Chapter 20

Twenty

Mia

The door slammed shut behind Frank, the sound echoing through the cabin like a final verdict.

Fired. I was fired.

The weight of it crashed over me like a tidal wave, and I collapsed onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. I heard Liam's words, but they didn't register.

"I can't believe this is happening," I muttered, my voice muffled by my hands. "All because I used the server for something I thought would help. And now… what am I supposed to do?"

Liam pulled me close and kissed the top of my head, his presence solid and comforting, but I was too wrapped up in my own mess to look at him. "I appreciate what you did for me," he said, his voice soft. "But Frank's an ass if he can't see how important you are to the park's operations."

I pulled my hands away from my face and looked up at him. "I broke the rules. Even if I had good intentions, I used government equipment for personal reasons. He had every right to fire me."

Liam leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah, well, good luck to Frank finding someone else who can run that park as well as you did."

I let out a half-laugh, half-sob. "I doubt that's high on Frank's list of concerns right now. He just wants me gone. And now… I'm gone."

Liam was quiet for a second, watching me with those intense eyes of his. Finally, he sighed. "Okay, so what if you are? Maybe it's time for something new."

"Something new?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Like what? Knitting? I can see it now—Mia the sweater queen of Cedar Cove."

He smirked. "I was thinking more along the lines of working for me."

I blinked. "Wait, what?"

"Work for me at Edgewater," Liam said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You've already done more than half the people on my payroll by figuring out the connections between Riverstone Hospital and Golden Rock. You've got a mind for this stuff."

I stared at him like he'd just sprouted a second head. "You want me to work for you? At Edgewater? The company you run as a billionaire CEO?"

He chuckled. "Well, yeah. I mean, I already know you can handle the work. You found the missing pieces to this whole mess."

I shook my head. "You really think I'd be good at that?"

"I'm sure of it. But, you know," he added, flashing me that mischievous grin I'd come to love and hate in equal measure, "I'm a bit of a cocky boss. You sure you can handle that?"

"Oh, please," I shot back, crossing my arms. "I've already handled you plenty, Liam. You're not going to scare me off now."

He laughed, the sound warm and genuine, and for the first time since Frank had walked out, I felt a tiny flicker of hope. It was ridiculous—my life was in shambles, I had no idea what the future held, and here I was bantering with Liam like we hadn't just been hit by a freight train.

"I'm serious, Mia," he said, his tone softening. "You're smart. You're capable. You wouldn't just be working for me; you'd be working with me. We'll figure it out together."

I chewed on my bottom lip, trying to wrap my head around it. Work for Liam? The idea seemed so far out of left field that I couldn't quite grasp it. But at the same time, it made a weird kind of sense. After all, hadn't we already been doing that, piecing together the puzzle of who was behind the embezzlement?

"You're really offering me a job?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

Liam leaned forward, his expression serious now. "Yes. I know you've lost your job at the park, and that sucks. But I'm telling you, you have a place with me. You'd have a real impact, Mia. And I'd get to see that brilliant mind of yours in action every day and hold you close the rest of the time."

I felt a warmth spread through me at his words, the sincerity in his voice making it hard to argue. But there was still that nagging doubt in the back of my mind. "I don't know, Liam. You're talking about me diving into this corporate world that I've never even been a part of. I'm a park ranger."

"You were a park ranger," he corrected gently but firmly. "And you're more than capable of being a lot more. Trust me."

I studied his face, trying to figure out if this was just some knee-jerk reaction, a way to fix things because he didn't want to see me upset. But no, there was no hint of doubt in his eyes. He was serious. And the crazy thing? I believed him.

"Well," I said slowly, "if you're going to be my boss, you better be ready for me to give you a run for your money. Because I'm not going to sit around and let you call all the shots."

Liam's grin widened. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

A small smile appeared on my lips, and for the first time in hours, I felt like maybe things were going to be okay.

Maybe.

After the conversation with Liam, the heaviness in my chest lightened a little. There was still a storm brewing in the back of my mind, but at least I had something to hold onto—an option, a future, even if it wasn't the one I'd imagined. But for now, I needed to focus on something a little more immediate: dinner.

"I should probably throw something together," I said, pushing off the couch and heading toward the kitchen. "I don't know about you, but I haven't eaten since this morning."

Liam stood, stretching his arms over his head. "Yeah, food sounds good. You got anything in the fridge?"

I glanced back at him, smirking. "I don't know. Let's find out."

When I opened the door, a wave of pride filled my chest. It was stocked with neat rows of vegetables, fruits, and organic snacks in clear containers. Nothing like the disorganized mess it had been before.

Liam leaned over my shoulder, his brow raised. "Wow. Look at this. All healthy, huh?"

I grinned. "Yeah, I've been trying to eat cleaner lately. You know, vegetables, lean proteins, organic stuff. I think you are rubbing off on me. Now you can't judge me for eating frozen pizzas."

Liam chuckled. "I'm impressed, but if I know you, there's still some junk food lurking around here somewhere."

I shot him a look over my shoulder. "Okay, okay. I might still have a weakness for French fries. You know, Red's Drive- through down the road—best fries ever. Not giving those up for anything."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I should've known."

As I scanned the shelves, trying to decide what to make, my eyes landed on a pack of chicken breasts and a bunch of vegetables that were still fresh. "How about a stir-fry?" I asked, pulling out the ingredients. "It's quick and I have everything we need."

"Sounds perfect," Liam said, leaning against the counter, watching me as I gathered the vegetables and set them on the cutting board. "What can I do?"

I handed him a knife and some carrots. "You can chop these while I get the chicken going."

Liam took the knife, giving me a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."

We worked side by side, the comfortable rhythm of chopping, sautéing, and sizzling filling the cabin. It felt... normal. After everything that had happened, the idea of us standing in my kitchen, cooking dinner together, almost felt surreal. But as the smells of garlic, ginger, and soy sauce filled the air, I realized how much I needed this moment—a break from the chaos.

"So," Liam said as he tossed the chopped carrots into the pan, "you're really getting into this clean-eating thing, huh?"

I shrugged, stirring the chicken. "Yeah, I guess. It started as a way to feel better, you know? More energy and all that."

Liam smirked. "Yep. That's how it works."

I laughed. "Seriously, I honestly do feel better." I turned to face Liam and winked, "But like I said, I'm not giving up everything. French fries are non-negotiable."

"Why am I not surprised?" He bumped my shoulder with his, a playful glint in his eyes.

We finished cooking in silence after that, the unspoken connection between us hanging in the air. It wasn't awkward, but it wasn't entirely settled either. Something about being here together felt too easy, too natural, and I wasn't sure what that meant for us yet.

Once everything was ready, I set the table while Liam fixed us some hot green tea. We sat down, the meal spread out before us, and for a moment, I just stared at it, taking in the simplicity of the scene. It wasn't fancy or extravagant. It was just... us.

"Here's to stir-fry and eating clean," Liam said, raising his mug with a crooked grin.

I smiled, clinking my mug against his. "And to not giving up French fries."

Liam laughed, and I couldn't help but join him. Despite everything—the chaos, the uncertainty, the massive life changes—I felt at peace for the first time in days. Maybe even weeks.

We ate in comfortable silence for a while; the clinking of utensils was the only sound in the room. But as I glanced over at Liam, watching him lost in thought as he chewed, I realized I wasn't just thinking about dinner or even the mess I'd made of my career.

I was thinking about him. About what he'd offered. About what working for him would mean.

And the strangest part? It didn't scare me as much as I thought it would.

Liam's voice broke through my thoughts. "Come on, let's get this place cleaned up."

I nodded, and we moved around the kitchen in sync, wiping down counters and stacking dishes. Every now and then, our hands would brush, sending a small spark through me that I didn't want to ignore. Tidying up gave us both a moment to breathe, but the energy between us still hummed, waiting for what would come next.

"You know, we didn't finish that conversation earlier," I said, folding the dish towel. "About the job."

Liam turned to me, a playful glint in his eyes. He reached out, taking my hand in his, and lifted it to his lips, brushing a soft kiss over my knuckles. "I'm tired of talking about work," he murmured, his voice low and warm. His thumb traced a small circle on the back of my hand. "I've got a better idea."

The way he looked at me, that teasing edge in his smile, sent a shiver through me. Whatever was coming next, I wasn't about to argue.

His lips brushed mine, soft at first, then deeper. The world fell away as he scooped me up into his arms and headed toward my bedroom.

"Wait," I said, glancing down at his leg. "Isn't this bad for your ankle?"

Liam smirked, his gaze never wavering. "Nope. It's healed. Just relax and enjoy."

I chuckled softly, unable to resist, as his firm and unwavering embrace erased any lingering uncertainties. Surrendering to the moment, I dissolved into his arms, and the world around us faded into insignificance.

Gently laying me on the bed, he delicately slipped off my shoes, pausing to caress my feet with a skillful touch that sent shivers down my spine. As I submitted completely to his ministrations, he helped me sit up and skillfully removed my top and yoga pants with a tantalizing finesse that set my senses ablaze.

My breath caught in my throat as he slowly backed away, his movements deliberate and enticing. With a seductive smile, he began to undress before me, each piece of clothing falling away effortlessly.

Pausing for a moment, Liam ran his hand down his chest, teasingly tracing the outline of his hardened desire, a knowing glint in his eye that set my skin on fire with anticipation.

As Liam lay beside me, a gasp escaped my lips involuntarily, causing me to arch my back into his touch. His lips left a trail of kisses along my jawline and neck before meeting mine in a hungry kiss that stole my breath away.

"God, you're intoxicating," he whispered against my skin, his voice husky with desire. We tumbled together on the bed, our limbs entwined like vines climbing up a trellis. "I can't get enough of you, Mia," he murmured as our bodies moved in perfect synchrony, his strong arms holding me close while he filled me completely.

The rhythm slowly increased between us as we found our groove together, deep moans mixed with my soft gasps of pleasure as each thrust brought us closer and closer to our peak. Liam's hands roamed freely over my body, exploring every curve, while mine dug into his muscular back with need.

The feeling was indescribable, each touch igniting a fire within us. Our bodies strained against each other, no longer containing the building tension. We both cried out in ecstasy as we reached our peak together, the intensity overwhelming us until we were left trembling in each other's arms. "That was incredible," I gasped, my body still humming with pleasure.

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."