Page 23 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

I smirked at her teasing tone but didn’t have the energy to give her much of a comeback. “I’ll live.”

Mia shook her head and sat down next to me, her hands reaching for my ankle. “Here, let me help.”

I watched as she gently massaged my leg, her fingers working out the tension around the swollen area. The pain eased slightly, and I couldn’t help but let out a relieved sigh.

“Feel better?” she asked, her voice quieter now, focusing entirely on what she was doing.

“Yeah, a little,” I said, my eyes drifting closed as the combination of her touch and the pain meds began to take effect. “Thanks, Mia. Really.”

She looked up at me, her expression soft. “It’s no problem. You should rest.”

“By the way,” she added after a pause, “I made arrangements with Tessa to keep Daisy while we’re in San Antonio. That way, I don’t have to worry about her.”

I was truly touched by the way she took care of her beloved pet. It made me see that Mia was a kind and loving woman beneath her tough exterior. “Good thinking,” I agreed.

Mia nodded and gave me a warm smile. “No problem. Just want to make sure everything’s handled.”

I wanted to ask her to stay, to maybe sit with me a little longer, but the hesitation lingered in the back of my mind. Finally, I cleared my throat, feeling the weight of the question on my chest. “You’re welcome to spend the night if you want,” I said, keeping my tone casual.

Mia paused with her hand on the door, glancing back at me. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if she would say, ‘Yes.’ But then, to my surprise, she gave me a soft smile and nodded. “Alright. I’ll stay.”

The air between us felt heavy like we were both waiting for the other to make a move, but neither of us did. Instead, Mia walked back toward the couch, and I scooted over to give her space, though my heart pounded a little harder than it should have. Nothing more needed to be said, and neither of us seemed eager to break the quiet.

Before I knew it, the pain meds started to pull me under, my eyelids growing heavier by the second. The last thing I remembered was Mia sitting beside me, her presence comforting in a way I was beginning to get used to.

When I woke up, the room was dark. My ankle still ached, but it wasn’t the sharp pain I’d felt earlier. I groaned, stretching a little as I glanced around, realizing Mia was gone.

On the coffee table in front of me, there was a note folded neatly beside the empty glass of water she must have brought me earlier. I reached for it, rubbing my eyes as I unfolded the paper.

Liam,

You looked peaceful, so I didn’t want to wake you. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I hope you feel better.

Take Care,

Mia

I let out a breath, staring at the note. It was simple, nothing more than a polite goodbye, but something about it made my chest tighten.

I folded the note and set it back down, leaning against the couch. My head was still foggy, the exhaustion pulling at me again, but all I could think about was Mia—how much she’d done for me, how I still hadn’t been completely honest with her, and how much more complicated things were getting by the day.

But right now, all I could focus on was the fact that Mia had stayed, even if just for a little while. And somehow, that made everything feel a little less overwhelming.

Eleven

Mia

A Week Later

I woke up to the soft light filtering through the cabin’s curtains. The quiet was broken only by the gentle rustling of the trees outside. Today was the day—San Antonio, the gala, and this entire whirlwind of a trip with Liam. I’d spent the last few days trying to convince myself that everything was under control, but now, standing in the middle of my small bedroom, suitcase open on the bed, I wasn’t sure I was fully prepared.

Glancing at the garment bag hanging from the door, I reassured myself that the gown I had chosen for the gala was neatly tucked inside. I’d carry it separately, along with my suitcase. At least that was one less thing to worry about. But with everything else—Liam, the strange tension between us, and the constant feeling I was in way over my head—my stomach churned like a stormy sea, each wave crashing harder than the last.

“Okay, focus,” I muttered to myself, tossing a few last-minute items into my suitcase. Toothbrush, check. Shoes, check. Ilooked around the room, mentally running through my packing list, trying to keep the panic at bay.

As I zipped up the suitcase, a sudden, unusual sound broke through the quiet, followed by a low whine. My heart dropped. Daisy.

I rushed into the living room, where Daisy was lying on her bed, panting and looking miserable. Panic set in immediately. She was never like this. I knelt beside her, my hand brushing over her fur as I tried to assess what was wrong.

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