Page 43 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

Liam nodded, his eyes twinkling with a playful glint. After a few moments of peaceful silence, he leaned in and whispered in my ear, "I’ve fallen in love with you, you know."

“I can’t believe I’m saying this," I murmured, my heart swelling with emotion. "But I’ve decided I can’t live without you in my life. And I can’t wait to start working with you." I pulled the covers up over us, savoring the warmth of his embrace. "Still, I’m trying to wrap my head around everything—the job, us, and... the investigation.” I sighed, feeling the weight of it all settling in again. “There’s so much we haven’t figured out yet.”

Liam tightened his hold on me, his voice soft and reassuring. “We’ll figure it out together. We’ll start in the morning. Just remember I love you.”

Twenty-One

Liam

I rummaged through Mia’s kitchen, quietly opening and closing cabinet doors as I hunted for something decent to make for breakfast. The fridge was stocked, but I couldn’t help but notice how different everything looked. Organic vegetables, Greek yogurt, almond milk—she was definitely trying out this whole “clean eating” thing.

Still, I knew there was no way she’d ever give up her guilty pleasures. I smirked to myself, remembering the way her face lit up at the mention of fries from her favorite drive-through.

The sound of the shower running in the background reminded me she was getting ready, and I felt a strange sense of peace settle over me. Her cabin, though small and simple, had a certain charm to it. But I knew she wouldn’t be here much longer—she couldn’t, now that she’d been fired.

As I pulled out some eggs and vegetables, I found a skillet and got to work chopping the veggies. The scent of sautéing onions and peppers filled the kitchen, blending with the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Halfway through whisking the eggs, Iheard the water shut off, then the faint sound of Mia padding around in the bathroom.

Moments later, she walked into the kitchen, her hair still damp and her face flushed from the hot shower. She stopped, raising an eyebrow when she saw me cooking.

“Veggie omelets? Impressive,” she said with a teasing smile.

I shrugged, flipping the omelet expertly in the pan. “I’m full of surprises.”

Mia chuckled, pulling a chair out and sitting at the small table. “I’m getting used to your surprises. So they aren’t surprises anymore.”

I smirked. “Oh, I’ve still got a few to pull out of my hat.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

“Perhaps both,” I teased, kissing her cheek.

As I plated the omelets and brought them over to the table, I couldn’t help but notice how relaxed Mia was. There was a unique connection between us now, something deeper, more natural like we were finally in sync. It wasn’t just the comfort of being together—it felt like she was beginning to let her guard down, and it gave me a sense of certainty.

We dug into breakfast, and after a few bites, I couldn’t resist bringing up the conversation we’d had the night before.

“So,” I began, leaning back in my chair. “Do you remember what I said yesterday?”

Mia looked at me, her fork pausing mid-air. “About what?”

“About falling in love with you.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she set her fork down, her eyes dropping to the plate. “I remember. It’s just... yesterday feels like a blur. Everything that happened, getting fired, the job offer... it’s all so much.”

“I know,” I said gently, reaching across the table to take her hand. “But I meant what I said. I’ve fallen for you, Mia. And now that you’ve been fired, we have a lot to figure out.”

Her gaze lifted to meet mine. “I’ve been thinking about it. About us, about the job... about everything. I realized that being independent has always been part of who I am, but... maybe falling in love with someone like you doesn’t mean losing tha—even if you are uber-rich.”

My heart swelled at her words, and I could see the uncertainty still lingering in her eyes. She was processing it all, and I didn’t want to rush her.

“There’s something else,” I said, my tone more serious. “Now that you’ve lost the job, you’re going to have to move out of this cabin.”

Mia nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

“Well, I have a solution,” I said, leaning forward. “Move in with me.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “Move in with you?”

“Yeah. I’ve got a fenced backyard for Daisy, plenty of space, and a home office where you can keep working on everything you’ve found. It just makes sense.”

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