Page 53 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

Cory snorted, pulling a flask from his pocket and unscrewing the cap. “Keep dreaming. I’m just here for the booze.”

Derek chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve been bitching all morning, and now you’re ready to drink?”

“Hell, it’s the only thing that makes listening to you two bearable,” Cory shot back before taking a long swig.

Mia, trying to hide a smirk, crossed her arms and gave me a knowing look. “I think this is about as close to ‘relaxation’ as Cory’s ever gonna get.”

“Damn right,” Cory muttered, shifting in his seat. His perpetual grumpiness was something we’d all gotten used to, butthere was no mistaking the flicker of ease in his eyes. The lake had a way of softening even the hardest edges. And Cory, for all his billionaire seriousness, wasn’t completely immune.

I glanced over at Mia, feeling that familiar swell of pride. We’d built something good here—something worth holding on to. And today, with our closest friends here, fishing gear loaded up, and nothing on the horizon but clear skies and a calm lake, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the morning.

“Alright,” I said, casting my line into the water with a flick of my wrist. “Let’s see who can actually catch something first, huh?”

Derek leaned over the edge, already baiting his hook. “Bet your ass it’s gonna be me.”

Cory took another swig from his flask, raising it in a mock salute. “Here’s to the biggest bullshitters on this damn lake.”

Mia laughed, shaking her head as she reclined back, soaking in the sun. “Well, if it’s a contest of who can talk the most shit, I’d say Cory’s already won.”

Cory grunted, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Maybe Cedar Cove really was working its magic on him.

With the sun fully up and the boat gently rocking near the edge of the lake, the air was still and calm—perfect fishing weather. Derek cast his line, the reel buzzing as it sailed out over the water. Meanwhile, Cory leaned back, looking indifferent as ever, clearly in no rush to actually catch anything.

I moved to the small bar built into the side of the boat, popping the cork off a bottle of champagne. “Alright, you lazy bastards, time for a proper toast.”

Derek glanced over his shoulder, grinning. “That’s more like it. Thought you’d gone soft on us, Liam.”

“Never.” I poured champagne into three glasses, then handed them over to Derek and Cory, who accepted theirs with raised eyebrows. Mia, standing beside me, smiled as shefixed herself a mimosa, mixing the champagne with some fresh orange juice we’d packed for the trip. The sparkle of the rings on her finger caught the sunlight, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of it.

“Champagne on a fishing boat? Now I’ve seen it all,” Cory muttered, taking a sip with a smirk. “You really are rich, aren’t you?”

I chuckled, shaking my head as I raised my own glass. “Here’s to good friends, new chapters, and—hopefully—one of you actually catching something today. But I’m not holding my breath.”

Derek raised his glass, grinning. “I’ll drink to that.”

We clinked glasses, the sound light and crisp against the lake’s quiet. Mia took a sip of her mimosa, then leaned into me, her head resting against my shoulder as she gazed out over the water.

“You know,” she said softly, her voice warm and content, “this is exactly what I imagined when I thought about life here. It’s simple, peaceful, perfect.”

I wrapped my arm around her, the moment as calm and steady as the water around us. It was everything we’d hoped for.

Cory sat back, his eyes scanning the horizon as the boat gently rocked on the water. He hadn’t bothered casting a line, just like I knew he wouldn’t. The guy was too damn focused on the conversation, or maybe just too detached to care about fishing.

"So, Derek," Cory said, his voice breaking the silence, "you mentioned that Riverstone Hospital’s foundation is gearing up for another fundraiser."

Derek nodded, adjusting his grip on the rod as he sat down next to Cory. "Yeah, we’re hoping to make it bigger this time around, but the planning has been... rough. Honestly, I’m not sure I’ve got the right team in place."

Cory took a slow sip from his champagne glass, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned forward. "Sounds like you need someone who knows what they’re doing. Fundraising’s no joke, especially for something the size of your foundation.”

I shot Cory a look, knowing where this was headed. "You got any recommendations, Cory?" I asked, keeping my tone casual.

He glanced over at me, then back at Derek. "I might know a few people who can help. I’ve worked with a few foundations over the years—some good, some not so much. But I can pull some strings, get you in touch with the right folks."

Derek’s expression softened, a mix of relief and appreciation crossing his face. "That’d be a huge help. We’re trying to do more for the community and get people involved. I just don’t want this thing to flop."

"It won’t," Cory said, his voice low and steady. "Not if you get the right team behind it. I’ll see what I can do."

Mia, who’d been quietly sipping her drink beside me, glanced up at Cory, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "You really have connections in that world, huh?"

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