Page 31 of The Undercover Cowboy

“It better be. If it’s not, expect to see Taylor running out of there in a few minutes with his underwear on and carrying his boots.”

“I could come inside with you,” he asked, wondering if he sounded hopeful or desperate.

“Tempting. But I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you,” he said. At least the night had given him some new leads to follow. And one hell of a kiss.

Chapter Ten

Dolly

Day two ofopening weekend was going strong. If all their rodeos this year were this well attended, it would go a long way to easing the pressure off her to try and get their social media posts to go viral. She was trying to find the courage to leave her home office in the Winnebago and get some more footage of the rodeo. She really should be concentrating on the other athletes in the UPRC, but she was itching to get back into the investigation.

The image of Finn catching her kissing Nash last night played on repeat in her mind like a cruel slideshow. If he told his father… God, Jefferson might remember her from her escort days, and then all hell would break loose. Her stomach churned at the thought. Maybe she should reach out to Jefferson herself, plead her case before Finn spilled the beans. With a decisive click, she looked up his number and saved it, just in case.

Dragging her thoughts away from the dangerous precipice of her past, she turned her attention to the work piled up on her virtual desk. Photos from the shoot with Nash and Donnan still needed editing. As she clicked through the raw images, a smile tugged at her lips. Donnan was undeniably adorable, but Nash… Oh boy, he looked downright sexy in those cowboy boots and tight jeans. Her mind wandered to that stolen kiss, the heat of his body pressed against hers…and Finn clicking on the light in the barn.

Blevins texted her.Stop spending time on losers. I fired all the non-performers. They won’t be back. I want to see some posts on our top athletes in all events.

“Jerk,” she ground out.

She texted back:What about Nash Weaver? Didn’t you see the buzz he’s getting with Donnan?

No one cares about the baby cow. They want action. They want T&A. What’s your sister LeAnn’s number? I think she blocked me.

She was not going to answer that question. If Blevins asked for a T&A shot from LeAnn, being blocked was probably the safest course before Dylan got wind of that nonsense. She screen-shot the conversation for the record anyway, but then she switched off her phone. She needed a break from Blevins. She powered down her computer and put it aside. It was almost time to go meet Nash at the gate anyway.

On her way, she passed by Reba who was in her veterinarian’s golf cart. Reba swung around to pick her up.

“What’s this I hear about you banging Nash in the barn last night?” Reba asked as she climbed in.

“It was one kiss.” Leave it to the rumor mill to blow things out of proportion.

“Uh-huh. Pat tells me you and Nash looked really cozy…” Reba glared at her. “I hope you’re not messing around in Nash’s investigation.”

“I’m helping.”

Reba snorted. “He doesn’t need your help with that.”

Dolly wasn’t so sure about that. “Just between you and me, he told me that Victor Lance knows something about Blevins but is too afraid to say anything.”

“What do you think he knows?” Reba frowned.

“The question is why is he covering it up?”

“Yeah, especially since Vanessa is trying to get him charged with murder. She won’t get it, but it might be manslaughter.”

“Do you think you could talk to Dr. Lance?” Dolly asked.

“Me? No. I don’t think I could control my temper. He could have killed LeAnn. And if Shane found out I was talking with the man who drugged Sverre, he’d be pissed that I didn’t ask him to come along. And I’d never ask him to talk to Victor, because then I’d need bail money.”

“Yeah, I see that.” It was discouraging news, but nothing that she hadn’t expected.

“Just be careful around Nash,” Reba said. “He’s only going to be around until he solves the case. This is just a fun fling for you, right?”

“There’s nothing between us,” she said. But she was pretty sure she was lying to Reba, and she was pretty sure Reba knew that as well. “Has Loretta sold anything today?” Dolly said, changing the subject.

“I haven’t been able to get away to see how she’s doing.”

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