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“I don’t know why he beats himself up like that,” Evie said, gripping Jana’s hand as the announcer counted down the time.
When the buzzer rang, everyone cheered. His ride had been great, but there had been a couple of other great ones, too. Would Knox be able to pull it off?
Evie started eating the nachos like she was starving. “I’m a stress eater,” she said, then ate another chip.
Jana would have laughed, but her heart was in her throat. Finally, the announcer said that Knox had won by a single point. She jumped to her feet, cheering as loud as she could.
The winners of the rodeo events were paraded back into the arena, and the awards were handed over. “Let’s go congratulate him,” Evie said.
“Right on the arena floor?” Jana asked, following the pair as they headed to the aisle.
Evie glanced back. “Sure, why not?”
Why not? Because Knox was surrounded, and Jana would rather hang back. Wait until he was alone—which she realized now would probably never happen while he was still in the arena.
Evie and Carson seemed to have no problem making their way through the crowd, so Jana kept close behind them. Still, when they reached the group surrounding Knox, Jana’s stomach took a nosedive. Most of the people simply shook his hand, and a few asked for pictures. Some of the women were making their interest clear, though.
Evie scoffed as they overheard one woman ask for his number.
“Write it on my arm, darlin’,” said a woman with brows so thick, they must’ve been painted on.
“Sorry, sugar, my girlfriend wouldn’t be happy.” Then he looked over at Jana and winked.
She didn’t even realize he knew she was at the back of the crowd.
The eyebrow woman turned and stared at Jana.
What in the world… ? Jana felt her cheeks heat, but she refused to look away from the woman who had no business asking Knox for his number in the first place. Single or not. In that moment, Jana saw another side of Knox’s life. Where he had to turn down pestering people who only looked at him for his outer fame, and didn’t care about anything beyond that.
The eyebrow woman turned back to Knox. “I can still give you my number, just in case.”
Knox chuckled. “Have a great evening, and thanks for coming.” Then he turned to the next person, a woman with her son, and signed a poster for them.
Jana didn’t even know there were posters of Knox. Wow. Pretty amazing. Evie and Carson shuffled forward, waiting their turn, and Jana moved with them. She felt detached from those pressing for a moment of Knox’s time, and she looked at these people from another perspective. They were here as fans, nothing else. Except for that eyebrow woman—and there were probably more like her.
But Knox wasn’t responsible for another person’s behavior. He was only responsible for his own. He was handling these people remarkably well, with friendliness and professionalism. His personality was naturally charming, but he wasn’t crossing any lines. Not now, and not at the rodeo in Prosper, Jana realized.
Evie had said her brother had changed from the issues he’d had with Macie, and Jana was now a current witness to it. Somehow, she knew that even if she hadn’t come tonight, Knox would still be putting off the woman. Not for her, specifically, but because of his own decisions.
Jana moved forward again. Finally, the crowd had thinned, and about half the people he’d greeted and taken pictures with were now gone.
“Congrats, bro,” Evie said, stepping forward to hug him.
Knox grinned and hugged her tight, then he released her and clasped hands with Carson.
“You were amazing,” Carson said. “I think you get better every time I see you.”
“Thanks, man,” Knox said, his green eyes shifting to Jana.
“Congratulations,” she said as someone jostled her from behind. She nearly tripped forward, but Knox grasped her.
“Sorry,” she said. “Your fans are pretty wild.”
Knox grinned and pulled her closer. “What about you?”
Her heart was already hammering, and now, he was going to make her blush in front of everyone?
“Selfie, everyone!” Evie announced, moving to the other side of Knox. She held up her phone as Carson crowded behind them.
