to say?”
“That if you just once tried talking back to your brothers, I guarantee they’d dial down the insults.”
Dave was the only one who openly insulted her. Pete never did. Ian… He was more subtle.
“Is this really the conversation we’re having right now?” She didn’t appreciate the distraction. She needed all her focus on being miserable. “All of a sudden you’re the family whisperer?”
Okay. Maybe he was right. Maybe if she returned their insults and innuendo, let them know she could hold her own, maybe then they’d get over themselves. But actions spoke louder than words. At the end of the week when she hoisted the trophy in victory, it would be all the sticking up for herself she needed.
All four buggies were lined up at the mouth of the trail. Her father stood in front of them, ready to start the challenge.
“You ready?” Cole asked.
She looked over at him and nodded. “As ever.”
“It’s time for us to kick some ass.”
Her heart fluttered. Us. It warmed her deep inside that he thought of them as an us.
She slammed down on the thought, locked her feelings away, and concentrated on the trail. She wasn’t here to lose her heart. And she definitely wasn’t here to win someone else’s. The only winning she’d be doing was in a scavenger hunt. She wasn’t looking to see her name on a marriage certificate. She only wanted it etched on that trophy.
Her father pointed to each buggy, and they each nodded their readiness. He lifted both arms in the air and hesitated a moment before whipping them down. “Go!”
The race was on.
All three buggies raced forward. Cole battled Dave for the lead on the right side of the trail.
Despite the speed, the dirt, and the white knuckles, the trail was beautiful. Wilderness lined each side of the asphalt path with tall trees and flowering bushes, and she could have sworn she saw a monkey. Did they have monkeys in Hawaii?
In a bold, underhanded move, Cole veered to the left and smashed their buggy into Dave and Beth. Cole took the lead and stepped on it, trying to catch Pete—who had left his pregnant wife behind for safety reasons.
“We have to go to the right.” She pointed up ahead where the road split in two. “And then another hard right.”
The trail was damn confusing.
“Got it.”
Cole cut off Ian and Cathy, careening onto their exit. The new part of the trail was less traveled. Instead of asphalt, it was gravel. It twisted and turned, splashing mud on her goggles and coveralls.
The sun shone through the trees ahead of them, and a breeze swept over her face, cooling the little strip of her cheeks that was exposed.
“Just follow the trail as it is.” She lifted her bandana as she spoke, her heart thudding fast in her chest. “We don’t have to do anything until it splits again.”
He nodded, but kept his eyes on the road. His hands squeezed the steering wheel tight, with power and skill. Her stomach fluttered at the sight. She knew just how much those hands could do, how strong yet gentle they were on her body.
She gripped the map in her lap, focusing on the beautiful scenery instead of his hands. It really was gorgeous out here. If they weren’t in a race against time, she’d wish they had a picnic basket and champagne in the back of the buggy.
“This is awesome,” he yelled over the roar of the engine.
She pulled down her bandana. The scratchy thing was driving her nuts. “Not really.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” he warned.
“Stop telling me what to do.”
Suddenly, he slammed on the breaks, and she jerked forward. A wave of muddy water cascaded up and splashed all over them.
With a scream, she held her hands out, bracing herself against the dirty water. She gripped the metal bar above as he made a sharp turn. He overcorrected, almost tipping them over. Once again, mud splashed up from the ground and covered her.
Wiping at her goggles, she tried to clean away some of the mud. She looked down at her body, then at Cole. She was much more dirty than he was. Not that he’d have cared if he was covered from head to toe.
He hollered with excitement as they picked up speed and zoomed along the trail.
She took another look at the map. They needed to veer left at the next fork. She saw it up ahead, just after a spot of uneven terrain.
“Slow down!” She pointed at the map.