Chapter 4

Four

Mia

A Few Days Later

The neon sign outside The Rusty Anchor flickered as Tessa and I pushed open the weathered wooden doors. Inside, the room pulsed with rowdy energy as live country music blared from a stage in the corner. Weaving through the crowd of cowboy hats and fringe jackets, we found our favorite spot at the bar and ordered our usual drinks.

As the night wore on, we joined the line-dancing frenzy on the packed dance floor, sweat mingling with the distinct scent of spilled beer. Our Friday nights here were always predictable: endless dancing, loud laughter, and a feeling of camaraderie that could only be found here.

Tessa elbowed me as we pushed through the crowd toward the bar. "God, I love this place. It's like stepping into another world. No bullshit, just beer, music, and fun."

I couldn't argue with that. There was something about the rustic charm of the place that let me forget about the responsibilities of the park, the annoying tourists, and the constant buzzing in my head from the week. I needed this.

Tessa squeezed through the crowd with an expert sway of her hips, shouting over the thumping bass. She waved to the bartender and yelled out our order: two margaritas.

I followed closely behind, taking in the familiar sights of our favorite watering hole. Rowdy groups of regulars occupied the pool tables, while the dance floor was a sea of bodies moving in unison.

Tessa turned to me with a sly grin, her eyes scanning the room for potential suitors. "Seen Brit yet?" she yelled.

"Not yet," I replied, leaning against the bar and scanning the crowd. It was a usual mix of locals and tourists, blending under the dim lights and pulsing music. The bartender slid our drinks across the counter, and Tessa handed one to me, clinking glasses. "Another Friday night of avoiding losers," she declared.

I chuckled, remembering that we had said the same thing last week. But it was always fun to come here with Tessa.

"And we were right." She grinned, taking a long sip. "Now, come on, let's find a table before all the good seats are gone."

We made our way to a corner booth, squeezing past a group of guys in cowboy hats and boots who looked like they'd just stepped out of a Western movie. Tessa slid in across from me, already bouncing in her seat as the music picked up.

"Bet you ten bucks Brit shows up in the next five minutes," she said, glancing toward the entrance.

I rolled my eyes. "No bet. He's like clockwork."

And sure enough, not two minutes later, Brit, Tessa's friend, walked in with a group of his buddies, his usual swagger on full display. Tessa waved him over, and before I knew it, he was pulling up a chair and signaling for another round of drinks.

"Mia, Tessa," Brit greeted us with a grin, dropping into the chair beside Tessa. "You ladies look ready for a night."

Tessa leaned in, smirking. "We are. What about you? You gonna try to out-dance us again?"

Brit chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I wouldn't dare. I'm well aware that you two own the dance floor."

I swirled my straw in my margarita, amused by Brit's friends' loud and lively chatter as they settled into the booth next to us. One of them, a tall guy with a thick beard and a friendly smile, caught my eye and waved. "You gonna join us on the dance floor tonight, Mia?"

I shook my head with a grin, taking another sip. "Maybe after a couple more drinks."

"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.

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? I wondered, 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 piercing blue 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.