Page 45 of A Montana Rodeo Star

She was staring at Faith and Dominic as well with the strangest expression on her face.

Pride? Longing?

When she glanced at him, there was a flash of something else.

Triumph.

He narrowed his gaze at her, wondering if she was going to say something. Confess that she was the one who had pushed them together just to spite him. She wasn’t happy he was keeping secrets from his folks for some strange reason. It was none of her gat dang business what he did in his spare time.

His cousin flashed him a broad smile and moved closer to him so they were now face-to-face. Her voice lowered so that not even people passing them by would be able to hear her. “The problem with entering the rodeo world now is that you’re late to the game. I might not be buddy-buddy with the Dennison twins, but I’ve overheard enough to know that they’re not unreasonable.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” he demanded.

She shrugged. “They love their sisters. They’re fiercely protective. But they also want them to be happy.”

“That’s not a secret. No sibling wishes for the people in their family to be miserable.”

Hallie tilted her head toward the couple who were still far too close for Brent’s liking. “Even Tate knows that Faith needs someone in her life. Out of all his sisters, she’s the outcast. She’s different. Her sisters have each other and they have different interests. But Faith? If there was a good man who was interested in her⁠—”

“I’m going to stop you right there,” he muttered low. “You think that Tate will be all smiles when he sees the way Dominic is looking at his sister?”

Hallie arched a brow. “Maybe not all smiles, but he’s definitely going to be okay if the man asks her out. He’s got a steady job. He’s a good man with a good reputation. There is nothing distracting him from treating a woman right.”

“And I don’t have those qualities?” He didn’t know what possessed him to utter the question aloud and the second it left his lips he regretted it. Hallie had already proven that she was paying attention. She could see that there was something sparking to life between himself and Faith. And she was using it, but for reasons he couldn’t figure out just yet.

Her eyes sparkled with what could only be glee. “I never said that. You’re a good man. You have a steady job. But…” She cocked her head and booped him on the nose. “You’re far from distracted.”

He scowled at her and that infuriating smirk.

“And rumor has it that Ashcroft over there is interested in settling down.” She let her words sink in before she wiggled her fingers. “Catch you later, cousin.”

She was baiting him. Right? She was messing with him but why? So he’d have to choose between his interest in competing and dating Faith?

Would Tate and Jason even allow him to do such a thing if he chose to walk away from his dreams?

Brent shook his head, but the movement did nothing to clear it. And when he turned to find Faith laughing at whatever Dominic was saying, Brent all but lost his cool.

It wasn’t until the man hooked a knuckle beneath her chin and tilted her face so she was forced to meet his eyes that the last threads of control slipped through Brent’s fingers.

He charged through the crowd of people toward the woman who would never be able to find a man good enough for herself. She must have seen him out of the corner of her eye because her focus slid to him and she gasped. Dominic’s head whipped around just as Brent gave the guy a shove.

It wasn’t hard enough to do anything but break the couple apart. And Dominic didn’t seem ruffled by the intrusion.

Confused, maybe, but nothing more.

“Hey, man, what’s up?” Dominic shoved his hands in his pockets as his eyes bounced from Faith to Brent. “Your stats are looking better every time you’re on a bronc. You’re going places.”

Why did the man have to be such a… good guy?

Brent clenched and flexed his hands. “Stay away from her,” he whispered but it came out as more of a growl than anything else.

Dominic’s brows furrowed and he cut another look toward Faith. Then understanding dawned on his face and he brought up his hands in a placating gesture. “Oh, I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“Brent!” Faith gasped at the same time, her face turning redder by the second. “What are you doing?” she hissed.

Dominic shifted where he stood, still looking utterly confused. He pointed between Faith and Brent. “You two are… together, right?”

“Yes.”