In Deep
by 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 – 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 – 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.
April
I pressed my lips together, silencing my indignation. Mousy?
Librarian? Who the hell did Mason Lockhart think he was?
If only I was the kind of woman who’d fly out from behind
the corner I was hiding around and defend myself. Poke a finger against his
chest and show him just how unmousy I was.
But I wasn’t that kind of woman. His words hurt because of
the spark of truth they held. My cheeks were flaming with embarrassment as I managed
to sneak into another room to hide from view so they wouldn’t see me. I’d die
of shame if Reed and Mason saw me, or if they knew I’d accidentally overheard
their conversation.
I’d been waiting to meet Mason and thank him for helping
move my stuff in. Ivy and I got back early and I had headed down to my room to
start unpacking. But I heard the brothers talking as they headed to my room and
I didn’t want to interrupt so I managed to make myself scarce. But I still
heard every word of their conversation. Fat lot of good that had done me. Now I
knew Reed’s brother thought I was a frumpy, mousy bore.
But, seriously, did Mason Lockhart think people got dressed
up for moving day? I’d just pulled a U-Haul truck from Seattle to Lovely,
Missouri, stopping at motels on the way. Today I’d completed the last leg of
the journey and judging by the dark skies it looked as if I arrived in the nick
of time. I’d be willing to guess that snow was in the forecast. This morning,
after I’d showered and looked through my stuff for my hair dryer and clean clothes,
I hadn’t been able to find exactly what I wanted.
And that was why my long curly hair was wound into a bun and
I was wearing a random, longish skirt. But the cardigan? That was totally on
purpose because it was soft and warm. Mason Lockhart could piss off if he
didn’t like it.
I’d seen him at Ivy and Reed’s summer wedding. The Lockhart
brothers were pretty much impossible to miss. They were the quintessential tall,
dark and handsome man – times five. Other than Reed, I didn’t know any them.
Except, possibly, Mason. I doubted I’d ever forget his name now.
(Book 1) Down Deep Purchase Links
Brenda Rothert lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three sons. She was a daily print journalist for nine years, during which time she enjoyed writing a wide range of stories.
These days Brenda writes New Adult Romance in the Contemporary and Dystopian genres. She loves to hear from readers by email at bjrothert@sbcglobal.net.
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