Page 82 of Ten Hammers

“I loved you before the sex, I mean. I’ve said it hundreds of times in my head. I just couldn’t hold it back anymore.”

She looks up at me with those big eyes. And unless she’s just seen the ghost of Gram, floating around my head, I think it’s safe to say my words are putting an expression of extreme terror on her face.

She doesn’t love me back, clearly.

Well, fuckity-fuck.

“So…” I say hoping to change the subject. “This doesn’t count as my date, does it? Because I was looking forward to tonight.”

To my extreme dismay, she looks more panicked than before.

Fuck, how did I manage to make this worse?

“Do you hear Jack calling us?” she exclaims, suddenly. “I think I hear him. We should go.”

“No–” I start to answer.

Don’t go! I want to finish.

But what I say instead is, “Sounds good, bud.”

I don’t know why I said that, to be honest, but now she’s paying attention instead of walking away.

Her expression is incredulous. “Did… you just call me bud?”

With a sheepish grin, I shrug.

And then, because I don’t want things to stay weird between us, but I am so out of my element here, I resort to childish antics and give her perfect butt cheeks a two-palm squeeze before dashing off ahead of her.

“Hurry up, peach! We’ve got work to do.”

Chapter 30

Winnie

I hadn’t actually heard Jack calling us, and I’m pretty sure Diesel could see right through my lame excuse to beeline away from emotion. But bud? What the hell was that?

More importantly, I LOVE YOU? What the hell was that?!

I think there needs to be a new rule, possibly the most important one: No one tells Winnie that they love her. Not while her heart is fully cracked into ten even pieces.

Just the thought of Diesel’s words makes me panic. And forget where I’m going or what I’m doing, which is why, as I round the corner, I smash face-first into Jack’s chest. Possibly breaking my nose on his rock hard pecs.

My nose smarts, my eyes prick with tears, and I howl, which summons the whole crew instantly.

“Are you okay?” Jack asks, holding me by the shoulders. He tilts his head this way and that, examining me, as the others gather around, all of them concerned.

I groan, but more from embarrassment than pain.

“Well, you’re not bleeding,” Doctor Jack says with a nod. “That’s good. Still, maybe we should go across the street and get an ice pack to–”

“No way, Mr. We’ve Got To Stay On Schedule.” Gunnar shakes his head with a glare. “You’re not getting any alone time with her today. Not after you interrupted mine.”

I can still feel Gunnar’s head between my thighs when I look at him. A hot flush creeps up my neck.

Then I catch Diesel watching me.

I’m in love with you.

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