Page 31 of Rescued Heart

Instead of supporting the movie, the mayor should support the kids of Last Chance County.

Eddie eyed Bianca, and Scarlette’s words popped into his head.

Could you still make a promise to help each other?

Zack might have been right. Maybe God had provided another way, and Eddie had dismissed it too quickly. What if Eddie, Bianca, and the mayor could all work together?

If Eddie was seen with Bianca, he could help protect her.Ifsomeone was actually after her. Assumptions and gossip over their relationship wouldn’t exactly be him lying.

Nothing like the empty promises his own mother had fed him growing up. The ones he refused to allow the kids he mentored to endure.

However, one thing was certain: he needed another way to raise money for the youth center. A movie star’s assistance with fundraising would provide more than he could do on his own.

Lord, is this Your plan? Or am I trying to make it the plan?

Bryce gave Eddie a look as if he could read his thoughts, but Eddie couldn’t decipher which way his lieutenant leaned.

Finally, Bryce said, “It’s up to you first. Then double-check it with the chief.”

Eddie glanced at Bianca before focusing on Grace. “Before I make a decision, I’d like to talk to the mayor.”

Grace’s thumbs flew against her phone’s screen. “No problem. Here.” She held out her phone to Eddie. “It’s calling his direct number. Leo practically has him on speed dial, which means I do too.” She shimmied the screen.

He took Grace’s phone and placed it to his ear just as Gregory’s voice said, “Is there still a problem with the police restrictions?”

Eddie stepped a few feet away from the others. “Sir, this is Eddie Rice. The firefighter?—”

“Yes, yes. Sounds like you’ve been a hero once again for our town.”

Eddie shifted the phone to his other ear. “Sir, just doing my job. Speaking of…Grace, the director’s assistant, wants me to hang around the film set as an extra set of eyes and ears.”

“That sounds fabulous. Yes. I’ll talk to your chief and make sure?—”

“Actually, sir, before you finalize anything, since surveillance isn’t part of my firefighter job, I thought we could discuss something.”

The mayor lowered his voice. “I’m listening.”

Olivia and Bryce spoke to one another, but both Grace and Bianca watched Eddie. By agreeing to hang around Bianca, he’d help make sure everyone on set was safe, and the youth might benefit too. Wouldn’t it be a win-win? “I’ll stay on the set and make sure the movie goes forward, and you?—”

“Son, you might need a reminder that I can’t be bought.”

Maybe Eddie needed a lesson on extortion like Scarlette. “Of course, sir. I…could you just take another look at the grant? A youth center would help give the kids of this town a safe place to play in the winter.”

“Listen, I can’t say yes to this for political reasons, but I promise the grant will be awarded fairly to a nonprofit in our town.”

Bianca ran the tip of her finger along one of the stitches at her hairline. The injury she’d gotten in the fire.

And that’s when Eddie knew his answer. Grant or not, wasn’t it his job to help the people of their community? No matter how long they resided in it. “Then, sir, I’ll do my best to keep Last Chance County safe.”

He only hoped this decision wouldn’t be one more thing in his life to regret.

SEVEN

Bianca’s flip-flop-covered feet froze on the top step of her set trailer. “Oh!”

Eddie had one foot on her bottom step, and was dressed in dark-washed jeans and a fitted burgundy shirt that made his brown eyes pop with a whole new meaning to the wordbrooding.

Words. It was past the time for actual words out of her mouth.

---