Page 2 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

I made my way to the bedroom, pulling open the closet. The door creaked as I grabbed a pair of running shorts and a shirt, tossing them onto the bed. My mind was still stuck on Edgewater as I began to strip out of my clothes, unable to escape the reality of my situation.

As I stood in front of the mirror, my eyes drifted to my reflection. My legs came first—muscles still tight, defined from years of training, but even I could tell I hadn’t been pushing myself as hard lately. Marathon prep had taken a backseat tothe never-ending mess at Edgewater. I flexed my calves, then my quads, feeling the burn that used to motivate me. Now? It just reminded me of how far behind I was.

And it pissed me off.

I shifted my gaze upward, catching the fading light on my abs. To anyone else, I probably looked the same—solid, fit. Hell, I knew plenty of people would kill for this body. But it wasn’t enough for me anymore. I saw the small signs of slipping. The slight softness in places I used to be proud of. My training had faltered, just like everything else outside of work. The longer I stared, the angrier I got. Not just at whoever was screwing with my empire, but at myself, for letting it bleed into every corner of my life.

I blew out a breath, running a hand through my hair. The frustration sat heavily on my chest.I hate feeling like this—out of control.And it wasn’t just about Edgewater anymore. It was everything—my body, my training, my social life—everything felt off track. And at the center of it all? They weren’t just stealing from my business. They were stealing from me.

Maybe Derek was right. Maybe I couldn’t do it all on my own. But letting someone else in? That was a whole other issue.

I grabbed my phone and stared at it for a second, Derek’s words ringing in my ears. "You can’t do this all yourself, man." My thumb hovered over his number, but I stopped. Calling him for help right now seemed weak. And Derek had enough on his plate. I had to fix this, but how?

I shook off the thought, pushing it to the back of my mind for now. The running shorts slipped on easily, followed by the snug shirt that clung to my skin. Sneakers waited nearby, their rubber soles cool against my fingertips as they hit the floor. After tightening the laces, I stretched my legs again. Derek’s earlier words floated back.Maybe you just need to get laid, man.

A wry grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. Maybe he had a point. Dating life? Nonexistent. Too much work, too much stress, too much at stake. But was all this frustration really about work? Or had it been far too long since I’d spent a night with someone?

Focus. That’s what matters now.

Keys in hand, the door to the cabin locked behind me. As much as it pained me to admit it, running was the one thing that consistently cleared my mind even if it was just for a while. And I needed that mental space, needed to think.

My truck rumbled down the gravel road towards Cedar Cove Park; the tension of the day starting to loosen its grip as I approached the entrance. I rolled down the window as the gate attendant—one of the park rangers—stepped up to the truck. She couldn’t have been more than in her mid-twenties, with a blonde ponytail peeking out from under her ranger hat. Her uniform blouse fit snugly around her body, highlighting the athletic frame she no doubt needed for the job.

She smiled, glancing at my parking pass before nodding me through. “Enjoy, but remember the park closes in two hours.”

“No problem,” I said, throwing her a wink as I pressed the accelerator gently. The truck moved forward, but I couldn’t help the brief glance in my rearview mirror, watching her walk back to the gatehouse. It was a quick distraction, but one I didn’t mind.

It’s just a run. Get in, clear your head, and get out.

I parked in the nearly empty lot, grabbed my phone from the passenger seat, and stepped out of the truck. The late evening breeze was crisp, as I stretched my legs one more time. The park was quiet at this hour, just how I liked it: no distractions, no crowd—just me and the trail.

I started jogging down the dirt path, feeling my muscles loosen with each step. The steady rhythm of my feet hitting theground echoed in my ears, a calming beat that helped drown out the noise in my head. I focused on the path ahead, the scent of pine and earth filling my lungs as I pushed forward.

Just as I neared the trail’s end, my foot landed awkwardly on a loose rock. Pain shot up my leg, and before I knew it, I was on the ground, clutching my ankle.

“Fuck,” I muttered, trying to stand, but my ankle gave out beneath me. The pain was sharp and immediate, twisting with every attempt to put weight on it.

I sat there for a moment, cursing under my breath and scanning the quiet, empty trail. My first thought was to call Derek. Maybe he was still in town, hanging around the diner or taking his time before heading back to Dallas. But then again, even if he was still nearby, how the hell would he find me out here in the middle of nowhere? The idea of him racing back through these winding backroads didn’t exactly seem like the best solution.

He’s probably long gone by now anyway.

Shaking off the thought, I grabbed my phone and pulled up the park’s emergency line. This wasn’t how I expected the run to end, but clearly, life had other plans.

Two

Mia

“I swear, if I see one more idiot from Dallas with a Gucci fanny pack, I’m gonna lose it,” Tessa complained, rolling her eyes as she tied her long brown hair into a messy bun. “Like, you’re in the middle of a park, honey. Not Rodeo Drive.”

I laughed, clipping Daisy’s leash to her collar. “You’re just mad because they’re asking for directions to Starbucks while you’re trying to sell them homemade trail mix.”

“Damn right I’m mad,” she shot back, pulling a hoodie over her ranger uniform. “It’s like they think this place is one big Instagram photo op. The trails are a backdrop for their designer hiking boots, which, by the way, have never seen dirt.”

I snorted. “I think you’re just jealous you don’t have designer boots.”

“Oh please, if I wanted to waste money, I’d at least do it on something useful. Like wine.” She gave me a playful grin as we started walking down the path, Daisy trotting happily alongside us. The air was crisp, and the late afternoon sun filtered through the trees along the dirt trail.

Tessa glanced over at me. “So, what’s your excuse? You meet everyone that comes through the gate. You could bag a guy from one of those fancy cities and be sipping cocktails in a penthouse by now.”

---