Page 23

Run the Gauntlet

Sam

I ’m walking backwards, lifting my feet so I don’t trip. When we made it, I didn’t think it would end up this heavy.

“Stop there, Sam,” Zane says.

“Can I open my eyes?” Haley asks.

Dante already has his eyes open, and his mouth is hanging slack.

“Go ahead, Sugar.” I’m smiling so wide my face hurts.

Dante drops his hands from Haley’s eyes, pulling her back to his front. His hands settle on her hips.

Haley blinks. “Holy moly.” She and Dante move together. “You made a dining room table. Like an honest-to-goodness table.”

“Every family should have a table. Zane designed it,” I say.

“Sam found the wood.”

Haley runs her hand over the top. “It’s so smooth.”

“Coconut oil,” Zane says.

“It really does look nice.” Dante ducks his head under the bottom, inspecting it. “This is going to make eating...” He stands and turns away.

“Bloody hell. I think we made the heartless bastard cry.”

“I’m not crying.” Dante blinks up at me from his crouched position.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to work with my hands on wood. I knew Haley would like it, but I didn’t think we’d bring the chef to tears.

Family. It’s something Haley said that has had my head spinning. I thought that’s what a crew was, but not like this. I really would give my life for any of them.

I grip Dante’s shoulder. “Nothing wrong with tears.”

“Thank you. This is . . .”

Zane clears his throat. “Let’s get it into position.”

When it’s centered, Haley bustles around getting the top of it decorated like the stews always do on the yacht. But hers is even more beautiful. In the middle of the table, she places something covered with a piece of burlap.

Calvin’s back from the beach––he never naps long. Not with the WaveRunner to work on. I’ve helped some. He’s taken it apart. I’m not sure it’s ever going to go back together.

Easton appears from down the trail. “Wow. This looks fantastic.” He pulls Haley in for a hug. “Happy IFD.”

“IFD? Oh, Island Festival Day.” She gives him a quick kiss. “Happy IFD to you too!”

She goes right down the line, kisses and wishes. It’s not a competition, but we’re making it one. Zane dips her, and when she comes upright, she wobbles.

“Happy Island Festival Day, Sam.”

“Happy IFD, Sugar.” I chuckle and take her warm and smooth lips with mine. I hold her waist and deepen the kiss. Fuck, I turn into a teenager whenever I get my hands on her. I could kiss her all day long.

“Enough, Miller.” Calvin taps my shoulder.

I shouldn’t be an ass, but it makes me turn her away from him. I want to growl out mine , toss her over my shoulder, and run into the jungle. She moans into my mouth, and I let her go. Her blue eyes hold mine for a moment.

Calvin kisses Haley, but he doesn’t play along and wish her a happy Island Festival Day. When their lips part, he cocks half a smile at her. “Are we ready?”

“Ready for what? We’re not going to eat until later. And?—”

“Come with me.” Calvin grabs her hand. “The rest of you too.”

There’s bamboo hurdles set up on the beach, and out in the water, there are clusters of coconuts floating like buoys.

“It’s the Island Festival Games,” Calvin decrees.

“Oh, like the Olympics?” Haley claps. We do this sort of thing for guests all the time. Setting up relays or hula hoops. But those are things the deck hands pull out of the toy hauler room. Everything on the beach, Calvin’s made. And he made the chicken coop yesterday.

“When did you sleep?” Zane places his hand on Calvin’s shoulder.

“Full moon. Didn’t need to sleep.”

“Of course you need to sleep. But this is wonderful. What game are we going to play first?” Haley’s holding on to Calvin’s arm.

Calvin nods. “You can decide that. Hurdles, soccer, and the triathlon.”

“Don’t we need bikes for a triathlon?” she asks.

“Not if one person has to carry the other person,” Calvin says.

“I pick Haley.” Zane’s quick to grab Haley’s hand.

“Nope. Rocks.” Calvin pulls six rocks out of his pocket. Three matching sets: black, white, and sandy brown. He cups them in two hands and shakes them around. “Pick a rock but don’t show it.” He holds it above his head. “Haley first.”

“Okay, this is fun.” She grips the stone in her fist.

I’m the last to pick before Calvin. He moves one stone into each hand and holds them out in front of his chest.

“Can I say it?” Haley’s smiling.

“Sure,” Calvin says.

We all have our fists in the circle.

“Reveal.” Haley giggles. And I’m all smiles. The ebony black rock in her hand matches the one in mine.

“Trade you?” Dante asks.

“No way. I’ve got the best partner.” I wrap my arm around Haley’s shoulder.

Zane and Easton both have brown rocks. Leaving Calvin and Dante as a pair.

“Fine. Don’t worry, Viking. I can carry you.”

That’s when I see Easton staring at the water.

I cock my head to Haley, who picks up what I’m saying wordlessly as she moves over to Easton.

She kisses his cheek. I’m fucking expecting him to go sit on the log and not participate.

I haven’t seen him in the water since he came back. Maybe he was in yesterday.

“Let’s get moving.” Calvin points out the markers he’s placed for the course. “Okay, on my mark?—”

Haley jumps at Calvin. “Wait! We need a minute to come up with a strategy.”

“You better be fast, Haley. The Viking judge doesn’t put up with time delays.” Dante laughs.

“One minute,” Calvin barks. He turns to Dante. “I’m carrying you. Don’t even try to carry me.”

Dante throws his hands up.

“What’s our strategy?” she whispers in my ear.

“Are we playing to win?”

She furrows her brow at me. “Of course.”

“Against a giant and a gold medalist?”

“Yes . . . We can do our best.”

I suck in my lower lip because I can’t believe I’m going to suggest... “Or we cheat.”

“Sam.” She playfully smacks the side of my arm.

I shrug back.

“How?”

“A little distraction?”

She tugs on the bottom of her shirt and pulls it over her head.

She’s wearing her bikini top underneath it.

With a quick tug on the strap, it drops around her waist. Damn, her breasts are perfect.

I’m not going to let her run with her top off.

No, but I know for a fact running while you’re hard. .. there are easier things in life.

“Whoa, whoa, the Russian team is going to need to be disqualified for distracting the other contestants,” Dante yells.

“I’ll allow it,” Calvin says.

“Fine.” Dante strips off his pants. “Ready.” His massive dick hangs like another leg. How the hell is he going to swim with it there? “Put your top back on, Sassy. We don’t want the girls getting damaged.”

“Her strap was loose.” I help her tie her top up, but Dante doesn’t pull his pants back on.

Calvin’s at the strip of bamboo that marks the start. “Ready?”

There are nods all around. Zane gives a “Bloody hell, yes.”

Calvin raises his arm. “Go.”

We take off running. I thought with Calvin’s size, I might be able to beat him. But the guy has some pep. Zane hits the water first. And when I say hits I mean hits . He high-steps into the waves and belly flops into the water.

Haley’s behind him. I had no idea she could run that fast. It’s impressive. Calvin and Easton are behind them. Dante’s a few paces behind me.

Things change as soon as we get through the breakers.

Calvin’s strokes have him keeping up with Easton.

Haley and I are evenly pacing. Dante and Zane pull up the rear.

But holy hell, it’s a lot farther than I thought.

Running is one thing, but swimming it? My lungs are burning, but Haley’s next to me, and for a second her eyes twinkle at mine in the sunlight.

I’m gasping for air as we head out onto the beach. There’s a line of palm fronds where we’re supposed to change to carrying. Zane and Dante are just rounding the corner, coming out of the water. Calvin and Easton are waiting for them.

“Ready?” I ask Haley.

“Yes.” She jumps onto my back. We have to run down to the spot where we entered the water.

I’m half a dozen steps down the beach before Calvin has Dante on his back and Zane and Easton are having a standoff about who’s carrying who.

We pace three strides for every two of Calvin’s but we’re not losing ground.

Haley’s holding on tightly to my shoulders.

I’m not sure what Dante’s doing to Calvin, but he’s grunting at him. Easton and Zane have figured it out.

“Easton is carrying Zane, and they’re catching us,” Haley squeals. And it pushes me to pick up the pace. “You’ve got this, Sam.”

We’re close to the finish line, but Easton and Zane are right on our heels. But we’re over the line first.

I swing Haley around to my chest and kiss her. Her wet hair’s plastered to the side of her head. We’re both covered in sand from it kicking up at us. I let her slide to the sand.

“We won.” She jumps up and gives me another hug.

“We did.”

“We’re all winners with you, Sassy.” Dante’s sitting on the sand, his legs caked in it.

“No, they are the winners,” Easton says. And I can’t read what he’s thinking.

Haley collapses down next to him. “Are you okay?”

He laughs. “The earth didn’t open up and swallow me whole?”

Haley furrows her forehead.

“That’s the first race I’ve lost in ten years. Of any kind.” He lies back in the sand.

“It was just for fun.” Haley’s hand lands on his chest.

“I know.” He lifts his head and takes her hand in his. “But a loss is a loss. You won it.” He kisses her. “Good game, Sam.” He shakes my hand.

“Thanks.” I nod at him. “I had a good teammate.”

“You did,” Easton says.

“Hey, I was a good teammate. I could barely swim before I started boating. Shit, I wasn’t any good at it six months ago,” Zane says.

“You did great, Zane.” Easton stands up and pats Zane’s back. “We’ll get them next time. I can teach you how to improve your strokes and do something about your scissor kicks.”

“Your shoulder and arm are okay?” Haley smooths sand from Easton’s back. It’s something she does for all of us. Taking care of us, making every day a little better.

“Yeah, Firefly. I’m good. Now we need to get you your medal.” Easton cranes his neck like he’s trying to find something for her to have.

“I’ve got that taken care of, Rockwell.” Calvin jogs to where his shirt and towel sit on the big rock. From a bag, he pulls two circles of wood on a vine cord. “I’ve got the hardware.” Calvin places one over Haley’s neck and then one over mine.

I’m too busy looking at Haley smiling up at Calvin to examine the wood hanging around my neck.

“You’ve carved a map of the island.” Her mouth falls into an O as she gawks at Calvin.

“Shit, if I’d known this was the prize, I would have found another gear.” Dante laughs.

“We’ve got two more events,” Calvin says. He points to the hurdles and the nets down the beach.

Zane and Easton each have two medals around their necks by the time we settle down at the table.

Zane drops his head to the polished wood. “I’m knackered.”

“Well, you didn’t have to score all the goals.” Haley places a bowl in front of him.

“Yes, I did,” he says, head held high and smiling broadly. “I didn’t realize how much I missed being out on the pitch, playing footy.”

“You did great.” Haley drops a kiss on his neck.

“Thanks, Little Bird. You did, too.” Zane lightly tugs on her wooden medal and gives her another kiss. “You’re not a loser.” He tosses a fallen leaf from the banner at Dante.

“Careful. It’s not smart to piss off the cook.” Dante raises his eyebrows at Zane.

Penny barks, short barks, but not her I’m playing bark. Three more in succession.

“Where is she?” Haley steps away from the table.

Pepper runs past, her hackles up as she races down the path away from camp. There’s a thundering snort coming from down the path, and the ferns are vibrating. My stomach twists, and time freezes as we all stare at where the noise is coming from.