Chapter 2
2
KAISEN
T he heavy hotel room door slammed shut behind me before I fell against it to catch my breath. I gritted my teeth against the burning ache in my muscles after my ten-mile run and brutal hour in the hotel gym. While my body ached terribly and my muscles sang for relief, my mind was perfectly clear.
I pushed off the door and walked to the fridge in my suite. After grabbing a bottle of water, I moved to stand in front of the window and admire the view.
Cape May was gorgeous in the spring, I’d give it that. The blooming flowers, the quaint charm of the waterfront—it was a far cry from the concrete jungle of Manhattan. I hadn’t been here in years, not since I was a kid, and while it was nice to be back, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was wasting my time. I had a life to get back to, a business to run, and a city that never slept waiting for me.
I peeled off my sweat-soaked shirt and tossed it into the corner, heading straight for the shower. The hot water was merciful, washing away the grime of the morning and easing the tension in my muscles.
My phone buzzed incessantly on the bathroom counter, the vibration muffled by the sound of the water. I ignored it for as long as I could, but eventually, curiosity got the better of me. I turned off the shower, wrapped a towel around my waist, and grabbed my phone.
The screen was lit up with notifications—emails, texts, and a few from the luxury hook-up app I used. A guy had needs.
I checked the notifications first. There were a few likes, which was the equivalent of a woman buying me a drink or propositioning me. I smirked, scrolling through the profiles. I was surprised there were even women in a town this small using the app, but hey, I wasn’t complaining. I swiped through a few, my mind already wandering to the possibilities for later tonight.
I didn’t reply to any of them, but I would later. I swiped back to the missed calls and texts. All of them could wait except for the one from Cullen.
I hit the FaceTime button, and Cullen’s face appeared on the screen almost instantly. “Kaisen! How’s Cape May, dude?”
“It’s fine,” I said, running a hand through my damp hair. “But it’s too damn quiet. I’ve got a meeting back in the city at three, so I need to make this quick. Tell me Eliza’s sister has her shit together and can get this cake tasting done without wasting my time?”
Cullen laughed, either ignorantly or deliberately avoiding the edge in my tone. His breezy go-with-the-flow nature clashed with my type-A personality, but with him being so laid back, he never noticed. Must be fucking nice.
“Dorie’s great, man,” Cullen said. “She’s a total pro. You’ll see.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, checking my watch. “Listen, I’m doing this for you, okay? I don’t have time to be playing taste-tester in some small-town bakery. I’ve got a business to run. And you’re going to make me overdose on sugar. I’m going to have to run twenty miles after this.”
“I’m not telling you to eat every cake. It’s a bite… maybe two. Shit, you sound like Eliza worrying about eating a bite of chocolate. She’s convinced a single bite will cause her to gain fifty pounds and she won’t be able to fit in her wedding dress.” He snorted. “It’s like mirrors everywhere play tricks on her. I mean, she’s got the sort of body that?—”
“I’m not sure why I’m the one testing your wedding cake,” I muttered, trying to get him back on track.
“Because we’ve got a million things to do,” he said. “And you’re helping me out. I appreciate it, really. You’re a lifesaver. Just… try to be nice, okay? Dorie’s important to Eliza, and she’s doing us a huge favor with the cake.”
“Nice?” I raised an eyebrow. “I’m always nice.”
Cullen snorted again. “Sure you are. Just don’t scare her off, alright? She’s about to be family. I’ll owe you one.”
“You already owe me,” I said. “But fine. I’ll play nice. For you.”
We chatted for a few more minutes before I hung up and tossed my phone on the bed. I got dressed quickly, pulling on a crisp white shirt and a pair of dark jeans. I checked my reflection in the mirror, running a hand over my jaw. I looked good, as always. Not that it mattered. This was a cake tasting, not a date. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of irritation. I should’ve been in my office, making deals, not wasting my time in some podunk town.
The only reason I was here was because I loved Cullen like a brother. And as someone with a busy life as well, I understood that sometimes things like this needed to be handed off to someone else to take care of. Cullen was just delegating. So, while he was busy back in New York, preparing to take off several weeks from work for his upcoming wedding and honeymoon, I agreed to help with the wedding preparations as much as I could.
Regret had already settled in, though.
I put on my dark glasses, grabbed my wallet and phone, and left my room. It wasn’t surprising to see the town had woken up since my run.
The waterfront bustled with tourists and locals. I passed a few storefronts, admiring the view despite myself. There used to be a taffy store around here somewhere, one my mom used to take me to when I was a kid. I wondered if it was still there.
This was the kind of place where time seemed to stand still, where the same shops and landmarks lingered for decades, unchanging. It was both comforting and suffocating. I wasn’t sure how people could live here their entire lives without feeling like they were a hamster in a wheel spinning day in and day out and never going anywhere.
I loved the city. I loved that there was something exciting to do every night of the week. Someone new every night. Cape May was nice to visit but living here? No thanks.
I could smell coffee and bread. I knew I was close to my destination by the scent alone. I spotted the bakery up ahead. The storefront looked familiar, and as I got closer, I realized why—the same bakery I was supposed to meet Eliza’s sister at had replaced the taffy store. Small world.
I pushed open the door and was immediately hit by the chaos inside. The place was packed with people lined up at the counter, chatting and laughing as they waited for their turn. A young man worked behind the counter, moving with the kind of frantic energy that came with being in the weeds. He handed out cookies and pastries like his life depended on it. I couldn’t help but be impressed by his efficiency.
Outside, it was all calm and serene. In this bakery, it looked like any coffee shop in Manhattan during the morning rush. The only thing missing were the expensive suits and cellphones. Back in Manhattan, everyone was in a hurry. They were cranky and fiending for their hit of caffeine.
I was not interested in dealing with a feeding frenzy. I was here to get a couple bites of cake and that was that. There was only one problem.
I didn’t see Eliza’s sister. I didn’t know who she was, but I knew they were twins, so I was looking for an Eliza clone. But there was no sign of Dorie. I scanned the room, my eyes landing on a door at the back of the shop. It swung open, and a woman stepped out, carrying a tray of pastries. My breath caught in my throat.
She was short, with curves that could make a grown man weep. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a messy bun, a few curls escaping to frame her face. Her big blue eyes were focused on the tray in her hands, but when she looked up and met my gaze, I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. She was stunning. Absolutely stunning.
And then she glared at me. The look was a surprise for a brief second until it all came rushing back. The park. The run. The bush. This was the woman I’d knocked over this morning. The one who’d told me off with a fire in her eyes that had left me equal parts annoyed and intrigued.
This was Dorie? Eliza’s sister?
It couldn’t be. Eliza was tall with dark hair. Yes, they both had blue eyes, but that was where the similarities ended. Eliza was beautiful, someone you might see on a billboard or runway. But this woman was petite. Most designers overlooked women like this.
Not me.
I snapped myself back to reality.
No ogling the cakemaker.
“Excuse me,” I said.
I tried to cut in line, eager to get this over with, but I was immediately met with protests from the other customers. “Hey, buddy, wait your turn!” one guy barked.
“Back of the line.”
“No cuts.”
I frowned. I had an appointment. I didn’t want one of the fucking donuts they were all eager to get. I’d wait. But I wasn’t happy about it. Every minute that passed by only served to piss me off even more. She knew I was coming for the cake testing. Why was I being made to endure this stupid ritual?
By the time I reached the counter, the young man—Toby, according to his name tag—informed me they were sold out. Sold out. At ten a.m. Good for them. I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my temper in check. “I’m here to see Dorie,” I said, my voice tight. “About a wedding cake. I don’t want a donut, cookie, or bagel. I need to see the manager.”
Toby nodded and disappeared into the back, leaving me standing there like an idiot. A few moments later, Dorie emerged, wiping her hands on her apron. She looked me up and down, her expression unreadable. “You’re K?”
“Kaisen,” I corrected, my tone sharper than I intended. “And yes. Can we get this over with?”
She raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk that made my blood boil. “Charming as ever, I see. Follow me.”
She turned on her heel and walked back into the kitchen, leaving me no choice but to follow. I trailed behind her, my eyes lingering on the sway of her hips, the way her apron hugged her waist. She was infuriating, but damn if she wasn’t the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
She gestured to a small table in the corner. “Sit,” she said, not looking at me.
I sat down, my eyes never leaving her. She was a force of nature. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to strangle her or kiss her. Probably both.
“Like you said, let’s get this over with,” she muttered.