Page 52 of A Montana Rodeo Star

Tate wasn’t letting up. His face had turned a strange shade of red. “Honestly? I don’t know. You’ve been talking about how you want to be a star. Your plans to get a sponsor and travel have been all you’ve talked about since the very beginning. We told you Faith isn’t cut out for that. And she’s definitely not some buckle bunny.”

Brent clenched his hands into fists. He couldn’t believe that Tate would even insinuate that Faith meant so little. He stepped into Tate, his chest bumping against Tate’s arms. The man inched backward so he didn’t stumble or trip and all the while, Brent’s eyes remained hyper focused on him. “She’s more than that. I’d never let that happen.”

The twins continued their little stare-down for what felt like an eternity before they exchanged another look. Then Jason gave his brother a short nod. They didn’t have to speak aloud for them to understand one another. That had always been the way it was.

Tate ate up the distance between them and poked Brent in the chest. “If you hurt her⁠—”

Brent wrapped his fingers around Tate’s finger and shoved it away. “I won’t. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. I might not even get a sponsor offering. Right now, we’re just going to take it one day at a time. That’s all I can promise. If things get more serious, then you can bet I’ll have that conversation with her when the time comes. I’m not going into this with eyes shut. I know what I’m doing, and I know what I want.”

The twins didn’t look convinced but at least they weren’t demanding that he cut things off with Faith before they could even begin again. This was good, right?

They were all connected with the heavy tension in the air. It was as if they’d been tied together with a form of bungee cord that continued to be pulled tight. Then all at once the tension snapped at the sound of her voice.

“Hey, guys.”

All heads swiveled in Faith’s direction.

Varying degrees of guilt washed over all three men. Brent could see it in the twins’ faces and feel it deep within his chest. Faith’s happy smile faded as her eyes bounced from one man to the next. “Everything okay? No one’s hurt are they?”

Tate shoulder checked Brent but not before leveling him with a warning glare. Then he pulled Faith into a hug. “Everything’s fine, sis. See you at home.”

Jason gave her a hug, too, and when they walked away, she watched them leave with confusion.

“That was… weird.” She faced Brent again, her brows furrowed. “What’s going on?”

He could tell her that nothing was wrong, but she wouldn’t believe it. Heck, he considered making something up about his performance but then thought better of it.

Even though Faith wouldn’t like the fact he’d told her brothers about his intentions—mostly because she was an independent person who could make her own decisions—she needed to know.

He stepped closer to her like he’d approach a wounded animal. There was no telling how this conversation was going to go. What if she got mad at him for dealing with the twins when she wanted to keep things a secret?

Entirely possible.

Well, shoot.

Brent cleared his throat and took her hands in his. “I told them.”

Her face scrunched up into an adorable furrow. “Told them what?”

“About us.”

The blood drained from her face and her head whipped around as if she’d still be able to see them. “You did what?”

“It’s okay.”

She shook her head and tugged at her hands. “I’m going to be sick. This isn’t good. I don’t know what they said, but… What were you thinking? Don’t you know that’s the most idiotic… the… stupidest thing… They’re going to⁠—”

“Hey,” he crooned, “it’s okay.”

“It’s not.” She said weakly. “Why would you do that?” She was still trying to escape him, but he wasn’t going to let that happen. He’d done the right thing. She’d see. But she had to give him a chance to explain himself in order for that to happen.

Brent grasped her chin with his finger and thumb, forcing her to meet his eyes. He still held one of her hands in his to ensure she wouldn’t bolt. He could feel the pulse point in her wrist, see the anxiety in the frantic way her eyes darted every which way. But when she finally took in a deep breath and resigned herself to this conversation, he allowed his own heart to settle. “Do you trust me?”

Faith glanced at him then away again.

“Faith,” he tried again, “do you trust me?”

She blew out her breath. “Does that matter?” She was deflecting. Scared. He couldn’t blame her. They should have discussed his plans before he went and talked to her brothers.