Epilogue
Saving lives mattered. Which meant sometimes, as a rescue firefighter, other things in Eddie’s life got benched for an extra inning. Even important baseball tournaments.
He leaned forward in the fire truck and tapped Ridge’s shoulder. “Just let me out here.”
Ridge furrowed his brow and held his attention on the road ahead. Far more vehicles lined each side of the street than normal. “You want to run the last mile to the field, be my guest. But we’ll beat you there.”
Eddie glared at one of the minivans that had its rear parked too far into the roadway. But even with Ridge’s slower driving speed, Eddie wouldn’t trade his team’s winning the draw to host the tourney. Plus, all the food trucks that Bianca had gotten were going to donate twenty percent of their night’s earnings toward the youth center’s fund. More money than he could have even imagined had entered their nonprofit banking account.
Beside him, Zack chuckled. “Give the coach a break. His team’s playing for the championship.”
Eddie drummed his fingers along his turnout pants. That and he hadn’t seen Bianca in two days due to their schedules.
As if hearing his thoughts, Bryce sent him a smirk over his shoulder. “I’m sure that’s the only reason he’s eager to get to the ball game.”
Eddie checked his phone. No new update since the game had been tied in the second inning. Thankfully, their last fire run had been in the ballpark’s neighborhood, and it had been a false alarm. “Maybe flip on the siren you love so much.”
Bryce shook his head as Ridge slowed the truck for a car that pulled out in front of them. “Speaking of love…”
Eddie’s neck no longer heated when the guys teased him about Bianca. “Yes, I’m anxious to get to the game. Yes, I’m nervous to see how the team’s doing. And yes, I want to see Bianca. But also, she’s worked extra-long hours on set so she could help coach tonight, and I want to be there for her.”
“How much longer on the jewel movie?” asked Zack.
“Not sure. However, they’ve already reshot the scenes that Carter was in.” Eddie leaned his head back.
Leo had been able to find another producer—one who’d signed Bianca to a new contract that allowed her to help out her family. Even if they still hadn’t thanked Bianca yet. But one couldn’t change another person’s heart. That was God’s department.
Ridge turned the fire truck into the ball field’s parking lot and stopped. “Get out of here, lover boy. Go win us a game.”
Eddie jumped out of the cab and sprinted for the home-side dugout while his turnout pants rubbed together. With the visitors in the field, that meant his team was up to bat.
The scoreboard announced the sixth inning. Still tied, one to one, which was the last score update text Bianca had sent. The bleachers held fans shoulder to shoulder with the fencerow tight with lawn chairs and canopies.
Bianca stood next to third base, her ponytail tugged through the back of her hat, a smile on her face, facing home plate. Her uniform shirt was paired with black shorts and tennis shoes—one of his favorite looks on her. Only her beloved flip-flops would make it better.
He swung open the gate and stepped into the dugout. All of his team stood at the fence, staring toward the batter’s box. “Hey?—”
“Shh!” A feminine voice that didn’t belong to Scarlette hushed him. When a uniform-wearing Grace glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widened. She grimaced and jogged toward Eddie with a clipboard in her hand. “Sorry, Coach,” she whispered. “I only wanted to make sure Scarlette got the sign.”
Eddie glanced at Bianca. “They wouldn’t need to talk or hear to understand…” Over the boys’ heads, he spotted Scarlette with Gregory Harrelson near the batter’s box. And just over the mayor’s shoulder, propped on tripods behind the backstop’s fence, were not one but two news station cameras focused on Gregory.
Eddie locked his jaw. “I can’t believe the mayor found his way into coaching. I thought Eli was helping.”
Bianca glanced over her shoulder, spotted Eddie, and waved for him to come onto the field.
Eddie held up a finger. He didn’t want to disrupt Scarlette’s focus.
Tank, the closest boy to Eddie, turned. “Greg’s kind of been cool.”
Will grabbed a helmet off the bench. “Yeah, he actually knows about baseball. He argued with the umpire when the pitcher tried to throw the ball to first when he’d already started pitching. He knew that he’d balked before the umpire corrected the call.”
Grace flipped a piece of paper over on her clipboard. “He apparently played college ball. Trust me, he was better than me out there. Eli had an emergency with one of his youth group kids. Will, don’t forget you’re next in line to bat after Scout.”
Will rolled his eyes. “It’s called being on deck. It’s what happens after being in the hole.”
Grace wrote a note on her paper. “Right. Deck and hole. Got it.”
Will smirked and then opened his mouth. Eddie had seen that look too many times and shot Will a glare. Instead of Will’s more-than-likely-sarcastic reply, a mumble came from someone farther down the dugout.
“Batter’s up,” Lincoln muttered around his bite of beef jerky.
Grace stepped closer to Eddie. “Scarlette got hit by a pitch the first inning and keeps backing out of the batter’s box.”
Poor girl. Wait. “Did you say Scout was on deck?”
Grace flipped over another piece of paper. “The doctor released him to play right before game time, or I’m sure they would have let you know.”
Eddie moved closer to the fence. “They were probably just happy and focused on getting him to the game.”
The pitcher threw the ball, and Scarlette placed the perfect bunt.
As the ball rolled along the third base line, Eddie yelled, “Run!”
The third baseman scooped up the ball and threw it right over the first baseman’s head.
Gregory waved Scarlette on to second. Eddie tightened his hold on the fence as Scarlette slid into second, beating the ball by seconds. When the umpire motioned her safe, the dugout erupted in cheers.
Bianca cupped her hands around her mouth. “Eddie.” Then she waved Scout over too.
When Eddie jogged over to the pair, Bianca lifted the front of her hat as if to hand it to him.
Eddie took her free hand and pumped his fingers around hers. “You got this, Coach.”
Scout did a practice swing. “What do you want me to do, Coach? Bunt and get Scarlette to third? The game’s time limit’s up. If we score, we win.”
Bianca glanced at Eddie.
Eddie met Scout’s gaze. “Let’s go out swinging. Watch it, though. This ump likes to call them low. If you get two strikes, don’t be shouldering any burdens. Go have fun on your first game back.”
Scout nodded and jogged to home plate.
“Coach?” Gregory pointed at his spot by first base.
Eddie shook his head and ran back to the dugout. If the mayor was helping the team, that’s what really mattered. Not worrying whether Gregory’s help was self-seeking or not.
Scout watched the first pitch, and sure enough, the umpire called the low ball a strike. The pitcher threw the next ball, and Scout swung. The ball cracked against the bat and soared through the air. The hit skirted over the yellow fence top, giving Scout his first out-of-the-park home run and the team’s victory.
To cheers from the crowd, Bianca reached the backside of home plate to high-five Scarlette first, the rest of the team right behind. Scout crossed home, and the boys surrounded him, locking Scarlette and Bianca inside their group hug.
Eddie took out his phone and snapped a picture.
Gregory came up beside Eddie and cleared his throat. “Congrats, Coach.”
Eddie stuck out his hand to the mayor. “Thanks for helping tonight.”
Gregory shook Eddie’s hand. “It was fun. You’ve got some good kids. Kids who need a place for the winter. Sorry I wasn’t able to give you your grant.”
Eddie nodded. “The women’s shelter needed that money as much as I thought we needed it. Some area churches have planned some events for the kids this winter until we can get something more permanent. If you ever want to share your wisdom on getting Scarlette to place that perfect bunt again, just stop on by the field.”
Gregory chuckled. “I’m going to hold you to that. These kids have been eye-opening in a fantastic way.”
Eddie turned to his team. “Everyone line up. Make sure to tell the other team good game . Then team meeting at the dugout before the awards.”
But before Eddie could line up behind his team, Bianca stood before him and smiled. “You won.”
“We won.” Eddie wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.
Bianca smiled against his lips. “Not that I’m complaining”—she pressed her lips against his again—“but there are not only news cameras but paparazzi probably filming and creating stories about us.”
He tightened his hold on her waist. “Yeah, well, got to give your followers a reminder of us every now and then.”
Something tugged on the back of his turnout pants.
Scarlette sent him a sheepish expression as she played with the end of her ponytail. “I know that we already had the huge slide once, but do you think Coach B could get us another one to celebrate?”
Eddie erased his smile. “No.”
Scarlette’s shoulders drooped. “You don’t want us to get spoiled.”
Eddie bumped Bianca’s healed shoulder. “Do you want to tell her?”
Scarlette’s eyes widened. “Tell me what? You know I can keep a secret.”
Bianca grinned. “Team cookout, water slide, and movie night at the fire station with marshmallow milkshakes.”
Eddie shrugged. “Plus a ride on the fire truck.”
Scarlette pumped her fist and sprinted for the dugout. “We get to ride with Eddie’s friends on the fire truck.”
Bianca slipped her fingers around his. “So, who do I need to talk with to officially snag the assistant coaching spot again next year?”
Eddie brought the back of her hand up to his lips and pressed a kiss to her skin. “That someone would be me.”
She winked. “Always.”
Because the two of them were more than a deal—they were a team. The kind where two hearts would someday become one.
* * *
BONUS EPILOGUE
Thank you for reading Rescued Heart . We hope you loved this story.
* * *
Gear up for the final Last Chance Fire and Rescue romantic suspense thriller, Rescued Dreams by Lisa Phillips.
Dive back into the danger—and the romance—of the bestselling Last Chance Fire and Rescue series…
She must confront her haunting past to protect her future—and the man she loves.
Truck Lieutenant Amelia Patterson hasn’t told anyone about her past in Benson, or the fact her vindictive ex never gave her the necessary paperwork for her rank.
Rescue Squad firefighter Ridge Foster, recently promoted to Lieutenant, is eager to leave Eastside Fire House and his unspoken feelings for Amelia behind.
When Amelia’s secret comes to light and she is forced to step down, Ridge takes her spot as the leader on truck until she can produce the paperwork. But with an old enemy sabotaging her professional and private life in search of hidden payouts from her father, Amelia’s past threatens to destroy everything she holds dear.
Determined to keep her firehouse family safe, Amelia must decide whether to trust them with the truth or face her demons alone. As the danger escalates, Amelia and Ridge are forced to confront their feelings for each other while racing against time to uncover the truth…and protect their future.
Keep reading for a sneak peek…
RESCUED DREAMS | LAST CHANCE FIRE AND RESCUE #8