Page 34 of Ten Hammers

Voyeuristic, sure, but hey, they’re all in swim shorts, from what I can see. It’s good, clean, family fun.

Unfortunately.

“I said we made out, not that we made out after they all did stripteases for me and got out their measuring tapes.”

The deep azure of the pool catches the sunlight and sparkles like stars, accentuating the chiseled bodies of Gavin and Gunnar, both waist-deep in the water. The sight releases a new wave of warmth between my legs.

“So what you’re telling me is that all those fine pieces of Hammer meat want you, and you’re turning them down?” she asks bluntly. “All of them?”

“Well, yeah.”

I can hear Goldie wagging her head at me in the pause before she says, “You know, silly girl, it’s actually no surprise to me that you turned them all down. I know your doubt about whether or not you’re worthy of being… that is to say hammered by a Hammer, is rearing its nasty little head right now–”

“Golds, I just want love!”

Goldie laughs softly. “I know you do, babe. But you’ve always been so preoccupied by how the show’s audience sees you that you’re oblivious to the way all your boys watch you. You may have a hard–no pun intended–time believing it, but I would not be surprised at all if every single one of them wants to give you that love. All that hot, hot, hot love.”

She drops it like it’s not an emotional bomb and then carries on cheerfully.

“If I were you, I would do it. And by ‘it’, I’m strictly referring to the Winnie’s Favorite Hammer but not-televised thing this time. No eliminations, obviously… but just because they can’t all have you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one of them. Go on, my big-hearted, vibrant, sexy-as-hell best friend. Make me sickeningly jealous by dating all of them, at least until you figure out which one is Mr. Perfect For You. Go get that happily ever after, girl.”

She says it like it’s easy. But what if they’re all Mr. Perfect For Me?

My attention is drawn to Gavin as his piercings catch a sunbeam.

The intricate celtic knot on Jack’s upper back wavers underwater as he tries to swim past Diesel.

Diesel grins as he splashes Jack, and my heart squeezes.

“I could never choose.”

“Yes, you could, dear naive little one. If you keep an open mind.”

I shake my head, even though she can’t see me. “It’s not my mind that’s the problem, Golds. It’s my heart. My heart wants them all.”

She snorts. “Wins. Despite what our industry–”

“Former industry,” I correct. “At least for me.”

“Despite what the reality television industry is selling us, you cannot be in love with multiple people at the same time. You just can’t. Eventually, you’ll discover for yourself that though you may love them all, you’re only really, and I mean truly, in love with one of them.”

She doesn’t have the same view right now as I have, clearly.

“We’re going to have to agree to disagree here.”

“Deal, but… I still say you’re nuts if you don’t go for it.”

“You’re not thinking through the consequences.”

“The only consequences I see are you having only very sore–”

“Good talk, Goldie. I have to go now!”

She laughs. “They make creams for that, though! GO FOR IT. Keep me up to date.”

Rolling my eyes, I head straight for the pool. I think over what I’m going to say to the guys as the breeze carries the faint scent of chlorine, mixing it with the hint of coconut. It’s a combo which brings back all the best memories from childhood summers and stirs up all the conflicting emotions within me again.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Axel calls from the side of the pool. “Want me to apply your sunscreen?”

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