He began to work his way toward her and Chloe but a rangy cowboy beat him to it. Flash. Damn it. He grabbed Renee’s hand and kissed the back of it—then startled and stared at her face. Crap, he’d recognized her. Oliver needed to get over there before Flash did something stupid. Well, Flash always did something stupid. All Oliver could do was hope that Flash took a swing at Wellington instead of making a big to-do over Renee.
“Mr. Lawrence? I need to speak to you. Right now.”
Groaning, Oliver cast a worried look at the Chloe/Pete, Renee/Flash train wreck in action before he turned. Surely they could all keep from killing each other for fifteen seconds. “Yes?”
A man glared up at him. Next to him stood a young woman with huge hair and a skintight leather skirt that was so short every single cowboy—and a few cowgirls—were staring.
“Brantley Gibbons.” When Oliver blinked in confusion, the little man said, “Brooke Bonner’s manager? And this is Brooke Bonner?” in a tone of voice that made it clear he thought Oliver was an idiot.
Right. The up-and-coming country singer performing after the rodeo tonight. Oliver cast another worried glance back at his siblings and Renee, but the crowds had shifted and he couldn’t see them.
He put on as welcoming a smile as he could. “Yes, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” He shook hands. “Welcome to the All-Around All-Stars Rodeo. We’re thrilled you were able to be here tonight.” The man’s eyes narrowed. Oliver knew that look. Something wasn’t quite right. “What can I help you with?”
“For starters,” Brantley Gibbons drawled, “you could see to Ms. Bonner’s dressing room. We very clearly stated in the contract that there was to be—”
“Why didn’t you tell me Renee was here!” This shout was accompanied by a punch to the arm that was hard enough to knock Oliver a step to the side.
“Shut up, Flash,” Oliver ground out. He spun to see his annoying younger brother with his arm around Renee’s shoulders and the world—well, it didn’t go red. But it went a little pinkish.
Flash, being Flash, did not shut up. “How long have you been hiding her?” He sidestepped Oliver’s attempt to grab him—and in the process, knocked Renee’s hat off her head. “I haven’t seen Renee since we were little—but maybe I should’ve checked her out.”
“Damn it,” Oliver growled, trying to step between Renee and...everyone. Because everyone was staring now. “Flash, shut up.”
Renee tried to bend over to grab her hat, but Brooke Bonner beat her to it. “You look familiar—have we met?” the singer asked, handing the straw hat back to Renee.
Brooke’s manager made an alarming noise. The look of shock on his face wasn’t good. And it only got worse when he said, “You’re Renee Preston, aren’t you?” in a way that made the hair on the back of Oliver’s neck stand straight up.
Flash launched the grin that made him a favorite with the ladies. “She was. Got herself married a few years ago?” He had the nerve to look Renee up and down. “Missed my invitation.”
“Knowing you,” Renee said, her smile stiffening as she cut another glance at Gibbons, “you would’ve used the wedding to get even for that one prank when...”
Flash held up his hands in surrender, but at least he was laughing. “God, I’ve missed you, Renee. You never did play fair, did you?”
The only reason Oliver didn’t break his little brother’s jaw was because the man between them was staring up at Renee with something Oliver wished wasn’t rage—but was.
“No, she doesn’t,” the manager said, menace bleeding into his voice.
Renee looked at him with panic in her eyes. Shit. He had to get her out of here before anyone started snapping pictures. At the very least, he needed to shut Flash up.
He moved toward her as Flash went on, “Damn sorry I missed—Ow!”
Chloe beat Oliver to the punch. “Mr. Gibbons, Ms. Bonner, hello. I’m Chloe Lawrence and—” she paused to grind the heel of her boot into Flash’s foot again “—we’re thrilled you’re here. I see you’ve already met Flash, one of our featured riders and, unfortunately, my brother.”
“Son of a—Damn it, Chloe, get off my—Ow!” He shoved Chloe aside and glared. “That was unsporting of you.”
Brooke Bonner giggled and Flash’s head whipped around. “Hello, Ms. Bonner.” With an exaggerated limp, he stepped closer, whipped off his hat and executed a perfect bow, somehow managing to get ahold of her hand and kiss it, just like he’d kissed Renee’s. “Flash Lawrence, at your command.”
Bonner batted her eyes at him. “Why do they call you Flash?”
If there was one thing Flash was good for, it was a distraction. As long as his attention was on Brooke, no one but the manager was paying any attention to Renee. Oliver got between Gibbons and Renee and started backing up. Renee hooked her hand through his waistband and held on tight.
Chloe let out a long-suffering sigh. “Because that’s about how long it takes for him to rub you wrong.”
“Or right,” Flash cut in. He still had Bonner’s hand.
Another cowboy—Oliver didn’t remember this kid’s name—crowded up. “Brooke, baby—” But that was as far as he got before Flash had him by the shirt and shoved him back.
“You don’t talk to her like that,” he growled, then added in a louder voice, “None of you talk to her like that. She’s a lady and you will treat her as one or I will personally make sure you live to regret it.”
Normally, Oliver would be irritated by Flash’s ability to make any situation about him. But he’d neatly redirected the crowd’s attention away from Renee. Gibbons seemed to remember where he was. He pivoted and headed straight to Brooke’s side, shooing back the crowd that had
