Page 25 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

My heart skipped a beat at the suggestion, relief flooding through me. I turned to Liam, my eyes wide. "You’d trust them to watch her here?"

Liam smiled gently. "I would. They know what they’re doing. And it’ll put your mind at ease, right?"

I hesitated for a moment, looking between Liam and the vet. But when I saw the clean, well-kept facility as we followed the vet to the kennel area, I was reassured. The room was spotless, with cozy-looking beds and soft lighting. The staff seemed attentive, and when they took Daisy, she was already starting to look more relaxed.

"Okay," I said softly. “This will work."

Liam placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "She’ll be fine. And now, you can relax a little too."

I turned to him, feeling a rush of gratitude. "I don’t know what I would’ve done without you today."

He chuckled softly. "Glad I could help."

I laughed, a realization settling over me. Liam had become the person—a friend like Tessa—who I could turn to. It unnervedme to depend on a guy, but there was a comfort in it, too—one I hadn’t expected.

After saying goodbye to Daisy and making sure she was settled at the kennel, I stepped aside to call Tessa. As the phone rang, I overheard Liam on his own call. His voice was low, but I caught snippets—something about logistics and timing. It sounded important, but before I could focus too much, Tessa picked up.

"Hey! I just wanted to let you know you’re off the hook for Daisy-sitting," I said. Keeping my tone light, I explained what had happened.

"Off the hook?" Tessa teased. “Sounds like your knight in shining armor came to the rescue?"

I rolled my eyes, even though her teasing hit closer to the truth than I’d care to admit. "Sort of. Liam found out there was a kennel at the vet’s office, and Daisy is staying there. She ate something bad, but they said she’ll be fine."

"Well, you’re lucky to have him around," Tessa continued, her tone playful. "Sounds like he’s more than just an occasional houseguest."

"Stop," I laughed, brushing off her comment, though the truth of her words settled in the back of my mind.

After finishing my call with Tessa, I noticed Liam’s voice drop to a near-whisper as he stepped around the corner with his back to me. Although my curiosity flared, I forced myself to focus on finishing my conversation. When I hung up, Liam had also ended his call, and his expression was unreadable.

After everything was taken care of at the vet, we drove back to my cabin. The drive was quiet, with a comfortable silence between us, but my mind kept going back to the phone call I had partially overheard. Liam had been speaking so softly, almost whispering, and there was something about it that unsettledme. What was he talking about? And why did I feel like it was something important, something he didn’t want me to know?

As we pulled up to the cabin, the familiar sight of home gave me a brief sense of calm. Daisy was in good hands, but the tension between Liam and me was still there, lingering like a shadow. I glanced over at him as he parked his truck, wondering if he could feel it, too, or if it was all just in my head.

Before I could dwell on it any longer, he turned to me with that signature smirk, though his eyes were softer than usual. "So... change of plans."

I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of change?"

"I called Derek while we were at the vet," Liam admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "We’re not going to make it to San Antonio on time if we drive. I didn’t want to stress you out with everything going on with Daisy, but..." He hesitated for a second before continuing, "Derek is sending a private plane to pick us up. We’ll head to the airport after we grab your things."

A private plane? My eyes widened, the words taking a moment to sink in. "A private plane? Just like that?"

Liam shrugged, looking almost sheepish. "Yeah, he’s got connections. Figured it was the easiest way to make sure we get there without any more delays."

I blinked, trying to process the sudden shift in plans. A part of me wanted to question it, to dig deeper into this strange world Liam seemed so comfortable in, but I couldn’t. Not yet. There was something in his expression, a hint of vulnerability, like he was waiting for my reaction, waiting to see if I’d make a fuss.

Instead, I just nodded. "Okay... Well, that solves the problem of being late, doesn't it."

He gave me a small, relieved smile. "Yeah, it does. So, let’s get your things and head to the airport."

Soon, we stepped inside the sleek jet, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to all of this—more to Liam’s story,more to the man sitting beside me. But with the gala ahead, I knew now wasn’t the time to push for answers. And now that we were closer to San Antonio, I had a sinking feeling Liam would reveal something new.

Twelve

Mia

The sleek black car pulled up in front of the Grand Hotel in downtown San Antonio, its towering height making me feel small and out of place. As the valet opened my door, I stepped out, trying to hide my nerves. The place oozed luxury, far beyond what I was used to.

“I’ll get our bags,” I offered, remembering Liam’s ankle might still be bothering him, but his hand brushed mine as he gently nudged me aside.

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