Page 25 of The Undercover Cowboy

“Sure, but I wouldn’t if there was a chance I’d get flung off them.”

“It adds to the excitement. Don’t get me wrong—the landing on the hard ground tempers the excitement a bit. But it can be fun.”

“Fun,” Dolly said flatly.

“Well, what do you do for fun?”

“Nothing that’s going to get me killed,” she retorted.

“But you do like the adrenaline rush of doing something like this.”

“What girl wouldn’t?” she said, nudging him with her elbow. “It adds a little spice to my dull life.”

“Your life isn’t dull.”

“The life I let you see isn’t dull,” she said and then could have clamped her hand over her mouth. What was it about him that made all her guarded walls crumble?

“You don’t have to hide who you really are.”

She gave an unladylike snort. “I do if I want ad revenue and views.”

“There’s more to life than that.”

“Well of course there is, Captain Obvious, but clicks pay my bills. And it can all go away so fast.” She stared out into the darkness and tried not to feel the panic creeping up on her from the shadows. “After I left cheerleading…after my contract wasn’t renewed, I tried to make a living online doing makeup tutorials. I spent way too much money on high-end cosmetics with pretty bottles and decorative sets. I was doing great and then one day, I left a used tissue on the counter and it was in my shot. That was all anyone commented on in the video.” She shook her head. “It took a month to regain the likes and followers. So I learned to show the world perfect.”

“You’re not on camera now,” he said. “And I think you’re perfect just the way you are.”

Dolly gaped up at him. He wouldn’t if he knew the truth about her past. “Then why am I listed as Pain in The Ass on your phone?”

His lips twisted. “I didn’t know you saw that.”

“Again. I’m not an idiot, Nash.”

“You can be a PITA and be perfect at the same time.”

“I think you have a weird definition of perfect.”

“Well, then I guess I’m not perfect either.”

“Is that why you retired early from the FBI?”

It was his turn to stare out into the darkness. “No.”

“Have you ever thought about what you’d be doing, if you hadn’t left?”

“Every day since I left.”

“Then why did you?”

“Long story,” he said, turning away from her.

“Sad one, by the looks of it.”

“I’m more angry than sad. I was forced out. Basically, I followed the rules and it came back to bite me in the ass.”

She glanced down and back. “It’s a nice ass.”No. Dolly. No.She had to stop flirting with him. It wouldn’t end well.

“Thanks,” he said, with a small smile. “But there’s no sense dwelling on it. If I was out on assignment with the bureau, then I couldn’t be here, helping Shelby.”

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