Page 56 of A Montana Rodeo Star

“Yeah, it does.” She felt his stare and peeked at him again. “What?”

“I don’t think you’ve stopped smiling since I bought you that ice cream.”

She snorted. “I can assure you, my happiness isn’t because of the ice cream.”

“I know.” The low timbre of his voice sent shivers racing through her and she paused, mid-lick before turning so she could see his eyes. It was hard in the dark. All she had was the glow of the porch light at her house to go off of, but it was just enough to see the way he was looking at her was the same way he’d stared when he’d convinced her that they could be something more.

She absolutely loved it. When he looked at her like this, she felt seen, not just looked at. He’d known her better than her brothers had. When she’d told them all about the classes she’d signed up for, he’d known. Before she could ask him what he meant with that statement, he answered her unvoiced question.

“It’s the classes you’ve signed up for. That’s why you’re smiling.”

She wanted to tell him that while he was right, it wasn’t just the classes. It was him. It was feeling like she finally belonged somewhere—with someone. But she didn’t. In fact, she had to bite down on her lip to stop herself from saying something she’d regret.

Too new, Faith. This is all too new. You don’t want to scare him off when he has his whole future ahead of him.

Faith poked out her tongue and licked the side of her cone once more. Then she tilted her head thoughtfully. “I think we’re both on a high tonight. You’re getting closer to achieving your dreams and I’m doing the same.”

“I think you might be right about that,” he mused. “And there’s no one else I’d rather take this journey with, than you.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Over the last few weeks, Brent placed in two of the three competitions he’d participated in. Each one, he knew Faith was in the audience, cheering him on. There was something about having her there rooting for him that did something to his confidence.

Faith wasn’t present just to watch him and patch him up after.

She was pushing him to be the best version of himself and that meant the world to him.

It was that revelation that had pushed him to invite her over for the family barbeque and fireworks. This thing between them was real. He’d admitted it to himself the second he informed the twins that he was serious.

How could he not be?

Faith stood on the far side of the lawn beneath a canopy with Hallie, Wendy, and Serenity. The three musketeers. It wasn’t that they were the only women who were friends out of his family. It was just that they seemed to get each other more.

And Faith?

She fit right in.

His eyes locked with hers in the next second when she glanced in his direction. The things she could do to him with one look was… insane.

He couldn’t get enough of her and it appeared she was on the same page when thinking of him.

Brent winked at her and she ducked her head. Hallie turned and met his gaze. There was a distinct tightening of her jaw before she turned back to her friends.

His cousin had made it perfectly clear that she still didn’t agree with his current career goals. He couldn’t figure out for the life of him why she wasn’t on his side. This was his life. He was only putting himself at risk. She was acting crazy.

Heck, she was acting worse than his folks had on their bad days. Then again, they still didn’t know what he was up to, and their top bad day might come all too soon.

An elbow to his side tore a yelp from his lips and he spun to find Tripp at his side, offering a glass of what was most likely sweet, iced tea.

Brent rolled his eyes. “I swear, it’s only you and Wendy who like this stuff.”

“False,” Tripp said with a flash of his white teeth. He gestured to their large extended family with a sweeping motion. “Everyone likes it. That’s why the soda in that cooler hasn’t been touched.”

Brent followed the gesture and sure enough the cooler still looked full whereas there were plenty of people drinking out of red solo cups. Whatever. The drink was nice. Refreshing even, but it wasn’t the best.

Tripp nodded toward the girls Brent had been observing. “So. How serious is it? Are there going to be wedding bells in the near future? Another engagement announcement? I’d offer to let you double up on our wedding, but that might be too soon.” Tripp grunted and doubled over when Brent sent his elbow into his gut.

“Don’t even joke about that.”