Page 27 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

Liam’s gaze flicked down to me, and I saw something flash in his eyes for a moment. It was quick—gone almost before I could register it—but I could tell he was gauging my reaction to the conversation.

“Derek is a client of mine. I’ve helped him out a few times, yeah,” he said, brushing it off like it was no big deal. But there was something in his voice, something that didn’t quite match the easygoing smile on his face.

I opened my mouth to press him further, but before I could, another guest approached, pulling Liam into yet another conversation about his “generosity” and “continued support.”

Generosity? Support?

I kept replaying those words in my head, the pieces not quite fitting together. Liam was supposed to be a private investigator, someone who had come to Cedar Cove to have a quiet place to do his work. But the way these people were treating him like he was some kind of benefactor made no sense. The more I watched him interact with these high-profile guests, the more out of place I felt.

I stood beside him, smiling politely when necessary, but internally, my mind raced. Who exactly was Liam Archer? And why did it feel like there was so much more to him than what he’d told me?

As the night wore on, my curiosity only deepened. I tried to shake off the unease, telling myself I was overthinking things.But it was hard to ignore the strange tension building between us—like there was something unspoken.

Liam’s hand brushed mine as we moved toward our table, and I felt a spark run up my arm. I glanced up at him, my breath catching for just a moment as our eyes met. There was that look again—the one that made my heart race and left me wondering if this attraction between us was as one-sided as I thought.

But before I could say anything, Derek stepped onto the stage at the front of the room, microphone in hand, and the room fell silent.

“Thank you all for being here tonight,” Derek began, his voice echoing through the ballroom. “We’re here to celebrate our progress and also to look forward to what more we can do. The new cancer center we’re planning for Riverstone Children’s Hospital is going to save countless lives, but we need your continued support to make it a reality.”

Polite applause filled the room, and I found myself glancing at Liam again. He sat beside me, his posture relaxed, but there was a tension in his jaw that hadn’t been there before. As Derek continued his speech, I noticed Liam shift slightly in his seat, his hand moving to his pocket.

Then, at the end of Derek’s presentation, as he urged the guests to contribute to the new center, I watched as Liam pulled out his checkbook. He didn’t hesitate as he scribbled down a figure, his pen moving quickly over the paper.

Curiosity prickled at me, but I couldn’t see the exact amount he wrote. All I knew was that the way people around him reacted to his donation made my chest tighten.

I couldn’t help but wonder—how much did Liam just contribute? And more importantly, why was he doing this?

As the evening wore on, the champagne flowed freely, and the buzz of conversation grew louder around us. I tried to push my suspicions aside, telling myself I’d ask Liam about it later.For now, I played the part of the supportive girlfriend, smiling and nodding as we mingled with the other guests. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t adding up.

By the time we were ready to leave, the champagne had worked its magic, and the edges of my thoughts had softened. The questions swirling in my mind were still there, but they didn’t feel as urgent anymore. Instead, all I could focus on was the way Liam’s hand lingered on the small of my back, guiding me toward the exit.

As we made our way to the room, I turned to Liam, feeling a mixture of curiosity and something deeper—something I wasn’t ready to name.

“You’re not going to talk about work, are you?” I asked, half-teasing, half-serious.

Liam chuckled, shaking his head. “Not tonight. Tonight, we’re here to have a good time. Business can wait.”

His words were light, but there was a glint in his eyes that told me he was keeping something from me. But for now, I let it slide. There would be time for questions later.

Right now, all I wanted to focus on was the way his touch made my heart race and the undeniable pull between us that was getting harder and harder to ignore.

We stepped into the elevator, the air between us thick with tension. Liam pressed the button for our floor, his gaze settling on me with an intensity that made my heart race. I could feel the anticipation building, the weight of everything unsaid hanging in the small space.

His hand brushed mine, and before I could react, he reached out and caressed my face. The soft touch sent a jolt through me, and I found myself leaning into his palm.

“Mia,” he murmured, his voice rough, his eyes flicking down to my lips.

With a fierce hunger, he captured my lips in a searing kiss, his hands cupping the back of my head as he pulled me closer. The heat between us grew with each passing second, our bodies pressing together as we devoured each other.

The elevator bell sounded, but we were lost in our own world, unable to break away. Our desire was palpable, the tension thick as we waited for the doors to open.

But as soon as they did, we didn't care about anything else. We needed each other, and nothing else mattered. And as I surrendered to him, I knew there was no turning back from this intoxicating passion that consumed us both.

Thirteen

Liam

As the door clicked closed, the chaos of the party fell away. The dimly lit room gave off a seductive vibe as my eyes landed on Mia's stunning form in her sleek dress. My heart pounded in my chest as I took in her beauty, feeling another surge of desire for her.

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