In Deep — Brenda Rothert

I've got a secret.

No one knows how I blow off steam, and that's how I like it. Most of the time, I'm happy just being part of a big family in a small town. And those times I need to get away are mine and mine alone.

My secret stays safe until I meet her â€" the woman who simultaneously pisses me off and turns me on. She seems like a wallflower at first, but it turns out there's a lot more to her than I realized. Despite her hidden strength, she has a vulnerability I can't resist.

As we open up to each other, I realize she's starting to mean everything to me. She doesn't feel the same way, but that won't stop me from doing whatever it takes to keep her safe â€" even if it means exposing my secret to her. I'm in way over my head, and all I can hope is that someday, she'll feel the same way about me.