Chapter 3

Three

Liam

Waking up after surgery felt like shaking off a fog, my mind slow to catch up with my body. The hospital sounds around me—machines beeping, muffled voices—blurred together, but the sharp ache in my ankle cut through it all. I shifted, wincing as the pain flared. My damned leg was wrapped up and propped on a pillow, reminding me just how quickly things had gone sideways.

Not exactly part of the plan.

I hadn't come to Cedar Cove to relax or take time off. I was here on a mission—undercover, trying to root out the thief skimming money from Edgewater Securities. My team back in Dallas thought I was holed up working on some "new project," but the truth was, I was racing against the clock. And now, I had a broken ankle slowing me down.

Just as I started to settle into my thoughts, the door creaked open. A woman in scrubs stepped in, digital tablet in hand, her eyes scanning the files in front of her.

"Mr. Archer?" she asked, glancing up at me.

"Yeah," I replied, clearing my throat.

"I'm with the hospital's billing department," she said, looking down at her notes. "Just need to verify some details about your insurance coverage. It says here you work for Edgewater Securities?"

I tensed slightly but nodded. "That's right."

She blinked, her expression shifting. "Wow. I didn't realize. My cousin works at your company—she's in the Tampa office."

A flicker of unease ran through me. Small world. The thought that someone in Cedar Cove, a town this small, had a connection to Edgewater Securities felt unsettling. And even though it was ridiculous, I couldn't help but wonder if someone in Tampa could be connected to the mess I was dealing with my company. Was there a chance? Could the embezzlement stretch that far?

I forced a smile, trying to brush off the tension creeping into my chest.

No. No fucking way. That's paranoia talking .

"What's your cousin's name?" I asked, keeping my tone casual.

"Marcie," she said, jotting something down. "But don't worry, I just needed to confirm your insurance information. You're all set now."

I nodded, feeling the tightness in my chest ease as she left the room.

Paranoia.

That's all it was. There was no chance someone in Tampa had anything to do with the embezzlement scheme I was chasing. Still, the whole connection had me on edge.

Before I could think much more about it, the door slowly opened again. The last person I expected to see walking through the door was Mia. When she stepped in, her casual, no-nonsense demeanor instantly shifted the mood in the room.

"Mia," I said, my surprise probably too obvious.

She gave me a small nod and stood beside my bed. "Just came by to let you know your truck's safe and sound. I moved it to my cabin earlier. Figured I'd check in while I was at it."

I forced a grin, though the last thing I wanted to admit was that her visit caught me off guard. I wasn't used to people going out of their way for me unless they knew who I was. Mia didn't know—or at least, she didn't care about my work or true identity.

"Appreciate it," I replied, my voice a bit more controlled. "Thanks for taking care of that."

She shrugged, stepping further into the room. "Figured you didn't have anyone else around here to help. Plus, you didn't give me your number, so I had no other way to check in."

I smirked at that. "Fair point. Guess I should remedy that." I held out my phone. "You mind sharing your phone number?"

She took it, her fingers brushing mine briefly as she punched in her number. The contact was small, but it lingered.

"So," she said, handing the phone back, "how's it going? Hospital life treating you alright?"

I chuckled, trying to downplay the fact that being laid up like this was driving me insane. "Could be worse. I'll be out of here soon enough."

She raised an eyebrow, glancing at my bandaged leg. "Soon? With that ankle? You're going to need physical therapy."

"Yeah, well, I've got work to do. Can't exactly hang out in here forever." I paused, quickly shifting gears. "I've got a case I'm working on. Can't let it sit too long."

She looked curious. "Case? You didn't mention you were a cop."

I hesitated for a split second before the lie came smoothly. "I'm not. I'm a private investigator. Independent, mostly. I pick up cases here and there."

Mia raised her eyebrows slightly, and I could tell she was interested, but thankfully not pressing too hard. "Must be something big to have you out here in Cedar Cove."

I nodded, keeping the story vague. "Yeah, just following a few leads. Nothing glamorous."

She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing a little as she processed that. I felt a flicker of tension, wondering if I'd given away too much. But then, she surprised me by cracking a small smile. "Well, guess that makes you more interesting than the weekend tourists we usually get—slumming it in Cedar Cove."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Glad to hear I'm not just another guy with expensive running shoes."

She laughed, and the sound was warm, genuine. The conversation became easier after that, the awkwardness fading as we exchanged a few jokes and stories. Mia seemed to relax, too, taking a seat in the chair beside my bed as we talked.

I found myself enraptured by her charm, unable to resist the temptation of flirting with her. Her coy smirks and hushed chuckles were like honeyed words, inviting me deeper into our playful banter.

As our conversation continued, our chemistry grew stronger, and we confirmed our contacts with the promise to stay in touch. Watching her get up to adjust the shades, I couldn't help but imagine all the ways I could make her mine. Every subtle movement of her hips and every graceful flick of her hair stirred a cascade of sensations within me. Restless, I adjusted my position on the bed as Mia's presence sparked an undeniable heat deep within.

I barely had time to process the growing chemistry between us when my phone lit up. I glanced at the screen— Shit, Carla —my executive assistant in Dallas. The last thing I needed right now was to juggle more questions about my absence.

I shot Mia an apologetic look. "Sorry, gotta take this. It's my assistant."

She gave me a teasing smile. "Work never stops for a private investigator, huh?"

"Something like that," I muttered, pressing the phone to my ear. "Carla, what's up?"

Her voice came through crisp and professional. "Hey, Liam, I just wanted to check in. It's been a few days. The team's wondering when you'll be back to the office. Everything okay?"

I glanced at Mia, who was casually watching me, her eyes sharp. My heart skipped a beat as I tried to keep my voice steady. "Yeah, everything's fine. I'm... uh, just wrapping up a few things here."

"Right," Carla said, her tone skeptical. "I also got a call from the hospital today—something about verifying your insurance?"

A jolt of panic shot through me. Damn it . "Yeah, had a little... accident. Just a sprain. No big deal."

Mia's gaze hadn't shifted. I could feel her curiosity cutting through the air like a knife.

Carla wasn't buying it. "Liam, you sure? They mentioned a broken ankle."

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. "It's nothing serious. Look, I'll be back when I can. Just handle things until then, alright?"

"Okay, but?—"

"Gotta go, Carla. Thanks." I ended the call before she could press further and let out a breath of relief.

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, just... work stuff," I said, my fingers nervously tapping on the edge of the bedside tray. "Nothing exciting."

She studied me for a second longer, clearly not convinced, but didn't push. Instead, she leaned back in the chair, her arms crossed, her gaze thoughtful. "You know, you're kind of a mystery, Archer. First, you're an independent investigator, and now your assistant's calling hospitals on your behalf."

I swallowed hard, trying to play it cool. "I guess I keep people on their toes."

Mia smirked. "Is that what you tell yourself?"

I laughed, but it came out a little forced. "Something like that."

The conversation shifted back to lighter topics, but the tension from the call lingered. I threw out a few more jokes, trying to steer us back to comfortable ground. Mia seemed to relax, and we bantered back and forth for a while, her laughter breaking through the awkwardness. But every now and then, I'd catch her looking at me like she was trying to figure me out.

Eventually, she leaned forward, her arms resting on her knees. "So, you're laid up in the hospital for a while. I gather you live alone?"

I shrugged, trying to keep it light. "Yes. But it's not so bad. I'm used to being on my own a lot. Comes with the job."

Mia smiled softly. "Yeah, I get that. I mean, I've got Daisy, so I'm not technically alone, but sometimes I wonder if having a dog for a best friend makes me look like a bit of a hermit."

"Daisy?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this new piece of information. "Your roommate?"

She chuckled. "Something like that. She's my golden retriever. My loyal partner in crime. I take her everywhere I can. She's pretty much the only one who's around all the time, so I guess that makes her the best listener, too."

"I don't know," I said, smirking. "From what I've heard, dogs are great at listening and even better at keeping secrets. Sounds like a solid deal."

Mia grinned, the light in her eyes softening as she talked about her dog. "Yeah, she's a great companion. Honestly, she's probably better company than most people I've met. At least she doesn't talk back when I've had a bad day."

"Sounds like a dream," I joked. "I might have to meet this Daisy sometime."

She tilted her head slightly, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "Careful what you wish for. Once she likes you, she's not going to leave you alone."

"I'll take my chances," I said, feeling the tension between us ease a bit more.

As our conversation wound down, I handed her my phone. "Please, check to make sure I have your contact information."

She took it. "Yes, it's there, and I have yours. Promise you won't call me at 2 a.m. asking for help with a stakeout."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "No promises."

We shared a grin, but before she left, Mia's eyes lingered on mine a second longer than usual. It was like she was silently asking if I was telling the truth—or if there was more to the story.

"Don't let the tourists tire you out," I said, trying to lighten the mood as she walked toward the door.

She glanced back, a teasing spark in her eyes. "Only the ones who can keep up."

As the door closed behind her, I let out a breath, sinking back into the pillows. My heart was still racing, and I couldn't tell if it was from the lies I'd been spinning or the way Mia looked at me. Maybe both.

The phone buzzed again in my hand, and I cursed under my breath when I saw Carla's name pop up. I ignored it this time, tossing the phone onto the side table.

This whole thing was spiraling out of control. I was supposed to be focused on finding the embezzler, not getting tangled up in some half-baked lie to a woman I barely knew. But now... I already felt like I was getting in too deep.

I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. If Mia discovered the truth about who I really was, would she still choose to stick around? Or would she simply add to the chaos that already consumed my life?

One thing at a time, Liam. One thing at a time.