Page 44 of A Montana Rodeo Star

There was no way she’d be able to go back to the party immediately after her confrontation with Brent. She needed a break. To take a breath. Heck, that cool water she’d wanted to splash on her face was starting to sound really good right about now.

And that was exactly what she did.

Faith hurried up to her bathroom, praying the distance between herself and Brent would be enough to make her appear at least a little bit normal. Heaven knew she’d have to go back to the party, otherwise her brothers would notice.

Maybe not right away, but they were good at paying attention like that. Besides, she’d wanted to hang out with Hallie. Things had gotten strained after she’d blurted Brent’s secret and she needed some normalcy back. She liked the friendships she’d developed with the girls.

Lifting her eyes to her reflection, Faith sighed. She looked like she was going to be sick. Paler than usual. Brent had a knack for making her feel off-centered so she shouldn’t even be surprised.

And she couldn’t even be mad at him anymore. Logically speaking, he’d done the right thing. He’d helped her then he’d apologized for making her uncomfortable. He’d told her from the beginning that they could only be friends. He hadn’t led her on at all. She was the one letting her feelings get in the way.

Well, no more.

She’d go down to that party and she’d find a nice guy who her brothers could tolerate—if only to prove to herself that Brent was nothing more than a passing fancy.

After she fixed her minimal makeup, she gave herself an encouraging nod and headed down the stairs. The closer she got to the back door that would open up to where everyone was mingling, the harder her heart started to pound. Maybe she should enlist Hallie’s help. She knew a lot of the guys in her brothers’ social circles. She’d be able to pick one for her.

With that final fleeting thought, Faith pushed through the back door and out into the open.

Faith found Hallie immediately. She was talking with a group of guys and she wore a broad smile on her face.

Perfect.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It’s nothing that my brothers wouldn’t do, right?

Those words.

That ridiculous statement.

Brent wanted to throw a punch at something, and the foreign instinct had him questioning his own sanity. He hadn’t scared Garth away because he wanted to be Faith’s brotherly figure.

There was a strange burning sensation in his chest that stole his breath the second Faith disappeared on him. He lost track of how long he stood there by the side of the house. It wasn’t until he heard footsteps that he was torn from his post-Faith stupor.

He looked up to see a couple late arrivals to the party. Brent didn’t recognize them but smiled all the same. They nodded toward him as they passed and he turned to follow them back to the party.

The second he rounded the side of the house he froze.

Black, oozing, dangerous feelings slithered among his insides when he caught sight of Faith. It wasn’t her specifically that had his body reacting in such a violent way. It was the man who was speaking to her.

Tate and Jason weren’t the types to let someone like Garth attend a party like this one so thankfully, Brent didn’t have to jump in to rescue her.

But maybe that was the problem.

The guy who currently leaned closer to Faith as she had her back pressed against a large maple tree was… perfect for her.

Brent had seen the guy around. They hadn’t gone to the same school, but Dominic ran in the same circles as Faith’s brothers. There was just one difference. The man wasn’t into the whole rodeo bit. He had a modest ranch with a couple dozen head of cattle to his name. He’d taken over the ranch from his grandfather who had been an upstanding member of society. Everyone in Rocky Ridge was familiar with the Ashcrofts. They might not be a big family, but they were beloved.

At least from what he’d heard.

Brent’s hands tightened into fists at his sides. The scene before him reminded him of a romantic comedy. The young woman looking up at her love interest with shining eyes while the guy flirted his way into her good graces.

In this moment all he wanted was to trade places with the man. He wanted to be the one Faith stared at with adoration. He wanted to be the guy her brothers would approve of.

“They’re cute together, right?” Brent startled and swung his eyes to his side. How had Hallie managed to get next to him without him noticing? She wasn’t looking at him, though.

Nope.