Page 37 of Rescued Heart

She placed her purse underneath her elbow. Except they weren’t.

Instead of frowning, she sent a wink to the camera and then put her finger over her lips as if she was keeping a secret.

The girls around her giggled, and then Bianca sent them a wave. “I better go catch up to my hero.”

Another truth.

A round ofawws hurried Bianca’s steps. Eddie had been right. Heels had not been a good idea. “Eddie.”

He picked up his pace and crossed the street.

Her heels clicked against the concrete, and the cute but evil black fabric pinched her pinky toes. “Eddie!”

This time, he stopped.

She hated that she had to choose between him and her fans.

When she reached the crosswalk, it flashed the okay to go. Except halfway across the street, a horn blasted back at the light, and Bianca whipped her head in that direction.

Only to find a car barreling straight for her.

EIGHT

Sometimes life required no thinking.

Eddie took two running strides and dove toward Bianca. He never should have left her. It shouldn’t have mattered what gossip those girls gathered. He should have been there to protect her. That was his job.

His arms hooked around her waist and pulled her to his chest. He twisted his body. His back thumped against the road. Hard. But he was alive.

What about Bianca?

The car never pumped its brakes.

Please, Lord. Let her be okay.

She grunted in his arms.

His lungs squeezed tight as he held her.

Bianca was alive.

The spot below his shoulder blades throbbed. He more than likely had road rash, but had he turned his body enough to save Bianca from any pain?

Or had the edge of the car clipped her?

But no words escaped his mouth to ask. All he could do was suck in another breath and hold her.

Bianca pushed against his chest, and he released her.

Her eyes flashed wide as she rested on her knees. Frozen—all besides her shaking hands. But nothing looked broken. “You…it…”

At least, not on the outside.

Footsteps thundered toward them.

“Her firefighter!” one of the girls that stood on the sidewalk yelled. “He saved her again.”

The girls remained on the corner of the sidewalk, gawking down at the girl’s phone. “Please tell me you got it on camera.”

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