Page 86 of Rescued Heart

Grace lowered back onto her heels. “Okay…we’ll hope and pray that someone in the restaurant spots you, then. I guess it will be more organic that way.”

Yes, pray. Bianca needed to do more of that. Out of the corner of her eye, Bianca noticed Riley heading toward the door, and that’s when Riley’s unanswered question popped into Bianca’s head. “Riley, hey, sorry. I never answered your question. Were you wanting to hang out tonight?”

Riley glanced over her shoulder. “Don’t worry about me. Like Grace said, this sounds like a perfect plan. I need to meet with my brother anyway.”

Bianca watched something that looked like hurt cross Riley’s eyes. “If you’re sure. We can do something maybe tomorrow.”

Riley met Bianca’s eyes. “I’m sure we’ll meet up soon enough.”

Grace grabbed a silver dress with lace sleeves off a rack. “Hope things work out for your brother soon.”

Riley waved. “They will. Trust me.”

Bianca accepted the dress from Grace and held it up to her shoulders. She turned and glanced in the mirror. If the plan for tonight was so perfect, then why had she been Eddie’s last choice?

EIGHTEEN

The smell of garlic hit Eddie almost as strongly as the regret of agreeing to meet Mary. He held the door to Rachael’s Italian Eatery and placed his hand on Bianca’s back as the rain continued to spit outside.

Apparently, her sandals had no problems crossing the threshold. Then again, she wasn’t preparing to battle her past.

Bianca paused by a potted plant whose leaves appeared to reach out for her shoulders. “You, okay?”

The door swung closed and whacked Eddie where his road rash had mostly healed. He slipped his hands into his athletic shorts pockets and managed a nod.

Whether the entry hallway wall had purposely been painted to match uncooked noodles or not, it served as a backdrop for Bianca’s silver dress that floated around her knees as she both eyed him and walked to the hostess stand. Behind the welcome podium lined with ivy, either real or fake, a tall man dressed in all black gave them a welcoming grin, despite Eddie’s simple coaching attire.

Eddie’s tennis shoes stopped on the gold-swirled tiled. “I should have gone home first and changed. I was only thinking about how late I was going to be.”

Ten years was far too late.

Bianca hooked her hand around his elbow. “Are you trying to tell me that you want me to drive you home to get your flip-flops?” Her fingers flexed on his skin, and the hairs on Eddie’s arm seemed to lean into her touch.

Bianca dipped her chin closer to his ear. “I mean, do you want me to make an excuse to get us out of here?”

Did he?

“Good afternoon, Ms. Pearl and Mr. Rice,” the still-smiling host said. “Your party has already been seated. If you’re ready, I’ll lead you to them.”

Bianca gave Eddie her full attention. “I’ll follow you, whatever you decide.”

Lord, what is he supposed to do?

Had this been His doing, orchestrating everything? Or had Eddie been the one trying to unlock wrong doors?

Eddie’s next breath sank low to his churning gut. “Let’s get this over with.”

The host kept his grin as if any future tips depended on it. “Right this way.”

As they rounded a table of five, one customer pushed out their chair, and Bianca rocked backward in order not to ram into the elderly man, who reached for his cane.

Eddie’s hands landed on her hips and steadied her.

A gasp came, not from Bianca, but from one of the young women sitting beside the old man. “Is that…”

Bianca kept her head down as they passed three more full tables and then whispered to Eddie, “Thanks.”

“Anytime,” he murmured.

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