Page 10 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

I sat back in the seat, frowning as I turned the paperwork over in my hands. So, the truck wasn’t his after all. That made sense for someone like him—if he was really a private investigator, it would explain why he needed a rental. But still, it felt off that he hadn’t mentioned it, especially since he had asked me to move it.

As I folded the paperwork back into the glove compartment, my hand brushed something small and plastic. I pulled out the object and stared at it—a box of unopened condoms. My mind immediately began to race.How long have these been here?Iwondered, my thoughts twisting in unexpected directions. Was Liam seeing someone? Or were these just... there, just in case he found a quick hookup at a bar?

The idea tugged at me, making my curiosity about him even stronger. “What kind of man was he really?” I whispered. He was a man who kept secrets, that was clear. But now I had more questions than answers.

“Maybe I’m just overthinking this,” I muttered to Daisy, closing the glove compartment with a sigh. I felt ridiculous now. What did I expect to find—a dossier with secret files? A hidden gun? This wasn’t a movie. I had let my curiosity get the best of me, and now I just felt guilty for snooping.

“Come on, Daisy,” I muttered, patting my leg as I stepped away from the truck. Her fur brushed against my skin, making me shiver as we made our way back to the cabin. The quiet of the night felt heavier now, pressing down on me like a weight.

With a huff, I tossed the truck keys onto the granite counter and let my body sink into the plush cushions of the couch. Daisy, ever the faithful companion, jumped up beside me and nestled her head on my thigh. Her warm presence eased some of the unease that had been gnawing at my insides since I left Liam's truck.

I ran my fingers through Daisy's soft fur, trying to shake off the guilt that consumed me. I shouldn't have snooped, shouldn't have checked up on a man who clearly was down on his luck. That wasn't who I was. But there was something about Liam that kept drawing me in. Was it curiosity or something deeper? It was hard to tell.

"You always know what to do, don't you, girl?" I whispered, rubbing Daisy behind the ears. "I need to let this go."

But even as I spoke those words, I knew they were easier said than done. Liam lingered in the back of my mind, his piercingblue eyes and enigmatic smile refusing to let me walk away. Only time would tell whether it was a good thing or a warning sign.

Later in the evening, as I snuggled under the covers of my bed, the memory of his sculpted physique sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a fire of desire that I struggled to extinguish.

Five

Liam

I stared at my phone, Derek’s number glowing on the screen. My thumb hovered over the call button, but I couldn’t bring myself to press it. The thought of asking him to come all the way out to Cedar Cove from Dallas just to pick my ass up from the hospital felt ridiculous. He had his own life, his own work—hell, he was already doing me a favor paying me friendly visits here while I played undercover boss.

Besides, what was I supposed to say? “Hey, man, can you drop everything, drive two hours, and babysit me for a few days because I fucked up my ankle?” Yeah, that would go over well. Derek would do it, no doubt, but it was a lot to ask. Too much, really. I wasn’t used to relying on anyone, even him.

I let out a breath, laying the phone on the hospital bed. No way. I wasn’t about to drag him into this. I’d figure it out. I always did.

But as I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the dull ache in my ankle reminding me of just how royally I’d screwed up, another thought crept in. Mia. I didn’t want to lean on her either, but shewas... different. She wasn’t tangled up in my mess the way Derek was. She didn’t know who I really was or what was happening at Edgewater. She didn’t see me as the CEO of some billion-dollar company or a guy with problems that stretched far beyond a sprained ankle. To her, I was just a guy who needed a ride.

I grabbed the phone again, scrolling to Mia’s number. My thumb hovered over the call button for a second, and then I pressed it, feeling an odd mix of relief and hesitation as it started to ring.

“Hi,” Mia answered after a couple of rings, her voice casual and calm, like this wasn’t the weirdest request she’d probably had all day.

“Hey there,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I, uh, was wondering if you could pick me up from the hospital later today. It’s just... I’m not really in a position to drive, and I don’t want to ask my best friend from Dallas to haul himself out here.”

There was a pause on the other end, and for a second, I thought she might say no. But then she said, “Yeah, sure. I’m off work around three. I can swing by after that.”

“Thanks,” I replied, feeling a little more of that tension ease from my chest. “I really appreciate it.”

“No problem. I’ll see you in a bit.”

We hung up, and I stared at my phone, wondering why the hell I was suddenly so nervous about seeing her again. It wasn’t like this was a date or anything. She was just picking me up, being a good person, helping out. That’s all.

But still, I couldn’t shake the excitement that buzzed in the back of my mind. Maybe it was the fact that Mia wasn’t the type to give me special treatment, that she didn’t know the real me, the guy people usually bent over backward to accommodate. She just saw Liam, the injured guy who needed help.

When the nurse came in to check on me, she told me I’d be discharged by mid-afternoon. Perfect timing. I could get out ofthis sterile hellhole, get back to my cabin, and at least pretend I had my shit together.

By mid-afternoon, I was itching to get the hell out of the hospital. Dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed, my leg was awkward in the bulky boot, and I wasn’t really absorbing the nurse’s instructions—rest, ice, elevation, all the usual crap. My mind was somewhere else, locked on the fact that Mia would be here soon.

When she finally walked in, I had to stop myself from staring. She wore jeans and a fitted tank top, the kind of casual outfit that somehow made my brain misfire for a second. Her smile was small, but it hit me hard, sending a jolt through me.

“Ready to blow this joint?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as her gaze flicked to my leg.

“More than ready,” I muttered, pushing myself off the bed a bit too eagerly. Pain shot through my ankle, but I forced a grin through it. “Thanks for coming.”

She waved it off like it was nothing. “No big deal. Just figured I’d save you from hobbling around Cedar Cove like a half-broken piñata.”

---