Page 9 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

“Aw, come on, don’t make me wait all night,” he teased, tipping his hat.

I laughed but couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling in the back of my mind. Liam was barely more than a stranger to me, yet I wondered if he’d ever go to a place like this. The thought irritated me more than it should have.

“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Tessa's voice broke through my thoughts. She had that mischievous glint in her eyes—the one she got whenever she sensed something juicy.

“What? No,” I protested half-heartedly, trying to dismiss her words. But deep down, I knew she was right.

“Liam, right? The jogger in the hospital? You think I haven’t noticed you spacing out when I ask you about him?”

I rolled my eyes, trying to play it off. “I barely know the guy. He’s just... interesting, that’s all.”

Tessa leaned back, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. “Interesting, huh? That’s a first. You haven’t called a guy interesting since your ex moved away three years ago.”

I sighed, taking another sip of my drink. “He’s just different. He’s not like the usual guys who roll through here.”

Tessa’s eyes lit up, clearly enjoying every second of this. “So, when’s the date?”

“There’s no date,” I said, though the words felt like a lie. The truth was, the idea of a date with Liam had been rolling around in the back of my mind ever since visiting him in the hospital.

Tessa laughed, leaning forward. “Oh, there’s a date coming. You can’t be interested in a guy and not have a date. That’s just how this works.”

I shrugged, trying to shake off the weird sense of excitement that was creeping up on me. “I don’t know, Tess. I just can’t ignore the thought that he is hiding something—I can feel it.”

“Yeah, well, so are you—Miss Independent,” she teased, raising her glass in a mock toast. “But that hasn’t stopped you from living your life. Maybe you just need a good distraction.”

I let out a groan, but I couldn’t deny there was some truth to what she was saying. Liam was a mystery, sure, but that didn’t mean I had to figure him out right away. Maybe I could just enjoy the ride.

“Fine,” I said, lifting my glass. “Here’s to distractions.”

The glasses clinked together in a celebratory toast as we finished the last drops of our drinks. The lively beat of the music filled the air once more, and Tessa gave me a mischievous grin. "Come on," she urged, grabbing my hand eagerly. "Let's do a line dance before Brit tries to steal me away."

I laughed, feeling carefree and giddy as Tessa pulled me towards the crowded dance floor filled with familiar faces. For this brief moment, nothing else mattered except for the infectious rhythm surrounding us. It was just me, Tessa, and the pulsing energy of the music binding us together.

But eventually, the night caught up with me. A glance at my phone told me it was time to call it. After one last hug with Tessa and a promise to text tomorrow, I waved down an Uber outside the bar. The cool night air hit my face as I slid into the backseat, the smell of pine trees mixing with the lingering buzz from too many beers.

The ride was quiet, save for the hum of the engine and the occasional bump of gravel under the tires as we neared the park. My head spun slightly from the alcohol, but in a good way—just enough to blur the edges of my thoughts and let me enjoy the quiet. By the time we pulled up to my cabin, the woods around me were bathed in silence, the party far behind.

I paid the Uber driver and stumbled up the creaky wooden stairs to my cabin, my head spinning from too many shots and dances at the bar. The piercing silence of the deep woods greeted me as I unlocked the door and stepped inside. Daisy bounded in after me, eager to be out of the chilly night air.

I collapsed onto the couch and closed my eyes for a moment, letting the stillness wash over me. But even in this peaceful setting, thoughts of Liam nagged at me like a mosquito buzzing in my ear.

I looked up at the twinkling stars above Cedar Cove, their brilliance almost mocking my troubled state of mind. My gaze drifted to Liam’s truck parked nearby, its familiar shape stirring my curiosity. As much as I tried to push my thoughts away, they refused to leave me alone. It was just a truck, yet if I investigated, I might learn a bit more about my mysterious friend.

Why am I thinking about this guy so much?I asked myself, irritation bubbling up inside. I wasn’t supposed to let someone get into my head like this. I sighed and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

Liam had secrets—anyone with eyes could see that. And as much as I didn’t want to admit it, I was curious. He wasn’t like the tourists who breezed through Cedar Cove with their flashy cars and fancy gear, but he had that same polished, out-of-place vibe. He didn’t belong here, yet here he was. And I couldn’t figure out why that intrigued me so much.

Daisy nudged my leg, her big brown eyes staring up at me as if urging me to make a move. I ruffled her fur absentmindedly,my eyes drifting back to the truck.I shouldn’t,I thought, but the pull of curiosity was stronger than my sense of reason.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed my flashlight and made my way toward the truck, Daisy padding along beside me, her tail wagging like we were about to embark on some grand adventure.

“I’m just checking,” I muttered under my breath, as if talking to Daisy would make this less weird. “No harm in being curious, right?”

When I reached the truck, I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the door handle. It felt wrong to invade his space like this. What was I even expecting to find? But the thought of not knowing gnawed at me. I had to at least take a peek.

I pulled open the door, the dome light casting a soft glow across the dark interior. Neat, organized—too neat. A bottle of water in the cup holder, and a towel folded on the passenger seat. There was nothing incriminating here, nothing out of place. It was just a truck, after all.

I leaned over, glancing into the glove compartment.Maybe there’s something here, I thought, half-expecting to find something that would confirm my suspicions. But all I found were rental documents. I blinked, pulling them out.Rental?That wasn’t what I expected.

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