Page 25 of A Montana Rodeo Star

Brent shrugged. “I guess the first summer my folks came to the country. I was probably about twelve? I can’t remember much besides the first night my uncle brought us to the rodeo.” His eyes took on a far-off quality as he relived the memory. “That first time I saw a man get on the back of an animal that definitely wasn’t having it…” He chuckled and the sound was low and sweet. It was how she’d describe molasses. Warm, and smooth and utterly delectable. “There’s nothing like it in the world.” He sat up straighter his expression growing more animated. “I saw a man who wasn’t afraid of anything. He reminded me of my dad.”

Her brows furrowed. “But your dad doesn’t…” Faith blushed and dropped her gaze but Brent knew what she was getting at.

“No, my dad doesn’t like riding. He’s more into keeping his feet on the ground. But the man who raised me? He wasn’t afraid of anything. Growing up, he was my hero.” A slight frown marred Brent’s expression. “Still is. But…”

Faith leaned in closer. It was as if the world around them held their breath. “What?”

His eyes flicked up to meet hers. “I don’t know. I feel like he’s keeping something from me. Like I said, he’s not scared of anything and yet there he is, telling me he’s scared that I’m going to get hurt.”

“But you could,” she felt the need to point out. “Being a cowboy isn’t exactly a desk job. There are dangers everywhere.”

“The same could be said about a paramedic.” He murmured it pointedly and gave her a look that she couldn’t quite read. “So would being an electrician. Or a pilot. Heck, if I signed up for the military, that would be dangerous too. But it’s this one thing. I can’t wrap my head around it.” Brent rolled his lower lip between his teeth for a moment then swiped his tongue along it to get the last remnants of his ice cream. “Tripp thinks I’m just annoyed that my folks are against what I want to do.” Then his voice lowered and he stared off at nothing. “Heck, maybe he’s right.”

Faith leaned forward and placed a hand on his knee. “You’re an adult. You have a right to find joy in your life. And if that includes having an interest in a career that your parents don’t approve… well, that’s got to be incredibly frustrating. Especially for you.”

He frowned. “How do you mean?”

When she looked at him with confusion written on her face, he clarified.

“What do you mean, especially for me?”

“Oh.” She blinked a few times and that warmth returned to her cheeks. “I just mean that you’re one of the most dedicated people I know. Dedicated to your family, that is. I might not know you that well, but I pay attention. I’ve heard the way you talk about your folks. When you told Tate and Jason you didn’t want them to be aware because it’d hurt them…” She shrugged. “It’s sweet of you to worry about them. But at the same time, you can’t put your life on hold or please everyone. I’m a firm believer that we need to strike our own paths.”

Brent nodded. “Yeah. I feel the same.”

She smiled at him but then he glanced down to where she was touching him.

Again.

Why couldn’t she seem to keep her hands to herself? Faith ripped her hand away and rubbed it on her own jean-clad knee. That was more awkward than it had to be. She peeked at him but found Brent staring off at a group of girls. They were laughing with a couple cowboys.

Maybe Brent wanted to join them. She wouldn’t blame him. But before she could make such a suggestion, he turned to her. “You want to go see what carnival games they got? I’m in the mood to throw some baseballs at fake milk jars.”

The offer, however unexpected, brought with it a surge of excitement. Brent was choosing to spend his afternoon with her. She nodded and they climbed down from the picnic table.

On the way there, Brent seemed a little anxious.

“Everything okay?”

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”

“You just seem a little… off. Was it something I said? I don’t want you to think⁠—”

“It’s not. I mean, it’s nothing you said.” He frowned as he came to a stop beside her. His brows furrowed in the most adorable way and she itched to reach up and smooth the lines so he didn’t seem so pensive. Refraining, she shoved her hands into her back pockets and waited.

Brent shifted in front of her then blew out a breath. “My folks know I’ve been spending more than a normal amount of time at your place.”

Her brows shot upward. “And they’re… okay with that?”

He grabbed at the back of his neck and rubbed it. “That’s the thing. They know I’m friends with Tate and Jason, but they also know that your brothers are big into the rodeo scene. And after that fight I had with my parents a while back…” He didn’t have to finish his statement. She already knew what he was getting at.

“You’re worried that they think you’re spending time with my brothers because of their interests and not just because you’re friends.”

He gave her a short nod.

She chewed on the inside of her cheek. Was there something more to this story? Why was he acting so nervous? As she continued to study him, she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what this conversation had to do with her.

“They think we might be… romantically involved.”