Page 24 of A Montana Rodeo Star

It was strange, but good at the same time.

They might not be anything more than friends, but they were something. They had a vested interest in each other. And Faith couldn’t deny how good it made her feel to know someone was cheering her on as she did the same for him.

When her brothers finally released him to head off and talk to some other friends, she stepped forward. Brent met her the rest of the way. He was breathing hard, and he had a smudge of dirt on his cheek. The clouds of dust had mixed with his sweat and yet he couldn’t have looked more ruggedly handsome if he’d tried.

She nearly reached out to wipe at the smudge but instead, she clenched her hand at her side. “That was… amazing.” It sounded lame and it was hard not to cringe inwardly at herself. She didn’t need to sound like a fan girl. She most definitely wasn’t going to turn into a buckle bunny.

“Thanks.”

“You really looked like you were enjoying it.”

He nodded as he ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair and glanced over his shoulder toward the arena. “I was—I am. It’s the most incredible experience. Nothing like it.” His grin was as captivating as it was addictive. She couldn’t take her eyes off it. And when he directed it at her?

That little voice in her heart sighed.

Not gonna happen. They were friends. And friends weren’t allowed to look at each other like they could be something more.

“You want to go… I don’t know… get some ice cream or something?”

Her eyes popped with surprise. “Ice cream?”

Not a date. It wouldn’t be. Friends could get ice cream.

“You… don’t like ice cream?”

She startled. “I like ice cream. In fact I love it.” She stumbled over her words and her cheeks heated unbearably.

One side of his mouth quirked upward. “Good, because I’m hot.”

“You look it.” And just like that, her heated cheeks turned into an inferno. Faith’s already wide eyes rounded further, if it was possible, and she looked away. “I just mean… you’re… it’s an unseasonably warm day… and you’re…” She gestured helplessly at his face where she was certain he could feel a drop of sweat dragging down his temple. Then she cleared her throat. “I could go for some ice cream.” Sheesh, this was embarrassing. She wasn’t like this with any of her brother’s friends, so why was she making a fool of herself in front of Brent?

“Yeah…” Brent drawled. Then he jerked his chin in the direction of the food truck that served fried ice cream. “After you.”

Faith lost track of time after they found themselves a picnic table in the shade. Being with Brent this way was nice. He had a way of making her feel seen—like her interests were important. Maybe it was the fact that she felt like a middle child and was overlooked, but when Brent gave her his undivided attention it just felt… good.

“What made you interested in the medical field?” Brent tilted his head so he got better access to a white drip of melted ice cream on his cone.

She watched the movement for a moment before lifting her gaze to him. “What do you mean?”

He grinned. “Like, was there a moment in your life that triggered it? Did one of your siblings get hurt and you wanted to help?”

She tipped her head backward for a moment, considering. “Honestly? No. I can’t think of when it started because it’s always just… been there.” She squinted at him. “Not the answer you were hoping for, I bet.”

“No, it’s interesting,” he seemed to correct her. “How old were you when you realized you liked that sort of thing?”

“Maybe seven?”

His eyes widened and she laughed.

“What’s that look for?”

Brent leaned back, taking another taste of his ice cream. “When I was seven, I was interested in watching my favorite cartoon on Saturday mornings. Not…” He gestured toward her. “Making future career choices.”

“You’re telling me you weren’t watching cowboys on the big screen and telling yourself you were going to do that one day?”

He seemed to consider this and for a moment, she thought he might agree that she had a point. But then he shook his head. “Nope. I was more into shows like the animated Batman stuff. Superheroes were where it was at.” His cocky grin had her laughing even more.

“Okay, so you were into superheroes as a kid.” Faith took a bite of her cone and chewed thoughtfully. “When did the interest in horses start?”