Page 32 of Rescued Heart

She licked her lips. “You’re…here.”

Early.She was supposed to have saidYou’re early. No wonder she spoke better with a memorized script. On second thought, maybe tonight’s “outing” was not the best idea. He’d been at the set for half the day. He had to be tired, no matter what the fresh set of clothes showed.

His expression proved that yes, indeed, she’d made things even more awkward. “Do you not need me anymore?”

Bianca juggled her lipstick, a clutch, earrings, and two different pairs of shoes in her arms. “I still need you…That doesn’t mean what it sounds like.” Except maybe it did.

Guess she didn’t have time to shoot over to wardrobe and inspect what felt like the fiftieth outfit-and-shoes option she’d tried on in the full-length mirror.

She plopped her black heels that crisscrossed up her ankles down on the top step and tossed her red wedges and beloved flip-flops back into the trailer. “One second. Let me finish getting ready real quick.”

Eddie cleared his throat. “I can go wait in my truck until?—”

“It’s my fault.” Grace raced over. “Sorry. Apparently, I told you both two different times. I promise I won’t make that mistake ever again.”

Bianca secured the last strap on her heels and then slipped in her earrings. “Appreciate your help, Grace.” As Bianca straightened, her nose twitched. “Care to be my mirror? Is this outfit first-date worthy? Sorry. Notdate. I mean…whatever we’re officially or unofficially calling this between us.”

Grace tilted her head.

Eddie’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

In the silence, Bianca’s nose twitched once. Then again.

Oh no.She spun around and sneezed into her elbow.

“God bless you,” Eddie’s baritone murmured.

Bianca blinked her watery eyes. “Thanks.”

She brushed her fingers along the imaginary wrinkles on her black halter jumpsuit. At least there were no paparazzi to repeat the horrid picture of her last public sneeze. Which had been on the stands in court. Bad press really was a thing—especially if it produced horrid memes.

Bianca’s gaze lifted, and this time, her attention landed on Grace. Her grin proved how pleased she was with this fake-dating deal.

Please, God, let this not be another mistake.

She, the movie, and even Grace had a lot riding on this outing.

Once her shoes hit the ground, she found the reason for her sneeze. “You brought me flowers.”

Eddie released what might have been a grunt and shifted the bouquet of roses into an upright position from against his thigh. How had she missed those? Red blooms tipped with glitter while their ends were wrapped in gold-and-white chevron tissue paper and completed by a gold ribbon. Ritzy and bright and not at all what she’d picture Eddie might pick out for his date.

Not that she really knew him. But they did look like a bouquet Nathan would have brought home, despite her explaining her allergies countless times.

“Aren’t they gorgeous?” Grace pushed up her glasses. “They barely arrived in time. That’s why I was late. Well, that and Riley stopped me on my way. Perfect with your outfit, right? Though I think they may clash with Eddie’s shirt. Maybe we should go to wardrobe and find him something else?—”

“No,” Eddie answered at the same time Bianca said, “I like his shirt.”

Grace’s gaze bounced between them. “Fine. No wardrobe changes. But at least one of you needs to smile.” She held up her phone. “He can do the whole Heathcliff thing, but, Bianca, you have to be the smitten movie star.”

Right. Always in some kind of role.

Grace waved her hand. “Get closer together for some pictures.”

Bianca’s nose itched, but she reached for the flowers. Except, when she took a step closer, one of her heels sank into the soft dirt, and she wobbled. Then pitched sideways.

Before Bianca could get her hands out to brace herself against a fall, arms wrapped around her and anchored her against a solid body.

Eddie’s concerned gaze zeroed in. “You okay?”

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