Chapter 5

Five

Liam

I stared at my phone, Derek's number glowing on the screen. My thumb hovered over the call button, but I couldn't bring myself to press it. The thought of asking him to come all the way out to Cedar Cove from Dallas just to pick my ass up from the hospital felt ridiculous. He had his own life, his own work—hell, he was already doing me a favor paying me friendly visits here while I played undercover boss.

Besides, what was I supposed to say? "Hey, man, can you drop everything, drive two hours, and babysit me for a few days because I fucked up my ankle?" Yeah, that would go over well. Derek would do it, no doubt, but it was a lot to ask. Too much, really. I wasn't used to relying on anyone, even him.

I let out a breath, laying the phone on the hospital bed. No way. I wasn't about to drag him into this. I'd figure it out. I always did.

But as I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the dull ache in my ankle reminding me of just how royally I'd screwed up, another thought crept in. Mia. I didn't want to lean on her either, but she was... different. She wasn't tangled up in my mess the way Derek was. She didn't know who I really was or what was happening at Edgewater. She didn't see me as the CEO of some billion-dollar company or a guy with problems that stretched far beyond a sprained ankle. To her, I was just a guy who needed a ride.

I grabbed the phone again, scrolling to Mia's number. My thumb hovered over the call button for a second, and then I pressed it, feeling an odd mix of relief and hesitation as it started to ring.

"Hi," Mia answered after a couple of rings, her voice casual and calm, like this wasn't the weirdest request she'd probably had all day.

"Hey there," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I, uh, was wondering if you could pick me up from the hospital later today. It's just... I'm not really in a position to drive, and I don't want to ask my best friend from Dallas to haul himself out here."

There was a pause on the other end, and for a second, I thought she might say no. But then she said, "Yeah, sure. I'm off work around three. I can swing by after that."

"Thanks," I replied, feeling a little more of that tension ease from my chest. "I really appreciate it."

"No problem. I'll see you in a bit."

We hung up, and I stared at my phone, wondering why the hell I was suddenly so nervous about seeing her again. It wasn't like this was a date or anything. She was just picking me up, being a good person, helping out. That's all.

But still, I couldn't shake the excitement that buzzed in the back of my mind. Maybe it was the fact that Mia wasn't the type to give me special treatment, that she didn't know the real me, the guy people usually bent over backward to accommodate. She just saw Liam, the injured guy who needed help.

When the nurse came in to check on me, she told me I'd be discharged by mid-afternoon. Perfect timing. I could get out of this sterile hellhole, get back to my cabin, and at least pretend I had my shit together.

By mid-afternoon, I was itching to get the hell out of the hospital. Dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed, my leg was awkward in the bulky boot, and I wasn't really absorbing the nurse's instructions—rest, ice, elevation, all the usual crap. My mind was somewhere else, locked on the fact that Mia would be here soon.

When she finally walked in, I had to stop myself from staring. She wore jeans and a fitted tank top, the kind of casual outfit that somehow made my brain misfire for a second. Her smile was small, but it hit me hard, sending a jolt through me.

"Ready to blow this joint?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as her gaze flicked to my leg.

"More than ready," I muttered, pushing myself off the bed a bit too eagerly. Pain shot through my ankle, but I forced a grin through it. "Thanks for coming."

She waved it off like it was nothing. "No big deal. Just figured I'd save you from hobbling around Cedar Cove like a half-broken pi?ata."

I chuckled, though the thought of maneuvering the rocky trails near my cabin on crutches was a nightmare.

We made our way out of the hospital, Mia keeping a steady pace beside me as I limped along. By the time we reached her truck, I was sweating more from the effort than I cared to admit.

"Let me tell you how to get to my place," I said, sliding into the passenger seat.

Mia shot me a sidelong glance, fastening her seatbelt. "Actually, I was going to suggest something else."

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"There's no way you're staying alone at your place," she said, her voice firm. "You can barely walk. You need help, and until I'm convinced you can handle things on your own, you're staying with me."

I blinked, taken aback by her bluntness. "With you? In your cabin?"

"Yep. In the spare room." She started the truck, pulling out of the parking lot. "You don't really have a choice, so don't argue."

I opened my mouth to argue anyway, but the look on her face made it clear it wasn't going to get me anywhere. I sighed, sinking back into the seat. "Okay, fine. But just for a couple of days."

She flashed a quick grin. "We'll see."

As we drove through the winding roads back to the park, I couldn't shake the weird flutter in my chest. Staying with Mia... It wasn't something I'd planned for, but the idea wasn't exactly terrible. If anything, it felt like the best thing to happen in weeks.

I glanced over at her. She was focused on the road, her hair pulled into a messy ponytail, her grip on the steering wheel firm and sure. She wasn't just a soft touch. Mia was practical, strong-willed—the kind of woman who didn't tolerate bullshit.

And here I was, sitting next to her, lying through my teeth about who I was. I wasn't just a private investigator nursing a bum ankle. I was the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company, hunting down an embezzler. The lies were stacking up, and I wasn't sure how long I could keep them straight.

As we pulled into the park, the truck bouncing along the dirt road, my ankle throbbed with each jolt. I braced myself against the dashboard, grimacing.

"You good?" Mia asked, glancing over at me as we slowed near her cabin.

"Yeah, just... my ankle," I muttered, hoping to steer the conversation away from anything too personal. "Nothing I can't handle."

She smirked, shaking her head as she parked. "Right. Because hobbling around on crutches is your idea of handling things perfectly."

I couldn't help but grin. "What can I say? I like a challenge."

"Well, I'm giving you a break from this one," she said, turning off the engine. "Let's get you inside."

She came around to my side of the truck, and for a second, I was tempted to wave her off, tell her I didn't need the help. But when she opened the door and held out her hand, I took it. It wasn't like I had a choice, anyway. I swung my leg out carefully, biting back a wince as I stood. The crutches helped, but the ground was uneven, and I ended up leaning on Mia more than I wanted to. Not that she seemed to mind.

Her cabin was warm, cozy, and filled with that faint scent of vanilla. Daisy, her golden retriever, trotted over, tail wagging like she was welcoming me home. I scratched behind her ears, earning a happy bark.

"Good girl," Mia said, patting Daisy on the head. "She's low maintenance—just food, water, and belly rubs. Maybe you could learn a thing or two from her."

I laughed as I eased myself onto the couch. "I'll try."

Mia disappeared into the kitchen, returning a minute later with two glasses of iced tea. She handed me one, her fingers brushing mine briefly. The touch sent a spark through me that I tried to ignore.

I cleared my throat. "So, what's the plan? You going to babysit me around the clock?"

She rolled her eyes, sitting down across from me. "I have a job, you know. You'll be on your own during the day. But I'll check in, and Daisy will keep an eye on you."

I smirked, taking a sip of the tea. "Great. Dog-sitting and hobbling around. Should be a blast."

"Could be worse," she teased. "I could've left you alone at your cabin to fend for yourself."

"I guess I owe you one."

"Yeah, you do," she said, though there was a seriousness beneath her light tone that I couldn't quite place.

I leaned back, letting out a breath. I did owe her—not just for the ride, but for treating me like a normal guy. After so many years of people catering to me as a rich guy, Mia's straightforward attitude was a breath of fresh air.

"So," I said, changing the subject, "any big weekend plans, or am I your entertainment?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You? Entertainment? I doubt you could keep up."

"I can be pretty entertaining when I want to be."

"Oh, really?" She leaned forward, her gaze challenging. "What's your idea of fun?"

"Depends on the company," I shot back, my voice dropping lower.

She didn't break eye contact, and for a moment, the tension between us thickened. But then Daisy barked, hopping up onto the couch between us, breaking the moment with a wagging tail and a slobbery kiss to Mia's cheek.

She laughed, shoving Daisy off playfully. "Alright, alright. We'll stick to PG-rated fun."

"Your loss," I said, though the heat from that brief exchange still lingered.

Dinner was simple enough—delivery from a place down the road. I ordered grilled chicken and veggies while Mia stuck to her burger and fries. But before the food even arrived, I couldn't help myself.

"You know, a burger and fries isn't the best choice. All that grease? You might want to go for something cleaner," I said, leaning back against the couch with a casual shrug. "I always eat clean. Helps keep everything in check, especially when I'm training."

Mia raised an eyebrow, her expression deadpan. "Oh really? And here I thought we were just having dinner, not a lecture on nutrition."

I chuckled, trying to keep the mood light. "I'm just saying, grilled chicken and veggies—solid choice. Fuel for the body."

She smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Well, Liam, I'll eat what I want, thanks. I like burgers, and I don't think a little bit of fries is going to hurt me."

I hesitated, feeling a bit sheepish for pushing it. "Alright, fair enough. Can we just agree to disagree?"

Mia laughed, the sound easing the tension in my chest. "Deal. But don't think you're going to convert me to your ‘clean eating' lifestyle."

I grinned, nodding. "Wouldn't dream of it."

With that settled, the food arrived, and as we dug in, it wasn't the meal that stood out—it was the conversation. We talked about everything, from her work at the park to the bizarre calls she'd gotten from clueless tourists. The more we talked, the more I relaxed, finding myself laughing more than I had in weeks.

But as the night wore on, something shifted. Maybe it was the wine we'd opened or the fire Mia had lit in the fireplace earlier. Whatever it was, the air between us thickened with unspoken tension.

We were sitting closer now, our knees almost touching. Every now and then, her hand would brush against mine when she reached for her glass, and I could feel the heat from her leg on my thigh.

"So," she said quietly, "how's the ankle?"

I shrugged. "Still attached."

"Here," she said, moving closer. "Let me take a look."

Before I could protest, she gently lifted my leg, her fingers brushing against my skin as she removed my boot and checked the bandage. Her touch was gentle yet firm, and the movement of her hands sent a comforting sensation through my body.

"You don't have to—" I began, but she cut me off.

"I know," she murmured, her eyes focused on my ankle. "But I want to."

Her hands lingered for a moment longer than necessary, and when she finally let go, the tension between us didn't dissipate—it grew stronger.

"Mia," I said softly, locking eyes with her. "I?—"

She bit her lip, looking down for a second before meeting my gaze again. "There's... something I should tell you."

My heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"

She hesitated, then took a deep breath. "When I moved your truck earlier... I found something."