Page 52 of Rescued Heart

Eddie reached into one of the pizza boxes and pulled off a pepperoni. She had done a kind thing, and that had gotten lost in his anger. “Thanks, Bianca.”

She bobbed her head. “You’re welcome. Now, if you want to tell me what all that was all about”—she lifted a pepperoncini out and pointed to where Roger and Gregory remained, red faced and muttering to one another—“you might feel better. I mean, I’m pretty sure listening comes free with your pizza order.”

“You must have used some special coupon. Or is it only because you’re the Bia Pearl?”

She picked up two boxes of pizza and then stacked them on top of a third. “Definitely option one.”

She patted the bench beside her.

Eddie found himself sitting and leaning his elbows onto his thighs. “Maybe Roger was right. I should have already told the kids that the grant had been previously denied.”

She pulled apart two slices and put them into two empty boxes. “Does that man spend much time with these kids?”

Eddie took another bite of pizza. “Hardly. Both he and the mayor are here for themselves.”

Her knee bumped against his leg. “Then why are you letting him get inside your head? It’s not like you aren’t currently working on another path that can help get the kids more funds for their youth center, right?”

Roger had also guaranteed Eddie not just money but an entire youth center. “Maybe you’re right.”

Could he trust Roger? For that matter, could he trust Bianca or Gregory? What Eddie really needed was to trust God’s timing. However, that was easier said than done.

Bianca put her fingers around her ear and leaned toward him. “I’m sorry, did you say I was right?”

Of course the woman was cute when she smirked.

Eddie swiped his finger in some pizza sauce and dotted it on her cheek.

Her eyes bugged. “You dirty dog.”

Eddie chuckled. “I was afraid your head was getting too big. It was about to float away. Had to hurry and weigh it down.”

Bianca reached for a napkin. “Bet you did.”

He stretched around her and swiped all the napkins.

She grabbed for them, but Eddie jerked them above his head.

She gave him a saucy look. “I think pizza makes you feisty.”

“No one has ever called me feisty. But you”—he handed her the napkins—“were gutsy when you sent Scarlette to second.”

She wiped the sauce off her cheek and balled up the napkin. “That gutsy decision started the rally that saved us the game.”

Eddie leaned closer, not wanting any of his players to hear. “You had our worst slider going in for a squeeze play and one of my strongest hitters on deck.”

Bianca dropped her forehead into her palm. “These are things I would have known if I’d been to more than one practice.”

“Next one’s Tuesday. I mean, you don’t have to. You’re busy and…”

And the truth was, she wasn’t actually a part of his or the kids’ lives. He wasn’t sure what made her prettier—the smirk earlier or her genuine smile now.

“It’s a team date. Speaking of…” She pulled out her phone. “Mind taking a picture?”

Reality sank in his stomach. This was not a potential assistant coach before him. Not a real friend, or anything more, no matter what his heart had done earlier when she’d smirked. All he could do was nod his head once.

She scooted over and rested her shoulder against his. Her cheek next to his.

Eddie swallowed.

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