Mine.
As if it was instinctive—an overwhelming urge to claim her that he’d pushed aside for three long years.
Maybe that wasn’t in the cards. But he sure as shit could win this challenge.
It was time for a Murphy to kick some Foster ass.
Penn’s mother, who still held baby Hannah, had joined the kids by the kayaks but away from the rest of the group.
Harold stood out from the crowd and addressed the family. “The object of this challenge is a race to the first buoy.” He pointed at the water. “I had originally planned on this being a team challenge, but the situation has changed. Gentlemen will participate, ladies, you will sit this one out. Mr. Murphy?”
Cole tensed and straightened. Just the sound of Harold’s voice brought him right back to grade school.
“If you are the first to capture a flag from the buoy, pin it to your T-shirt, then kayak back to the beach, then you can stay and compete as Pennie’s partner.”
“Is this for real?” Cole looked down at Penn, who was shaking her head.
“Oh, yeah. My father probably paid a premium to have hotel staff help set up the challenges.”
“This is a bit extreme.” Harold Foster
was hardcore.
She rolled her eyes. “You have no idea.”
Penn squared her body in front of him and reached out to grasp his hands. “Please, Cole. I need this. If you can set the tone and win this challenge, you will have made the last twenty years of humiliation and loss so worth it.”
Given the chance, he’d gladly spare her from humiliation and loss for as long as she’d let him.
“Don’t worry, babe.” He winked. “I got this.” He strode to the kayaks where her father stood holding an air horn. Pete had decided to sit this one out. Instead, he sat beside his wife with a wide smile, his hand stroking her baby bump.
At the starting line, there was no sense of camaraderie. Even at ten years old when he’d first met Finn, he’d known right away they had a special relationship. And five years later, when he’d only been living with Vivian for a few short weeks, he’d known Neil was a true brother. But not these guys. These guys weren’t here to be friends. They were in it to win it.
“No hard feelings.” Dave leaned over and held out his hand. “But I’m going hard. Beth tends to get a little—”
“Crazy.” Ian finished his sentence. He pulled down his sunglasses enough to look over the tops. “I’ve never met a more competitive person in my life. She can’t even lose at board games without going bananas.”
“Well, boys. I’m going hard, too.” Cole turned his head and focused on the water in front of them. “It’s about time Penn had her name on that trophy.” And he wasn’t leaving this island until she did.
“Come on, baby. You got this,” Beth yelled from behind them.
“Yeah, Cole,” Penn yelled, her voice cracking. “We’re going to win.”
He looked over his shoulder, and Penn made a face. They were both so out of their element. If they managed to pull this off, it would be a damn miracle.
The air horn went off with a wail. Cole darted to the kayak on the right. Without slowing, he pushed it down the beach into the water. When he was thigh deep, he jumped in, balancing himself with the paddle. The buoy was about two hundred feet out. Dave came up beside him, and seconds later, Ian was at his opposite side.
They all began to paddle at the same time.
Despite Cole’s wraparounds, the glare from the sun off the water was blinding. He paddled like mad, alternating sides. He had a slight lead, but Dave and Ian were a stroke behind.
In the background, the hoots and hollers of their significant others carried over the water. He knew Penn would be doing a good job of holding her own. But trying to hold her own was so not the Penn he knew. The Penn he knew would have her elbows up, pushing her sisters-in-law out of the way, one hard jab at a time.
He shook his head, focusing firmly on the buoy. He was just a few strokes away. Dave’s kayak rammed into his, but Cole held his ground, using his paddle to swerve his vessel to the right. He squeezed between Dave and the buoy and grabbed the red flag with his left hand.
He paddled around and beelined it back to the beach after quickly clipping the flag to his T-shirt. Dave was right behind him. When they got to shallow water, Cole leaped out and dragged the kayak to shore.
Penn stood off to the side, biting her fingernails, while Cathy and Beth cheered on their husbands. She had nothing to be nervous about. He was going to win this thing. For her.