Page 24 of Ten Hammers

Jack winces, guilt etched across his face. “We were taken aback by the offer. But we ultimately turned it down because we knew it wasn’t right for you, or any of us.”

“That’s why we didn’t tell you about it,” Gav says quietly. “Because it was a non-starter, since none of us were into it. It wasn’t worth bringing it up to you. And as far as I know, Goldie didn’t know a thing about it.”

“It was a stupid idea.”

It was Axel who spoke and we all pivot to see he’s slipped back in through the back door and closed it behind him so quietly we didn’t even hear him return.

“Of course it was,” I agree, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“I mean,” he goes on. “You’ve already chosen your favorite Hammer, after all, right?”

Chapter 9

Winnie

Before I can respond, Axel goes on, “The rest of us didn’t even have a chance to toss our hats into the ring.”

My mouth drops open slightly as I try to process his words.

What hats? What ring?

And why the actual hell does he sound sad?

I want to go to him, hug him, comfort him, because that’s what my boys have always done for me when I need it, and that’s what I do for them.

Max’s eyes are on me, and his expression stops me. He’s expectant, like he’s waiting for me to fix everything but I don’t know what to do. My mind is boggled.

I glance down at my hands, twisting my fingers. Bad time to realize I didn’t bother putting on a bra and it’s chilly in the house. My nipples are standing at attention.

Not now, girls.

I turn my attention back to Axel. Max. Axel. Max.

“Have you chosen Max, baby?” Jack’s voice is low.

“Um,” I hesitate.

Max’s hands are fisted in his lap. My eyes flit to Axel. His jaw is clenched.

“Max and I have… an arrangement,” I stammer. “It… I mean. We didn’t tell anyone because…” I remember the reasoning Max gave me last night and use it. “It would have been incredibly awkward. I mean, people, as a rule, don’t announce ‘Hey, your brother and I are… something! But we haven’t defined the relationship or anything!’“ Shit. I said relationship. I shoot a furtive look at Max and his hands have relaxed. I begin again, “People don’t just shout out their personal business. Especially not to the siblings of the guy they kiss. Right?”

“I don’t mean to sound crass,” Leo says. “But the thing between you and Max has been just kissing?”

“Are you asking how far we’ve gone?” I wrinkle my nose trying to stave off the thought of Max Hammer’s head buried between my thighs. “Because that is kind of crass, Leo.”

He has the decency to look a little ashamed. But just a little.

I wait for Max to back me up on this. But it’s Mason who speaks from where he sits on the arm of Gunnar’s armchair. “Was it your idea to keep it a secret or was it Max’s?”

“Hey…” Max cuts in, the word sounding an awful lot like a warning.

I glance around the room at all my boys. The way they look at me, the hurt I can see they’re barely holding in… it’s all so confusing. I don’t know what to do, to say. Why are they this upset about me kissing Max? What the hell is this all about?

I shrug helplessly at Mason. “Initially? It was Max who wanted to keep it between the two of us. And he was right. It is the sort of thing you keep private. I agree with him on that one hundred percent, especially now that I see how you’re all reacting to us having this tiny little–”

Mason draws in a deep breath, then lets it out in a huff. “Max wanted to keep it private,” he spits out private like it’s a swear, “because we all have… or had, I guess…” he shoots a blistering glare at Max before returning his gaze to me, his eyes softening. “Because we all had a pact.”

“A pact?” I echo, confused.

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