Page 134 of Ten Hammers

“Obviously we need to put fixing that on our honey-do lists,” Jack says, as he unties me. “I am so sorry, baby. Are you okay? I’ll talk to Sam and make sure she doesn’t say anything.”

“Yes, please do that. But please make me come first, unless you did intend for this to be punishment.”

I’m probably going to die of humiliation but if I do, I want to go out satisfied.

Chapter 47

Winnie

“Ohhhhhh, Cinderella,” Cruz sing-songs, “Your chariot awaits, Darlin’.”

It’s our last weekend in the Hammer house before Anna and Popsy come home from their trip. I come out of my bedroom to see Jack standing there, holding out one arm. I shoot him a questioning look which gets no response as I loop my arm through his.

“More like a truck than a chariot,” he says to me as he leads me down the stairs, “but it’ll do the same job and deliver you to your final surprise.

“A truck. Well, that’s good,” I say as I glance down at my usual overalls, “because I forgot to wear my ball gown.”

He walks me to the front door where he transfers me to Gavin, who is waiting. But not without giving me a kiss.

After being busted by Sam, who as far as I know kept her word and kept our secrets after Jack explained that I was not cheating on Leo, we all agreed that we needed to be more careful in case of cameras.

And, with cameras around, we’d had to keep it strictly platonic, except for me and Leo, for the rest of the week.

But now we are done. The crew are all gone and it’s just us again.

“What’s going on?” I figured I’d be meeting Axel, who is one of the few Hammers whose final surprise still isn’t present and accounted for.

“I think we’re supposed to be your fairy godmothers.” Max has come up behind me and whispers, “Stand still, please.”

Then he’s putting a blindfold over my eyes.

I don’t remember this part happening in any Cinderella fairy-tale version, but I’m one million times for it. “Um…”

“Be still, Princess.”

“Okay, but what in the fresh once-upon-a-time hell is going on, guys?”

I don’t know whether to be perturbed or intrigued or ashamed of myself for hoping it’s something real damn kinky.

This princess wants all the balls. Ha.

“I can’t see anything,” I protest as Max ties the blindfold.

“That’s why I’m here,” Gavin says.

I hear the front door open and he ushers me out.

“Be home by midnight or you turn into a pumpkin!” Gunnar’s voice comes from somewhere behind me.

“Watch your step,” Gavin says as he leads me off the porch.

How? I’m blindfolded. Also, there’s nothing romantic about being in traction. Also, please-oh-please let this surprise be kinky.

“Gav,” I say. “What is up with all the pomp and circumstance?”

“That,” he says. “You will have to ask your Prince Charmings.”

“Charmings?”

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