Page 66 of The Undercover Cowboy

“I mentioned Jefferson Laker to Shelby as a potential investor. She’s considering it.”

“Will working with him be a problem for you?” Nash asked, a flash of concern on his face.

“Not anymore.” And she meant it. The people who needed to know about her past, knew it. She wasn’t going to worry about her secret getting out.

He reached down to hold her hand. “Good.”

One of the bulls charged the fence, testing its strength. Dolly grimaced. “I bet you’re glad you don’t have to ride any of these monsters. Your undercover cowboy days are over.”

“I think I might actually miss it.”

“Really?” She cocked her head up at him.

The corner of his eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Nope. I lied.”

“Nash Weaver, I’m shocked.”

Two kids who were standing close to them, approached them excitedly.

“Are you Nash Weaver?” one asked.

He nodded, trying to mask his discomfort at the sudden attention. “Yeah, that’s me.”

“Can we take a picture with you and Donnan?” the other chimed in, practically bouncing on the spot.

Dolly hid her delighted grin behind her hand as Nash agreed, leading them over to the petting zoo where a crowd of young fans eagerly waited. The moment he appeared, they swarmed him, clamoring for autographs and photos.

“I forgot to tell you,” Dolly said, her voice barely audible above the excited chatter. “Your posts with Donnan have gone viral these last few days. You’re trending.”

Dolly watched Nash blink in surprise, clearly overwhelmed by the sudden appreciation for him and his furry little friend. A rodeo star—him. It was ironic, considering he wasn’t any good at bull riding. Yet, here he was, signing hats and posing for selfies, almost basking in the glow of his unintended fame. And the best part? He didn’t have to get tossed on his ass today.

“Guess I’ll leave bull riding to the professionals,” Nash said.

“Good. I’ve got enough on my plate without worrying about you getting gored by one of those things.” She glanced at her phone, then back at him. “There are more kids coming to see Donnan. You might want to take a breather and sneak away for a bit. Let’s go around the back area.”

They slipped behind the petting zoo toward the animal trailers, expecting a moment of solitude and maybe a little private kissing time. Instead, she did a double take when she spotted two familiar goons—the ones from Blevins’s office security footage—engrossed in conversation with Ryan Chester from Rocky Ridge Ranch. Nash pulled her behind a nearby trailer with him.

Dolly, camera in hand, snapped several quick photos, capturing the exchange of thick wads of cash between the men. Nash turned on the recorder on his cell phone, boosting the signal to catch every word.

“…Blevins won’t know the actual amounts delivered,” Ryan was saying, his voice dripping with contempt. “He’s in the hospital for a few more days. Man, he loves his powder more than his profits.”

“We should just cut him out altogether,” one of the goons said.

They watched from their hiding spot as the three men moved away. After they disappeared into the bustle of the rodeo, Nash let out a deep sigh and sagged against the trailer.

“Holy shit. We nailed him. I’ve got to let Miles know it wasn’t the Jaripeo Ranch; it was Rocky Ridge that was smuggling.”

She watched as he texted:Wrong border. It was coming in from Canada, not Mexico. Check the pics and recording I’m sending.He attached the pictures and audio clip and hit send.

“We should get out of here and let the FBI do their job,” Dolly said, with her hand on his arm.

Nash looked wistfully in the direction where the three men had gone. After a moment, he nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”

*

Nash

Dolly’s fingers playedwith the edge of the popcorn box as she scanned the arena. The stands were packed, spectators buzzing for that wild rodeo action. The smell of sawdust and leather mixed with the salty scent of popcorn. Nash, next to her, grabbed a handful of popcorn, his eyes on the dirt track where cowboys and cowgirls showed off their skills. It was no surprise that Finn took first place in bull riding, but Taylor Keating coming in second? That was a shock.

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