Page 19 of A Montana Rodeo Star

Hallie bumped her shoulder to Faith’s and nodded in Brent’s direction. Since he wasn’t in a large crowd, it wasn’t difficult to pinpoint where Faith’s attention had gone. Dang it all! Faith had told herself to stop looking at him and she hadn’t listened.

“So…” Hallie sang with obvious glee. “Looks like you have a crush on someone.”

“What? No. Why would you even say that?”

She blew out a patient sigh. “Oh, honey. I know that look. Unrequited love is the absolute worst.”

“I’m not in love,” Faith scoffed.

“Okay, unrequited attraction. Better?” Hallie didn’t even look guilty as she plucked another cookie from the tray. When Faith gave her a disbelieving look, she only shrugged and let out a chuckle. “The thing is, when you like someone or are interested in them and they don’t feel the same… it really sucks.”

“But I don’t⁠—”

“Please.” Hallie gave her a pointed stare. “What’s not to like? Okay, I mean I don’t like him because he’s my cousin. Well, actually I was adopted so if I really wanted…” She scrunched up her nose. “Nope. Not even going to go there.” She shuddered and Faith couldn’t help but giggle. “Brent’s like a golden retriever. He’s loyal to an absolute fault. He’s sweet and quiet. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him raise his voice.” Hallie tapped her finger thoughtfully. “Yeah, nope. That man is a saint. But I don’t see him dating much.” She dragged her eyes toward Faith.

“What?” Faith demanded. “I never said I liked him. He’s nice, like you said. But I’m not interested in dating. And even if I was, it’s not like my brothers would be willing to let me date any of their friends. So I’m just…”

“But if they would?” Hallie faced her, blocking her view from nearly everyone. She was right up close in Faith’s face, watching her, searching her. “If you could date anyone and your brothers wouldn’t throw a hissy fit, who would it be?”

Faith couldn’t help but attempt to look in Brent’s direction.

“Ha! See that? Right there. The second I asked you the question you looked for him. You sought him out.” She pulled away and folded her arms, her eyes getting a far-off look in them. “It doesn’t get any easier, you know. Liking someone who doesn’t have the time for you. Wanting to be that one thing he cares about more than his job.” A catch in her voice had Faith darting a glance in her direction. Hallie was hurting.

“How long?” Faith asked.

“Hmm?”

“How long have you been interested in a guy who isn’t interested back?”

Hallie tilted her head back and stared up at the night sky. The music played from the speakers. People laughed and talked around them. No one paid them any attention. No one knew that standing right here at the refreshment table were two women whose hearts were clearly taken.

Faith waited for what felt like an eternity. She found Brent in the crowd and at that moment he caught her gaze. She wasn’t fast enough to look away and he winked at her. Dumb wink. It sent hummingbirds into flight within her chest, and she was forced to tear her eyes from him so she didn’t look like a complete sap.

Finally, Hallie sighed. “Honestly, it’s been longer than I can remember. We’ve always been friends.”

“Nothing’s happened between you? Like ever?” Faith abhorred that her voice took on a hopeful quality. She didn’t want anyone to know just how much of a hopeless romantic she was. “He never asked you out?”

In the current light, Faith could barely make it out, but it was there. Hallie blushed. She refused to meet Faith’s stare even as she shook her head. “Nope. Nothing. I tried, though. Probably more times than I should have. I tried to steal a kiss once and… that didn’t end well.”

Faith shrank back into herself. She hadn’t attempted to steal a kiss from Brent, but the temptation had been incredibly hard to ignore when he’d gotten close to her. She wanted to ask Hallie what had happened between her and the man she was talking about. Heck, she wanted to know all the details about how Hallie managed to keep her feelings in check. Because right about now, Faith was second guessing everything she felt.

But she didn’t. She kept all her questions to herself. And in order to get Hallie off her back, she insisted, “Brent is a friend. He’s a good guy and yes, he’s nice to look at.”

Hallie snorted but didn’t interrupt further.

“But he’s just a friend.”

The girl stared at her, searched her eyes as if she could find the lie. Then she shrugged and heaved a sigh before grabbing one more cookie. “A lie is still a lie no matter who you tell it to.” Then she walked away, leaving Faith to try to make sense of what she’d said. It wasn’t a lie. Right now, Brent was a friend. And he’d remain that way.

“I see my cousin tried to steal all of the sweets you made for me.” Brent’s deep voice startled her and she squeaked out a sound that was definitely not becoming.

He reached toward the cookies, his arm brushing against hers and sending delicious shock waves of electricity humming along every nerve. She jumped backward, surprised by the reaction and stared at her arm as if expecting it to catch on fire.

That was ridiculous of course. Especially considering that Brent didn’t seem at all fazed by touching her. He flashed her one of those heart rending smiles and she gave him a weak one in return. “Yeah, your cousin seems to like the cookies as much as your brother.”

Brent scowled out at the crowd until his focus landed on Hallie who waved the last bite of her cookie in the air. “Great, now I’m really going to have to find a good hiding place when you bring me more.”

Faith laughed despite herself. “Last I checked, she doesn’t live in the same house as you.”