Page 99 of Rescued Heart

Eddie shook his head.

Bryce waved Eddie on while inspecting the smoke and flames that covered the tail of the semi. “Get her out of here before this thing blows.”

Eddie shielded the girl against his chest.

Truck 14 must have arrived, because Izan and Amelia had firehoses aimed at the flames.

Would it be enough?

Bryce split off from Eddie and ran toward the sidewalk. “Get back!”

No one moved. At least ten phones and cameras were focused not on the wreck or the fire but on Eddie.

He nestled Lacy’s face against his jacket. She didn’t need this exposure. Eddie’s gaze landed on both of the paparazzi who had stepped in his way earlier. What if they’d blocked him for a second or two longer? Would he still have gotten Lacy out?

An EMT Eddie hadn’t met before jogged over as he reached the back of the first semi. “I heard the call. That’s my neighbor’s car. Where’s Lacy?”

Lacy peeked at the medic. “Momma!” The girl nearly leaped from Eddie’s arms at the EMT.

The medic squeezed her daughter to her chest. “Thank you.”

“She was brave and had to climb to me.”

The mother kissed Lacy’s forehead and hiccupped before turning and running down the street to another ambulance parked behind their rescue truck and a police car.

His radio buzzed and Bryce said, “We need every hose out!”

Eddie sucked in the smoke-filled air and grabbed his walkie. “Heading there now.”

“No, Rice, you get these paparazzi out of here before someone dies. Maybe they’ll listen to you.”

Eddie pivoted. His chest squeezed as if he were the spreader being shoved between two metal pieces. The Hawaiian-button-down guy stood with one leg over the hose Ridge had aimed at the flames devouring the front of the trailer.

Most of the crowd hovered against the brick building, whose corner blocked them from the heat of the fire. It was a start to safety. Now to get that last paparazzo out of the way.

Eddie waved his hands over his head at the Hawaiian-shirt guy. “Hey,” he shouted. “It’s not safe. You need to get back before the flames reach the gas tanks?—”

An explosion boomed, and Eddie bent his knees until the ground steadied. Angry flames rocketed toward the cloudless sky. Black smoke hit Eddie’s shielded face, but it didn’t block his view of the Hawaiian-shirt man now on his back, motionless.

TWENTY-ONE

Abeam of sunshine popped out from behind the clouds as Grace handed Bianca her water bottle.

Grace scrolled on her phone. “Looks like you have an early makeup time tomorrow but nothing else tonight.”

Bianca’s eyes landed on Eddie over Grace’s shoulder, standing in the shade to the right of the cameras. “Perfect. Thanks Grace.”

Finally, a break from filming. Maybe she and Eddie could have their postponed date from last night.

Grace held up her finger. “Except we have a tiny problem.” She turned her phone around.

On the screen was one of Carter’s social media pages and a picture of a gigantic sapphire ring. “I thought we weren’t supposed to talk about the plot of the film yet.”

Grace clicked her tongue. “Read the caption.”

Bianca took the phone from Grace and read the words Carter had written. “Guess who said yes! Hint: I’ve been spending a bunch of time with her lately.” Her mouth popped opened. “Please tell me people don’t think it’s me.”

“Okay, I won’t tell you.” Grace yanked her phone away from Bianca before she could read more than two comments that confirmed her fear.

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