Page 11 of Ten Hammers

“The house is a wreck. It’s not worth it.”

Mason gives me an encouraging smile. “It’s an opportunity to do so much more than rebuild that wreck of a house, Win.”

“Really?” I snap. “Like what?”

“We know it’s a lot to take in,” Max begins, his voice gentle. “We know you’ve never wanted to go back, that the bad memories have always haunted you. But–” He tries to put a hand on my shoulder, but I can’t handle being so close to him. Not when emotions are growing into a tempest in my chest and I don’t want to cry.

I pull back. “But?”

“Winnie.” He runs a hand through his blond locks. “You know we’ll be there every step of the way. We’ll help you bury the ghosts.”

“Burying my ghosts isn’t as simple as redecorating outdated rooms or fixing broken windows,” I hiss. It makes me tremble, the thought of opening those old wounds. The rotten walls of that house will always hold too much ugliness and pain.

A rap at the door and “Room service!” called out in an enthusiastic voice cuts through the tension.

Axel moves for the door first, sliding his thick black glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I got it.”

I’m not hungry anymore. Standing up, I somehow make it to the balcony door on unsteady legs.

“Win–”

It’s Jack, and he sounds stricken for some reason. Well, he can join the club.

“I need some air.”

A cool breeze hits my face as I step out onto the balcony and try not to break down. Until now, I’ve managed to dam up my tears, but the river threatens to burst free.

How could they all throw this at me? How could Jack, who only just held me through a breakdown mere days ago, think I’d want this?

I place a hand on the railing to steady myself as I take in the city lights and sounds below. Jack’s words continue to echo in my mind. They twist up my conflicted heart.

Their plan means more time with my boys. I’m not ready to let them go. But exorcizing the ghosts of my past isn’t a step I’ve ever planned to take. My whole body sags under the weight of the thought.

“Winnie?”

I’m not ready to turn around. By his voice, I know it’s Leo.

And then, “Win?” It’s Theo, as well.

“Come here, baby,” Leo says softly, and I can feel the space between us shortening as he comes up behind me. Large, strong hands circle my waist, gently tugging me back, hoping I’ll let go of the railing, to sink into his rock-hard chest.

Of course, I do, my tight stomach muscles releasing as he gathers me up against him. He kisses my temple, once, twice, and then he rests his cheek against the side of my head.

Theo moves before me, fits himself like a puzzle piece against the front of me, his hands settling higher up my side. He’s nearly skimming my breasts, although I don’t point it out in fear that he’ll move his hands away.

And I don’t want Theo or Leo to move an inch. All the tension leaves my body as I’m surrounded by them, enveloped in them, every one of my senses overtaken by two of my favorite boys.

Leo breaks the silence, whispering into my ear, making me shiver. “Six more weeks of this, of us. That’s something, isn’t it?”

I look up into Theo’s eyes, intense green and filled with hope and uncertainty. I know Leo’s look will match. Their hope tugs at my heart.

“Of course it’s something.”

It would be everything.

“Just think,” Theo adds, his thumb sliding along my ribs. “It could be 1 Girl, 10 Hammers, but this time without any cameras, without any fans trying to sneak on set. Nothing but us.”

Theo’s touch moves dangerously closer to my boob and an automatic burst of excitement zaps through me. I have had plenty of Losing My Virginity fantasies related to 1 Girl, 10 Hammers that start just like this.

---