Page 56 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

Jolly Ranger Jim said he wouldn't divulge everything we were doing, wanting to surprise us instead, but he did reveal thatthe nights would be glorious gatherings around the campfire, complete with s'mores, guitars, and singing.

"Ah, yes," I whispered to Dee, "nothing says team-building like off-key campfire songs and sticky fingers."

She covered her mouth, elbowing me at the same time. "Would you stop?" she huffed. "I'm trying to pay attention."

I indulged her and kept quiet for the rest of the speech, practically elbowing everyone out of the way so I could walk near Dee once we finally took off for our hike. She was popular, though, and Mona didn't leave her other side.

The path started out nicely enough, a wide, gentle trail that wound through the trees with that typical forest scent and birds chirping in the background. The team walked in a loose group, chatting and joking with each other, the mood high with anticipation.

As we marched on, the terrain began to shift, subtly at first, turning rockier, the incline steeper and the trees thicker. The only sounds now were footsteps on crunchy leaves as we all navigated the uneven ground, roots, and a few fallen branches.

Ranger Jim, who'd been leading the way with an enthusiastic bounce in his step, suddenly stopped at the edge of a large clearing. He turned to face us as we all looked on.

"Right around the corner, folks, we have our very first challenge."

We walked a little bit more, and a low wooden structure came into view, partially hidden by the undergrowth, but I could just make out some ropes and platforms strung up between some trees.

"Looks like some kind of obstacle course," I said out loud.

I felt Dee stiffen beside me. "Um, sounds like fun?"

The hesitation in her voice did not go unnoticed by me. "Not your thing?" I asked.

"I'm kind of more of a city girl."

Ah, interesting. So this weekend was maybe my chance to be the white knight and come to her rescue if I played my cards right.

"I've got you."

She didn't respond, just let everyone go ahead of her, most of our co-workers more than eager to get started. I brought up the rear, following her up some wooden steps where another ranger waited for us.

Jim had gone ahead, leading the group, showing us how it was all done.

One by one, we watched as people grabbed onto a rope swing that swung out over a shallow stream. The stakes were low since the only thing that could happen was landing in the cold water.

Finally, it was just the two of us, the woman gesturing for Dee to go ahead. Even though I now knew this wasn't her thing, she only hesitated for a few seconds before grabbing on, taking a running start and swinging across to the other side.

I held my breath, hoping she wouldn't fall. And she didn't. When she landed on the other side, both feet on solid ground, she grinned back at me triumphantly, sending a thrill through me.

Damn, that smile was something else.

And it meant the world that she'd soughtmeout first. Not Mona. Not any of her other co-workers that she'd known for a lot longer. Butme.

I swung across as well, joining her, the other ranger following right behind us. There was a bit of a gap growing between us and the rest of the group. And looking at the next thing, I could see why.

It was some kind of mud pit, with a low-slung rope net, something we had to crawl over. There was no avoiding getting down and dirty with this one. The net had streaks of mud,making it clear that in some spots others had struggled to make it through, leaving evidence of their efforts behind.

Dee looked up at me, shocking me with what she said next. "I'll race you."

"Race me? What happened to my city girl?"

But she didn't answer, instead charging ahead and pulling herself onto one side of the net, leaving the other side for me. On her hands and knees, her cute ass in the air, she carefully moved forward.

Holy shit. The sight in front of me was hot as fuck.

She looked back at me, eyes all lit up. "You're so going to lose."

At that taunt, I finally snapped out of it, and laughing, I pulled myself onto the net with her. My movement jostled her, and she lost her balance, face-planting right into the muddy net. She sputtered in surprise, mud smeared across her cheeks as she tried to push herself up.

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