Page 37 of Boss with Benefits

RACHEL

"Smack them with the paddle! Smack them with the paddle!"

I sliced my double-sided oar into the churning river and pulled the kayak forward. It bumped over a rock, and I slid back into Derrick's lap.

Oops.

Valeria and Frankie's kayak was right behind us, and Tina and Maria were trailing behind them. Tina was the one screaming at Valeria to hit our kayak so we'd be pushed into the bank of the river and they could slide ahead.

Derrick and I were in the lead by five points in this crazy competition, despite him complaining about us being teammates. But he had no choice. Everyone else was coupled up except us.

After we arrived last night, we lounged around eating grilled meat and a ton of chips and dip while I avoided questions about my personal life. Typically, I don't shy away from talking about myself, but everything was so fucked up and confusing right now.

Derrick's dad had been polite, and his mom had barely acknowledged me. They had spent most of their time watching the grandkids, giving Maria and her husband, Jimmy, a break.

The family had stayed up and played board games, but I had been exhausted and had gone to bed early, which was lucky because Maria had woken the house up with a bullhorn at eight in the morning.

The games had begun at nine, way too early for me, but here we were, four games and half a day later, flying down the rapids in a one-person kayak. Hence, why I was practically in Derrick's lap.

We had started with a swim race across the smooth as silk lake this morning, churning up the peaceful water. They had taken it easy on me until I zipped past everyone with my shark-like speed.

Thank you, Amma, for all the summers I had to wake up early and freeze my ass off for neighborhood swim team.

After that, the gloves were off. No one held back.

Next was archery, which—no shocker—Derrick was really good at, and I, surprisingly, didn't suck.

Then everyone ganged up on Derrick and me during paintball. I had bruises the size of golf balls, and my skin looked like I had taken a bath in a rainbow.

"Your family fights dirty," I huffed as we pulled three strokes ahead. I slid forward and backward as I paddled, hitting his groin with my ass.

"Move forward," he grumbled, rowing hard with his oar.

My heels dug into the footwells, and I tugged my butt forward. It was slippery from the water sluicing into the boat, and I slid right back between his legs.

"I can't. It's too slick."

Derrick mumbled something and tilted his hips away, but it was no use. It was snug in our little kayak.

"Dude, if you get a boner, I'll take it as a compliment. Now concentrate."

"I'll take it as an insult. I thought my dick had better judgment," Derrick deadpanned.

I slapped his thigh, resting my hand on the firm muscle. "You made a joke."

"Hands on the paddle!"

"Sir, yes, sir," I said and did as instructed.

Twenty yards downstream there was a group of people on the right bank, waving their hands and yelling. I spotted Derrick's parents, who were disqualified when his dad was caught cheating at paintball—he was double-fisting the rifles.

I guessed that wasn't allowed in the Jacques Family Olympics, but it was very Matt Damon inJason Bourne. Next to them was Maria's husband and their three kids.

To my bewilderment, the kids weren't allowed to play in the so-called official games. There was a mini-Olympics later in the day for them.

I stole a glance behind me. Valeria and Frankie were a boat length away.

"Faster, Muscles!" I screamed. My little arms were rowing with all my might, but it was Derrick doing most of the work with his tree trunk arms.

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