Chapter 9

Nine

Liam

A Few Weeks Later

The Uber pulled up in front of my cabin, the tires rolling to a slow stop on the driveway. I let out a long, frustrated sigh. This wasn't the return I had been hoping for. I grabbed my crutches, opened the door, and carefully maneuvered myself out of the car. The cool air hit me as I stood, leaning heavily on my crutches, and I fought the urge to curse under my breath.

"Thanks," I muttered to the driver, who gave me a nod before pulling away, leaving me standing there, staring at the cabin that had felt like a prison ever since I'd returned home from Mia's place.

The doctor's words echoed in my head as I hobbled toward the porch. "You'll need a few more weeks before you can even think about driving again, Mr. Archer. It's important that you let your ankle heal properly." I had wanted to argue with him, to push back and say I could handle it, but I knew it wouldn't change a damn thing.

I'd been hoping to hear something different, something that gave me a little more freedom. But no—more rest, more time, more sitting on my ass while the world kept spinning around me. I was a guy used to being in control, calling the shots. Now, I couldn't even get in my own truck without risking making things worse.

By the time I reached the front door, my ankle was throbbing, and my mood had sunk even lower. I fumbled with the keys and shoved the door open, stepping into the cabin with a deep sigh. The place was quiet—too quiet. Mia had come over to help with my work in the evenings, and even though I'd grown accustomed to the solitude during the day, I'd started missing her presence when she wasn't around.

I leaned my crutches against the wall, tossed my keys onto the nearby table, and limped over to the couch. The cabin might've felt like home for a while, but right now, it was the last place I wanted to be. I wanted to be out there, working, getting back into my life. But instead, here I was.

Sinking into the cushions, my ankle propped up on the coffee table for comfort, the hope to drown out frustrations with closed eyes was interrupted by a buzzing phone in my pocket. Retrieving it, half expecting a message from the doctor's office, but seeing Derek's name on the screen shifted the mood instantaneously.

DEREK: Don't forget about the Riverstone gala this weekend in San Antonio. Big event, big donors. I expect to see you there.

I stared at the text for a moment, feeling the familiar pull of obligation settle in. Derek's charity work for the children's hospital was something I respected, but right now, the thought of attending a gala in my current state felt like another weight added to my already full plate.

Still, I knew I couldn't blow it off. This wasn't just about showing up—it was about making connections and keeping up appearances. And knowing Derek, he was probably expecting me to charm a few potential clients for Edgewater as well. The problem was, I wasn't exactly in a position to drive myself there, let alone play the part of the smooth businessman.

My thumb hovered over the reply button, but before I could type out a response, another thought crossed my mind. Mia. She had been helping me out, even if we didn't always see eye to eye. And right now, I needed more help than I was willing to admit. Maybe she could drive me to the gala.

I started typing out a response to Derek, the words coming easier than I expected.

LIAM: I'll be there, but I'll need to bring Mia with me. New girlfriend. Hope you don't mind.

I hit send before I could second-guess myself. Bringing Mia to the event wasn't just a matter of convenience—having her there might make the whole night more bearable.

As I set my phone down on the couch beside me, a new wave of exhaustion sunk in. The thought of getting through the next few weeks, still stuck in this boot, still trying to figure out the mess at Edgewater, weighed heavily on my mind. And now, on top of it all, I had to figure out how to bring Mia into my world without giving away too much.

She still thought I was just a private investigator. She didn't have a clue about the full truth, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep that lie going. But for now, it would have to hold. I needed her help, and if that meant keeping up the charade a little longer, so be it.

At least I was paying her well for the work she was doing, and she seemed genuinely grateful for the extra income. Mia wasn't the type to ask for help, much less money, so I'd tried to be fair without making it obvious that I could offer her far more. Still, I wondered if giving her a raise might be the right move. It could be an opening to start bridging the gap, a way to inch closer to the truth about Edgewater and my real identity.

But then again, would it feel like I was paying her to stay around? That wasn't what I wanted. The last thing I needed was for her to think our growing connection was transactional. The real issue was, how could I open the door to the big reveal without shattering everything?

I leaned back into the couch, the silence of the cabin closing in around me again. The gala was just a week away, and I had a feeling things were about to get a lot more complicated.

Still lost in my thoughts, I was brought back to the present when there was a knock on the cabin door. I hadn't heard Mia's car—well, technically, the park's Jeep—but she had a way of moving quietly when she wanted to.

"Come in," I called, sitting up straighter as the door creaked open. Mia stepped inside, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, cheeks flushed from the evening air.

"Hi," she said with a grin. "I finished those files you asked for."

I returned her smile, though my mind was still racing from the conversation with Derek and the decision I needed to make. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

She crossed the room and set the stack of folders on the coffee table, then straightened up, eyeing me curiously. "You look like you've got something on your mind. Is everything alright?"

I hesitated for a second, then decided it was now or never. "Actually, yeah. There's something I wanted to talk to you about. My friend Derek's got a gala coming up in San Antonio."

Mia raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for me to continue.

"But first…. I've been thinking," I started, clearing my throat. "You've been a huge help to me, and honestly, I know I've been asking for more than I initially planned. So... I want to offer you a raise for all the work you've been doing. I know it's been a lot, and you deserve to be compensated for it."

She blinked, clearly caught off guard by the offer. "A raise? Liam, I... I don't know what to say."

I shrugged, trying to play it off as no big deal. "You've earned it. With everything you've been doing around here—helping with my work and taking care of personal things for me—you deserve more. I don't want you to feel like this is just a favor."

Mia bit her lip, glancing down at the floor for a moment before looking back at me. "That's really generous of you, Liam. And... to be honest, it would help. A lot."

She hesitated, then continued, her tone softening. "As you know, I don't have a car of my own, and I've been using the park's Jeep, but I'm not sure how much longer they'll let me drive it like it's mine. I've been saving up for something reliable, but it's been slow going."

I nodded, my mind immediately racing with solutions. I could buy her a car tomorrow if I wanted to. Hell, I could buy her the whole dealership. But I knew that wouldn't sit well with her. Mia was independent, fiercely so, and the last thing I wanted was to make her feel like I was throwing money at her to solve her problems.

"That's all the more reason for the raise," I said instead. "You shouldn't have to worry about getting around. You've been taking care of me, and it's the least I can do to make sure you're not strapped for cash."

She smiled, a little shyly this time, and nodded. "Well, thank you. It really does mean a lot."

There was a pause, the tension shifting slightly. I could see the gratitude in her eyes, but there was something else, too. Something unspoken, lingering just beneath the surface. I wasn't sure if it was the fact that we were alone again and hadn't been intimate since that first night or if it was simply the closeness that had been growing between us, but whatever it was, it made the room feel smaller.

Mia broke the silence first. "So... about this gala in San Antonio. What's it for?"

I cleared my throat, grateful for the change in subject. "It's a charity event. My friend Derek is hosting it for the Riverstone Children's Hospital. He runs a nonprofit that supports the hospital, and he invited me as his guest. I'd like for you to come with me if you're up for it."

Mia's brow furrowed slightly. "The Riverstone Charity? I've heard of it. It's actually one of the organizations I've been digging into for your case. I didn't realize your friend was involved."

That set off alarm bells in my head. I hadn't suspected that Derek was doing anything shady, but if Mia had found something during her research, it could complicate things. I forced myself to stay calm, not wanting to give anything away.

"Yeah, he's been running it for a few years now," I said casually, leaning back on the couch. "It's a good cause, and the gala's a great way to meet people who could help with... well, future business."

Mia seemed to mull that over for a moment before nodding. "I'd love to go, but... I don't have anything to wear. It's not like I have a closet full of gowns lying around."

I chuckled. "We can take care of that. Tomorrow is Saturday, the perfect time to go shopping. I'll cover the expenses—consider it part of your... raise."

She gave me a look, half-amused, half-serious. "You really know how to spoil a girl, don't you?"

"Only the ones who deserve it," I replied, with a smirk playing on my lips. "And I'm picky about the women who accompany me in public."

Mia shook her head, but I could see the smile morphing over her features. "So, I'll be seen as your girlfriend… or whatever."

"Something like that," I admitted with a wink.

"Alright, fine. I'll be your plus one. But I'm not letting you turn this into some Cinderella makeover."

"No glass slippers," I promised, raising my hands in mock surrender.

She laughed, the sound filling the cabin with joy. But as she started gathering her things to leave for the night, I couldn't shake the nagging thought in the back of my mind. How much longer could I keep up the lie? How much longer before Mia found out the truth about who I really was—and what would happen when she did?

As Mia turned to leave, she glanced back at me, her smile softening. "Thanks again, Liam. For everything."

Without thinking, I stepped closer and kissed her softly on the cheek, my arm wrapping around her in a quick hug. "No, Mia. Thank you."

She lingered for a moment, her eyes searching mine as if she were looking for something unsaid. For a split second, I thought about asking her to stay. The idea tugged at me, tempting, but I hesitated. I didn't want her to think the raise was just some ploy to keep her close or a way to blur the lines between what had started weeks before.

She pulled away gently, giving me one last smile before heading for the door. The soft click of the door closing behind her echoed in the quiet room, and I sank into the couch, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me again.

The gala, Derek, the investigation, Mia—everything was starting to blur together, slipping out of my control. As much as I hated to admit it, I wasn't sure how long I could keep it all from falling apart.

Mia had already done so much for me, and it would have been easy to ask her to stay the night—easy to lose myself in her company. But I didn't want to send the wrong message or make her feel like I was taking advantage of the situation.

So, I let her leave without a word. As the glow of her Jeep's headlights faded into the distance, I sat there wondering where our future was headed.