Dirty Little Secrets

If it's true we're all flawed creatures living in an angry world, Jenna Kincaid has unwillingly cornered the market on both. Having survived the accident that had taken her young brother's life, speculation and innuendo set the stage for a small Texas town's gossip mongers to feast upon. At sixteen, she's still the talk of the town, no matter that she's an honor student, has few friends, and not allowed a social life, she's Riverdale's favorite subject of interest. When a rare opportunity to attend Ben O'Bryan's newly inherited ranch for a housewarming party in the next county presents itself, she's able to sneak away for the one night that is destined to make or break her. Ultimately, it does both. Now, it's five years later. Jenna has earned her MBA and is working as a high-ranking Geologist for a major Exploration Company. When she's called back to the office on a Saturday evening for a client appointment. Ben is the last man she expects to see, standing, waiting for their business meeting to commence. No way was she doing this!..It was a bogus gig, anyway, since she knew even if there was an ocean of prime crude beneath Ben's homestead pasture, he'd never allow drilling, there. So what does he really want? Instantaneously, the same question echoes in her mind. Five years ago, Ben had asked her the same question, after finding her beaten and broken, carelessly tossed to the street in Riverdale. '..To learn how to take care of myself and my baby without any interference from anyone.. That's what I want', she'd hiccuped through her tears. And he'd done that. He'd supplied her every need, removed each obstacle, and given her safe passage to fulfill her dreams without looking back. Beneath Ben O'Bryan's protective custody, no one dared hurt her, again. A real Texas gentleman, Ben reached for his Stetson with one hand while politely offering his other for her handshake. When their hands touched, their eyes met and held while a simultaneous spark of familiar heat flared between them. “Jenny,” he said quietly, I've kept my promise. Jake's my son, too. It's time he knew that.” Jenna nearly melted from suppressed anger. What she wanted to do more than anything this very moment was haul off and kick him.. hard! Just so, he'd get whatever other ideas he might have out of his hot-blooded mind. He'd find out soon enough that she wasn't a vulnerable, teenage girl, anymore. She could handle him, now. Faintly she could hear a train whistle blow in her mind...She was Amtrak, Ben was Southern Pacific-zooming ahead at rocketing speed.. and Jake was the little calf caught on the tracks between them!