Page 23 of A Montana Rodeo Star

“Hmm?”

She laughed again and it made his smile widen. “Where did you go?” Faith leaned forward and poked him in the forehead. “You doing okay?”

He reached up and grasped her finger, holding it tight in his hand as he laughed it off. “Just thinking about how good you’d be at that sort of stuff. I bet there’s a well of knowledge in your head that is just waiting to be put to use.”

They were staring at each other. Close. Probably too close. And he only realized it when he glanced down and found he was still holding her finger. Faith must have noticed at the same time because she tugged her finger free and released another soft laugh. “I think you’re probably right.”

“Oh, I know I’m right.” He chucked her under the chin. “And you want to know what else?”

“Hmm.” She kept her eyes trained on him. Man, why did it feel so good to have her undivided attention?

“I’m going to be cheering you on from the sidelines the whole entire time.”

Her face glowed with a new surge of excitement. “You will?”

“Of course. It’s the least I can do. And hey, I’ll even be your first victim.”

She scoffed and gave him a shove. “Hey!”

He feigned chagrin and ducked down. “Patient, okay? I’ll be your first patient. Or would I be a client?” He squinted. “I guess it would depend on what field you’d want to go into.”

Tapping her finger on her chin, she hummed. The movement drew his eye and he stared at what rested just above where she touched. Those perfect, full lips. They were the best shade of red, and she didn’t even wear makeup—at least not that he could see.

Dang it all!

He needed to quit this line of thinking. It was getting dangerous.

“Yeah, you’re right. I’d hate for you to be a patient if I became a paramedic. But then I guess you wouldn’t be a client either.” She made a face. “Please don’t do anything to warrant a visit from me if I’m in emergent care.”

Brent held up two fingers. “Scouts honor.” They relaxed on the chairs where they sat, each letting their thoughts consume them. Then Brent murmured, “I like this.”

She slid her gaze to him. “What?”

“This.” He pointed from himself to her and back. “I didn’t expect this. How easy it is to be friends with you.” Brent might have said that more to convince himself than her, but he wasn’t going to think about that too hard. When he glanced at her, she was smiling back.

“Yeah. I feel the same way.”

“Great.” He got to his feet and fought the urge to grimace in front of her. He’d soak in an ice bath and he’d be fine. The only problem he had now was hiding the injury from his parents. His mother was far too good at noticing the little things. “I’ll catch you later,” Brent promised.

Faith nodded. “And I’ll see you at the competition.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

“You did it! You scored better than your last one.” Faith couldn’t help but jump up and down as Brent staggered out of the arena. He was smiling wide. The joy emanating from his body was impossible to miss. And the second his eyes had locked with hers, she knew she’d never be the same.

Had he been searching for her out of the crowd?

Or had it been her imagination?

Definitely her imagination.

He nearly reached her when her twin brothers collided with him. They all but pounced on him, their arms draped around his shoulders in celebration. Tate and Jason congratulated him, their voices competing over one another.

Brent had done really well. The improvement he’d made from his last competition to this one was staggering and she couldn’t help but be proud of him.

Faith hovered a few feet away as her brothers took all of Brent’s attention. Every so often he glanced her way and their eyes made contact.

This was what they needed.