“You’re not only a deal to me.” She moved toward him until their shoes touched, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I haven’t pretended with you since the green dress. For better or worse, you’ve gotten the real Bianca.”

His smirk appeared. “I feared you might break an ankle in those shoes.”

She pressed her lips together. “I’m not that breakable.”

She couldn’t let the world see her weaknesses.

His gaze dropped to her mouth. “I preferred the you who returned to practice.”

Bianca swallowed. He preferred the regular girl versus the actress. “What if I have to be both?”

His palms cupped her cheeks. “Would Bia be on-screen and Bianca be with…me?”

Bianca met his searching eyes. “You get the real me.”

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