Page 42 of Rescued Heart

She slipped her feet out of her shoes. “Is that what I said? I still love it. It’s just…sometimes it feels more like a job and less like a dream that I always wanted. Do you ever feel like that with being a firefighter?”

He placed his left hand up on top of the wheel. “My job allows me to help people. There’s a brotherhood among our squad. Plus, I wanted to follow in my mentor’s steps.” The neighbor his foster mom had connected Eddie with when he had gotten in trouble.

Bianca picked at a stain on the fabric that covered her thigh. “Hadn’t thought about firefighters being like brothers. Sometimes a movie cast gets close.”

Eddie heard what she hadn’t said. Sometimes they didn’t. Sounded like she could be a little lonely. Guess he’d never really thought about the logistics of acting. Being away from friends and family. Another plus for being a firefighter.

Officer Ramble was already at the firehouse when they arrived with three marshmallow shakes and two to-go orders of double cheeseburgers and tots. Junior took the offered milkshake and had finished their statements when a limo pulled into the parking lot.

Grace hopped out of the passenger side. She wrapped her arms around Bianca, who flinched. “You should have called me. Do we need to take you to the doctor? Hospital? Do you need more stitches?”

Bianca patted Grace’s back as if she’d been the one almost hit by a car. “How did you know where we…I was?”

Eddie narrowed his attention on Junior. “Did you?”

Junior matched Eddie’s expression. “Course not.”

Grace pulled out her phone. “That tracker app I mentioned. Your phone and mine are connected. Remember, I said it would make handling your social accounts easier.” She tapped on her phone screen and twirled it around. “Once I saw you’d started trending online, I had to make sure you?—”

Bianca grabbed Grace’s phone. “That app tracks me? Like my location? I didn’t know it did that.”

Grace’s shoulders sagged. “I…I, but you said…I thought it would be a good idea, especially with the building accident. I was worried and wanted to be able to help if anything else ever happened. Sorry. I was only trying to be the best assistant and friend.”

Bianca swiped a few things on Grace’s phone and handed it back. “You’ve been a great assistant-in-training and…friend.” Bianca peeked over at Eddie. “I already have a hero.”

Grace’s smile returned. “Yes, you played your part so well, Eddie.”

Eddie squeezed his empty milkshake cup. He hadn’t played anything. Had the battle wounds to prove it. “Let’s not downgrade what happened by pretending it was a scene in a movie.”

Real life wasn’t a make-believe story. Acting allowed someone to shield emotions, which wasn’t always healthy.

Officer Ramble cleared his throat. “If I think of any more questions, the chief or I will reach out.”

Eddie and Bianca both together said, “Thank you.”

Grace hooked her arm around Bianca. “We should go. Leo’s made call time an hour earlier tomorrow.” She spun Bianca in the direction of the limo. “You probably should do a live tonight. Talk about the close call. You’ll be trending for a week.”

Worrying about social media stats wasn’t what Bianca needed in order to heal from tonight’s shock.

At the limo’s door, Bianca mouthed toward Eddie,Thank you.

He dipped his head and watched them leave.

Junior let his notebook drop to his side. “The town may be split between the movie filming and that new resort coming, but all I know is that the precinct was busy enough before Hollywood and the protestors arrived.”

Eddie extended his hand to Junior. “Thanks for suggesting the firehouse for our statements.”

Junior shook Eddie’s hand. “It’s much easier to get the entire story without eavesdroppers throwing in opinions and twisting the facts. Since you’re here, have Bently or Russell check out your shoulder and whatever injuries you have half hidden. If your shirt has road rash, I can’t imagine what’s underneath.”

Based on the sting driving along his side, Eddie could imagine it all. But he wouldn’t need Trace or Kianna. However, a full-length mirror in the locker room might come in handy.

Before he even made it to the bay area, someone called his name.

“Hey, Rice.” It sounded like Zack. “Can you take a minute in the conference room?”

Eddie passed his lieutenant’s office and slipped into the conference room opposite the chief’s office. And then noticed what was written on the whiteboard.

Dating a movie star…for beginners.

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