Chapter 3
3
DORIE
I wasn’t thrilled. Not even a little. The man who had so rudely barreled into me this morning was now in my shop. I had seen him but convinced myself it couldn’t possibly be the same guy. And then when I brought out the next tray of cookies and saw him standing there with his arms crossed over his broad chest, looking like he’d just stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad, I knew it was him. That same scowl on his face I saw when he stood over me a few hours before.
His designer button-down shirt was freshly pressed, of course. His cologne—something expensive and woodsy—mingled with the sugary air of the bakery and made me feel a little woozy. I wasn’t sure if it was the scent or the way he was looking at me, like I was some kind of inconvenience he had to deal with, but I was definitely feeling too warm, too worked up.
I didn’t like the man.
I couldn’t explain why, but I didn’t. He was a jerk. First impressions meant a lot and he had left a shitty first impression. Rude. Obnoxious. Arrogant.
Hot. Gorgeous. Sexy.
I was doing my best to try and keep my composure. The kitchen was my sanctuary, my domain, and having him there felt like an invasion. He was too big. Too attractive. Too masculine. It was making me feel off-kilter, like the world had slightly tilted and I couldn’t find my footing. I hated it.
I forced myself to focus. This was about Eliza’s wedding, not my irritation—or whatever else I was feeling—toward Kaisen. This was for my sister and Cullen, and I wasn’t about to let my personal feelings get in the way of making their wedding perfect.
“Cullen’s groom cake,” I said, forcing myself to deal with him. “I was told you’d have some ideas on flavors he might like.”
Kaisen blinked, his expression shifting from mild annoyance to outright confusion. “Wait, you don’t have anything prepared?”
I crossed my arms and shot him a dirty look. He wasn’t the only one irritated. I was the one that got mowed down. I was the one that deserved to be pissed. “No. I was told you’d be giving me direction. You know, since you’re his best man and all.”
He ran a hand through his dark hair, clearly frustrated. “I don’t know. Vanilla? Chocolate? What do people usually get?”
I stared at him, incredulous. “This isn’t just some cake, Kaisen. It’s Cullen’s groom cake. It’s a big deal. It’s supposed to reflect his personality, his tastes. It’s not something you just slap together with whatever is lying around.”
He shrugged, his indifference grating on my nerves. “Well, I don’t know what Cullen likes. I’m not his personal chef.”
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. “Okay, let’s start over. What does Cullen like? Hobbies, interests, favorite foods? Anything.”
“Why in the hell do his hobbies and interests matter?”
Of course he didn’t get it. He probably thought wedding planning was all about showing up and looking good in a suit and looking for a single woman to hook up with.
“Because,” I said, my patience thin, “a groom cake is personal. It’s not just dessert—it’s a statement. It’s supposed to tell a story about Cullen. Something that represents him. So, if you want this to be special, you’re going to have to give me something to work with. I don’t know him well enough. That’s your job.”
Kaisen thought for a moment, then shrugged again. “He likes sports. And whiskey. And… I don’t know, steak?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Great. That’s really helpful.”
He smirked, clearly enjoying my frustration. “Look, I’m not a baker. I don’t know how this works. I don’t know shit about weddings. Cakes. Any of it. You’re the expert, right? So figure it out.”
I wanted to strangle him. Instead, I took another deep breath and decided to change tactics. “Fine. Let’s talk about the wedding. How involved have you been so far? That will give me a hint about what Cullen might like. I’ve been working with Eliza and could pick a cake for her with my eyes closed.”
He leaned against the counter, his arms still crossed. “Not very. I’ve got a business to run. I don’t have time to plan parties.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Parties? This is your best friend’s wedding. It’s kind of a big deal.”
He shrugged. “It’s just a wedding. People get married every day.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’re kidding, right? This is a once in a lifetime event. It’s about love, commitment, celebrating the start of a new chapter in their lives. How can you be so… so unromantic?”
He looked at me, his hazel eyes narrowing. “Romance is overrated. Love is just a chemical reaction in the brain. It doesn’t last.”
I stared at him, stunned. “Wow. Someone obviously hurt you.”
He flinched, just barely, but it was enough for me to notice. “It’s not about me. I just think it’s stupid. If you’re really dumb enough to sign your life away to another person forever, regardless of how much they could hurt you, how much they could take from you, then just go to a courthouse. Why waste all this time and money on a party?”
I shook my head, trying to process what he was saying. “That’s… really dark, Kaisen. But this isn’t about you. This is about Cullen and Eliza. They’re in love, and they want to celebrate that love with their friends and family. And as their best man and maid of honor, it’s our job to help make that happen.”
He didn’t respond, just stared at me with that infuriatingly blank expression.
“You need to get over your commitment issues and help your friend,” I said, barely able to restrain my anger. “This is my sister’s wedding, and I will make your life miserable if you mess this up in any way.”
To my surprise, he didn’t back down. Instead, he smirked, his eyes locking onto mine. “Is that a threat?”
I held his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. “It’s a promise.”
For a moment, we stared at each other. It was a real standoff. I didn’t know him, and he didn’t know me, but I didn’t back down. I didn’t care how rich and handsome he was. This was my sister’s wedding, and it was going to be fantastic. He could help or not. The tension between us crackled like a live wire. I saw the moment he caved.
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll play along. But I have to go back to New York. I’ve got a real job, unlike some people who get to bake cookies all day and be done by ten a.m.”
I bristled at the jab, but before I could respond, he decided to continue his haughty lecture. “Have some cake flavors ready to taste by Friday evening. I’ll be back then.”
And with that, he turned on his heel and walked out, leaving me standing there, fuming. I snatched my phone off the counter and immediately called Eliza, my fingers trembling with anger. I wasn’t sure if she knew what she was getting into. I liked Cullen, but there was a saying about the company you kept. If Kaisen was Cullen’s best friend, we needed to rethink this whole “until death do us part” thing.
“Hey, Dorie!” Eliza’s cheerful voice came through the line. “How’s it going with Kaisen? Did you guys settle on a cake?”
“Where did Cullen find this guy?” I demanded, pacing the kitchen. “He’s insufferable. Is this a prank? Tell me this was a bad joke. Kaisen cannot possibly be Cullen’s friend. Have you met this dude?”
Eliza laughed, clearly not taking me seriously. “Oh, come on. He’s not that bad.”
“Not that bad? He’s a walking disaster. He has no idea what Cullen likes, he’s completely unromantic, and he thinks weddings are stupid. How is he even friends with Cullen? And he’s an asshole. Super dick. How have you not killed him?”
“Kaisen’s… complicated,” Eliza said. “But he’s a good guy, deep down. He’s just been through a lot.”
I sighed, shaking my head and wondering if this was going to work. “Well, he’s going to have to get over it. This is your wedding, and I’m not going to let him ruin it. If he can’t be a decent human, he’s going to wear the cake.”
Eliza laughed again. “Dorie, don’t kill him, okay? Cullen would be devastated. They are best friends. Brothers, really.”
“I’ll try,” I muttered, though I wasn’t sure I meant it. “But if he shows up on Friday with that same attitude, all bets are off.”
“Fair enough,” Eliza said. “Just give him a chance. He’s not as bad as he seems.”
I rolled my eyes. “If you say so. But I’m not holding my breath. He knocked me down. Didn’t even apologize.”
“He knocked you down?” she asked with surprise.
“Yes! He was running like a hundred miles an hour and just plowed into me!”
“I don’t understand.”
“I was walking to work, and he just came out of nowhere like a freight train,” I said.
She laughed again, clearly not bothered by my near-death experience. “Kaisen is a runner.”
“He’s a wrecking ball. But I won’t kill him before the wedding.”
“I know you won’t,” Eliza said. “You’re the best, Dorie. Just try to be patient with him. He’s not as tough as he seems.”
I wasn’t so sure about that, but I didn’t argue. “Fine. But if he gives me any more trouble, I’m not responsible for what happens. I may not kill him, but I can’t promise he won’t be missing a toe or be bruised underneath his tux.”
Eliza laughed again, and we chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. Kaisen was infuriating, but Eliza was right. I couldn’t let him get to me. This was about her and Cullen, not about my personal feelings. I didn’t have to deal with the man after the wedding. Like he said, he had far more important things back in New York. I might have to see him at the birth of their first baby or something, but I doubted I would ever see him much beyond that.
I took a deep breath and told myself he was not my problem. He wasn’t my friend or my future husband’s friend.
“Suck it up, Buttercup,” I told myself.
I was determined to come up with the perfect cake flavors for Cullen’s groom cake. Kaisen might be a pain, but I wasn’t about to let him ruin this. I had a job to do, and I was going to do it, no matter what.
Toby walked into the kitchen looking like he’d gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson—young Mike Tyson. I couldn’t help but smile. “You survived.”
“I think we need to up our inventory,” he said. “Some lady just yelled at me and said we’re not allowed to be out of cookies.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Sounds about right. People take their cookies very seriously around here. But hey, if they’re yelling, it means they care. We’ll just have to make more tomorrow.”
Toby groaned, collapsing onto a stool at the counter. “Yeah, but I’m not sure I can handle another day like today. I’m exhausted.”
“You’ve got it handled,” I said, grabbing a towel to wipe down the counter. “Besides, think of it as job security. The more they yell, the more we sell. Take a ten.”
He gave me a weak smile, but I could tell he was really wiped out. The morning rush was intense. “You’re way too optimistic for your own good.”
“I try.”
“Who was that guy?” he asked.
“My sister’s groom’s best man,” I said. “He was supposed to be giving me some ideas for the groom’s cake. He’ll be back Friday night to do some tasting.”
Toby nodded and sucked down water from his water bottle. I left him in back and went up front. It looked like a hurricane had swept through. I grabbed my notepad and jotted down what I needed to get busy baking.