Page 36 of Rescued Heart

She rested her hand on his elbow, and they strolled past a store that had teddy bears in the windows. “You picked up on my flower allergies, offered to take me back to get more comfortable shoes, and you helped me from your truck.” She tapped her finger on his arm. “I have a feeling you know exactly how to make this a memorable evening. Remembering to smile once or twice wouldn’t hurt.”

“No promises.”

As the people on the sidewalk stared, he drew closer to her. “We may have a bit of a wait at the restaurant. I know it’s a weeknight, but you’d be surprised how many hit up Rachael’s.”

Bianca put on her smile. “I read the reviews. But Grace called and made a reservation.”

He stepped past an elderly couple shuffling into a card store. Then he dipped his head closer to her. “Rachael’s only makes reservations for parties of ten or more.”

She had not read that online. “I guess they made an exception for us.”

Eddie put space between them. “You mean foryou. I think I’m starting to understand.”

“Understand what?”

“Did Grace call the restaurant and then hope gossip would take over? Or has she planted specific people to take pictures this evening? Like that woman with the stroller.”

Bianca held her smile as they passed a blonde teen, who did a double-take. “Sometimes paparazzi are called directly,” Bianca whispered. “But I don’t think anyone was tipped off tonight. I thought organic and low-key would be better. Someone will take a photo of us somewhere and tag me, and then the rumor mill will start, and if not, Grace will?—”

“She is here!” the blonde teen screeched.

A group of teen girls each waved a phone and a notebook in their hands. However, it was actually the mom pushing the jogging stroller that beat the others to Bianca.

The mother positioned the stroller horizontally on the sidewalk, slowing the teens, and pulled out her phone. “Selfie! My followers are going to love this.”

The teen with a skirt and tank top held out her notebook. “Can I get your autograph, Bia?”

“Wait!” Her shorter friend shimmied her legs and shoved over her notebook. “Can we get a picture first? I can’t believe you get to be in a movie with Carter Cane.”

The girl wearing her hair in a bun grinned. “How many times do you get to kiss him?”

Eddie stepped away from Bianca.

She tightened her hold, but he still slipped from her. He leaned against the nearest shop window and crossed his arms.

Hard to get pictures together when they were so far apart.

Notebook girl’s arm dropped against her thigh. “Hold up, is this your boyfriend?”

Bianca’s gaze locked on Eddie’s.

Bun girl gasped. “He’s the firefighter who saved her life. Oh my goodness, you guys are totally together. I need his autograph too.”

A storm of emotions settled in Eddie’s eyes. The man’s one condition was that they didn’t lie. How was she supposed to accomplish that?

Eddie hooked his thumb down the sidewalk. “I’m going to make sure our table’s ready.”

Bianca blew him a kiss. “You’re the best.”

See, that wasn’t a lie. They could do this.

But Eddie clenched his jaw before marching away.

Bun girl let out another squeal. “Him or Carter? How did you even choose?”

The shorter girl held out her camera. It was streaming live. “You saw it here, guys. Bia and her new beau.”

Bianca’s smile curved down a bit before she caught herself. This was exactly what she wanted to happen. People believing that she and Eddie, the hero, were dating.

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