Page 48 of A Montana Rodeo Star

Hallie sighed. “You don’t know his parents like I do.”

“No, but you don’t know them like Brent does.”

Hallie went still. She didn’t turn to look at Faith and for a long, drawn out second, Faith wondered if there was something she knew that maybe she shouldn’t.

Faith opened her mouth to inquire but a deep, rumbling voice came from behind them.

“Hello, ladies. You lost?”

A smile split Hallie’s face and she turned to stare up into the eyes of the man she was clearly in love with.

Faith’s own attention swept over Jacob. He was tall. Built. And he filled out a pair of jeans like no one’s business. He was wearing all his gear, clearly getting ready to go on. Beside him was a man who looked familiar, but he didn’t look to be the competitor type. He was shorter, less broad, but no less fit. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a Henley. He had on a cowboy hat that shaded his face from the stadium lights. And the second their eyes collided, he straightened slightly.

Hallie looped her arm through Faith’s. “And this is Faith.”

Startling, Faith glanced to her friend. Shoot, had she missed the introductions?

Jacob nodded toward her. “Nice to meet you.”

Faith slid her eyes toward the stranger. He was good looking enough, but nothing compared to Brent. And while she felt bad for not hearing his name, she wasn’t able to hold onto that emotion long before another hand grasped her other elbow and tugged her away.

She gasped and stumbled down the hallway in the other direction as she vaguely heard Hallie call out to her with exasperation.

No, not her.

Brent.

Sweat dotted his temples, and he was breathing heavily. He hadn’t gone on yet, but he was dressed to. With a helmet under his arm and gloves on his hands, he looked like he belonged in this place. Every inch of him screamed he could be just as big of a star as Jacob.

Her focus stopped at his face. His eyes seemed a little wild and when he shot a look over his shoulder in the direction they’d come, his lip curled with disgust. Then he turned a searing gaze to her and the breath stalled in her lungs. “What are you doing here?”

Faith blinked. She knew she shouldn’t have come. Hadn’t she told Hallie that? “I-I was keeping H-Hallie company.” She pulled her elbow free from his hold then almost regretted it when the warmth of his body left her as well. Hating the way she stumbled over her words, she folded her arms and scowled at him. “I’m allowed to be here.”

He roughed a gloved hand over his face and his voice gentled. “I know that, Faith. Geez, I really do. I keep messing this up.”

Her arms dropped loosely at her sides, and she stared at him with slight surprise. Messing this up? What did that mean?

Brent looked over his shoulder again then blew out a breath. “Do you know that guy?”

Slowly, she shook her head.

He nodded and what could only be relief washed over his features. “His name is Kai. He’s Jacob’s manager.”

Her eyes widened and she glanced over to where the man was still standing with Jacob and Hallie. He must have felt her eyes on him because he looked in their direction as well. She gasped and shifted so that Brent blocked Kai from view. “Why are you asking me if I know him?”

A flicker of irritation battled in Brent’s eyes. He searched hers for long moments.

“Brent Gilley,” a disembodied voice came over the speakers.

They both startled.

“Brent, they’re calling you⁠—”

“Hallie was going to set you up with him,” Brent gritted out.

Her words died in her throat. Hallie had been the one to pick Dominic for her, too. But they’d picked him out because he had a good reputation and they knew her brothers would like him. Kai didn’t fit the bill. He likely traveled a lot with Jacob. “What?”

“Yeah, I heard them talking about it in the locker room.”