Chapter 20
20
KAISEN
I wasn’t sure where to eat in Cape May, so I let Dorie choose. She picked a slightly run-down seafood joint a few buildings down from her bakery. It wasn’t the kind of place I’d normally go to—the decor was dated, the tables were sticky, and the smell of fried fish hung heavy in the air. Dorie seemed right at home.
“Relax,” she said. “You’re not going to catch cooties.”
“It’s just, uh, not what I expected,” I said.
“I know it doesn’t look like much, but the food is good,” she promised.
“I hope so. If I get food poisoning, I’m blaming you.”
“Trust me, I know the owners,” she said. “It’s good.”
I suspected she chose the restaurant because of who the owners were and the location. She was supporting her fellow business owners. I had a feeling this would be one of the places being pursued by the investor. If it was me, I’d want the whole stretch of buildings.
A waitress came by to deliver us glasses of water and menus.
“Hi, Dorie.” She smiled.
“Hello, Cindy. Looks slow.”
Cindy nodded. “It is. I’m sure this weekend things will pick up.”
“Can I get a Coke?” Dorie asked and then looked at me.
“Coke works,” I said.
I stared at the laminated menu, the edges slightly curled. The list of options was overwhelming, each dish more questionable than the last. I knew we were on the water, but seafood wasn’t one of those things you took risks with. I glanced up at Dorie, who was already scanning the menu with the ease of someone who’d been here a hundred times.
“So, what’s good here? And before you say ‘everything,’ I need specifics. I’m not trying to end up with something that looks like it crawled out of the ocean and onto my plate. Nor do I want to end up praying to the porcelain god or in need of an IV to rehydrate myself.”
Dorie smirked, not looking up. “You’re such a snob. Relax. You’re in Cape May now. Seafood is kind of our thing.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, flipping the menu over as if an easier option might magically appear. “Just pick something for me. Something safe.”
“Safe? Boring. How about the crab cakes? They’re legendary here.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Crab cakes? Like actual crab or the stuff that comes out of a can?”
“Yes, actual crab,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Fine,” I said, putting the menu down with a resigned sigh. “Crab cakes it is. But if I end up in the hospital, I’m sending you the bill.”
Dorie laughed, leaning back in her chair. “You’re so dramatic. You’ll be fine. Trust me.”
Cindy returned with our Cokes, and Dorie ordered for both of us—crab cakes for me and a lobster roll for herself. As the waitress walked away, I glanced around the restaurant, taking in the faded nautical decor and the handful of other patrons scattered throughout the place. It was quiet, almost too quiet for a lunch hour.
“Are you recovering?” Dorie asked.
“Recovering?”
“The assault from three-foot humans,” she said.
I smiled. “I’m not sure yet.”
“You should’ve seen yourself out there,” she said, grinning. “I thought you were going to get trampled.”
I groaned, shaking my head. “I didn’t volunteer for that. I was forced. And you’re paying for my lunch as compensation.”
She rolled her eyes but laughed. I found myself liking the sound of it. It was light, carefree, and completely genuine. “Fine,” she said, still smiling. “But only because you looked so pitiful out there. And it was better you than me. You’re a foot taller than I am. I don’t stand a chance.”
I smirked, leaning back in my chair. “Those kids were feral. I’m convinced schools are just breeding grounds for tiny sociopaths.”
Dorie raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “What about you? Did you feel threatened by public school kids when you were younger? Or did you go to some upper-crust private academy where you used gold fountain pens to practice your signature in anticipation of taking over your parents’ dynasty?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Okay, there’s some truth to that. But it wasn’t all gold fountain pens and trust funds. I had to work for what I have.”
“And clearly you’ve done a good job building on that start,” she said.
I nodded. “Yep. Did your parents help you with your bakery?”
“No,” she answered. “They could help the lawyer or help the baker. Not both. Are your parents in real estate?”
I noticed the way she changed the subject every time I tried to ask about her own experience in school. It was subtle, but it was there—a flicker of discomfort, a quick deflection. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to know about her, to find out what made her tick. She was a mystery, and I was determined to solve it.
But she was not giving me much to work with.
“You could’ve been big in my line of business,” I said.
She smirked at me. “I followed my dreams instead.” But then she sighed under her breath. “And look where that got me.”
I frowned, about to ask what she meant, but the waitress arrived with our orders. The plates were put down in front of us and the smell of fresh seafood filled the air. My crab cakes looked surprisingly good—golden brown and not overly greasy. Dorie’s lobster roll was piled high with meat, spilling out the sides of a toasted bun. She didn’t hesitate, picking it up and taking a big bite. A little bit of butter dripped onto the plate.
“See?” she said around a mouthful. “Told you it was good.”
I picked up my fork, cutting into one of the crab cakes. The outside was crisp, and inside, the crab meat was tender and flaky. I took a bite and raised my eyebrows in surprise.
“Okay,” I admitted. “You were right.”
“Of course I was,” she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the clinking of silverware and the low murmur of conversation from the other tables. The food was good—better than I expected.
“So,” I said after a swallow of Coke. “You ever think about expanding? The bakery, I mean. Seems like you’ve got a good thing going.”
She shrugged, picking at her lobster roll. “Sometimes. But it’s not that simple. Rent’s going up everywhere, and it’s hard to compete with the chains. Plus, it’s just me running the place. I don’t have the resources—or the energy—to take on something bigger.”
I nodded, understanding the struggle. “Yeah, I get that. Still, you’ve got something special there. It’d be a shame not to see it grow.”
She gave me a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Maybe one day. For now, I’m just trying to keep the doors open. And keep myself from being kicked out on the street.”
“What happens if they force a sale?” I asked. “Do you have your eye on another spot to put your bakery?”
She snorted. “No. Not that I could afford. More and more of us little guys are getting pushed out.” She trailed off, her eyes drifting to the window. “Anyway, enough about my bakery woes. No use worrying about what may or may not happen. I’ll deal with it when it happens.”
We finished our meals with the waitress delivering the check. I snatched it before Dorie could, and she immediately protested.
“Hey! I thought I was paying,” she said, reaching for the check. “I owe you, remember?”
I held it out of her reach, grinning. “I wasn’t actually going to let that happen.”
She glared at me, but there was no real heat behind it. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet, here you are, having lunch with me,” I shot back, my tone teasing.
She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue further. I paid the bill, and we headed outside, the cool spring air a welcome change from the stuffy restaurant that had the typical seafood smell.
I tried to think of an excuse to spend more time with her. Unfortunately, my phone rang before I had the chance. It was Cullen.
“I’ll see you later,” Dorie said. “Thank you for lunch.”
“Wait,” I said. “We can go for a walk.”
“I have to get to the bakery,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”
I watched her go, my chest tightening in a way I didn’t want to think about. I hoped “later” was actually soon—like maybe tonight.
I answered the phone. “What’s up?”
“Hey, man. Just checking in. How’s everything going? Marcus and Liam said they got in last night.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “It’s fine. Dorie and I just had lunch.”
Cullen chuckled. “Lunch, huh? You two are spending a lot of time together.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t start, Cullen. It’s not like that. I helped out with some egg-hunt thing this morning. She owed me lunch.”
“Uh huh,” he said. “Whatever you say, man. Just be careful, okay? Dorie’s not like the women you usually date.”
I frowned. “I know that.”
“Good,” Cullen said.
“Did you need something else?”
“I was just making sure everything was good with the guys,” he said. “Maybe you can show them around. I’ll be with Eliza today working on a seating chart.”
“Sounds exciting,” I said.
Cullen laughed. “Oh yes, spending hours deciding who gets to sit next to Uncle Bob without causing a family feud is my idea of a good time.”
I chuckled. “Good luck with that. I’m headed back to the house now. I’ll see if Marcus and Liam want to do something. Not that there is a lot to do around here.”
After hanging up, I glanced down the street in the direction Dorie had gone. She was already out of sight. I could go to the bakery under the guise of getting some treats for the house. I could, but I had a feeling she would see right through that. She would not be impressed. And I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
By the time I reached the house, Marcus and Liam were sitting on the porch steps, looking like they’d already run out of ways to entertain themselves.
“Finally,” Marcus said, standing up and stretching. “We were about to start counting the cracks in the sidewalk.”
“Not a bad idea,” I said with a grin. “Might keep you busy for at least ten minutes.”
Liam smirked, pushing himself off the step. “So, what’s there to do in this town? Anything besides staring at people’s lawns?”
I thought for a moment. “Not that I’ve found. The beach. Go for a swim.”
The guys did not look impressed. I got it. I felt the same way.
Only one thing made the town special, and she was back at her bakery instead of beside me like I wanted.