Chapter 24
24
KAISEN
I woke up well after dawn, the sunlight streaming through the curtains. For a moment, I forgot where I was, the unfamiliar surroundings throwing me off. Then I saw Rick, Dorie’s cat, perched on the end of the bed, glaring at me like he was deciding if he was going to scratch my foot or eat my toe. I blinked, my brain slowly catching up, and then it hit me—I was in Dorie’s bed.
“You bite my toe and I’m not giving you any treats,” I warned him.
He said nothing.
Obviously.
He was a cat.
I rolled over, expecting to see Dorie asleep beside me, but the space was empty. I reached out to touch the spot where she’d been. The sheets were cool, telling me she’d been up for a while. I sat up, running a hand through my hair as I tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. Rick’s eyes followed my every move, his claws flexing like he was daring me to put a foot wrong. I smirked, reaching out to pet him on the head before he could react. He hissed at me, his tail flicking in annoyance, but I just chuckled. I’d befriend that cat if it was the last thing I did.
I got out of bed, careful not to make any sudden movements that might provoke Rick. I picked up my underwear and jerked them on. The condo was quiet. I walked out of the bedroom, my bare feet padding against the cool hardwood floors. I found Dorie pacing the kitchen. She was on the phone, her hair loose and messy, wearing nothing but a tight tank top and a pair of underwear. She looked incredible—undone, natural, and completely unaware of how stunning she was.
I had never woken up with a woman before. This was a first for me. I liked it.
Last night, she had given me an out. She told me to leave. Any other time I would have been thrilled with the easy excuse to part ways. But I didn’t want to leave. Being in bed with her was so comfortable. So good. It would have taken a real emergency to drag me out of her embrace.
I leaned against the doorway, watching her as she talked. Her voice was low, her tone serious. I could tell something was wrong. She looked shattered, her expression tense as she listened to whoever was on the other end of the line.
“Okay, I will,” she said, her voice soft. “I know, I feel terrible for them, but I honestly don’t know what to do at this point. I’ll check with Annie and let you know.”
She hung up the phone, her shoulders slumping as she let out a heavy sigh. When she turned and saw me, she tried to force a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. I could see right through it.
“Hey,” I said, stepping into the kitchen. “What happened?”
She hesitated, shaking her head. “It’s nothing. Just… work stuff.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Dorie, you don’t have to hold back with me. What’s going on?”
She sighed. “I need coffee.”
I flashed a grin. “Guess it’s a good thing you’ve got a fancy machine.”
I followed her into the kitchen, staying silent. I wasn’t going to press her on the matter yet. I’d let her get a dose of coffee.
She poured the water into the machine, her movements slow and deliberate, like she was trying to buy time. The machine hissed as it began to brew, filling the kitchen with the rich scent of coffee. Dorie stared at it like it held the answers to all her problems.
I stepped closer, my voice softening. “Talk to me.”
“It’s the shops on the waterfront. The brokerage firm is getting more aggressive. They’re sending letters, making threats. A shop a few buildings down just folded, and my neighbor is trying to get a lawyer involved. He wants me to do the same, but…” She trailed off, her voice breaking.
“But what?”
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with worry. “I don’t know what to do, Kaisen. It’s not just my business. It’s a ripple effect.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Toby would be out of a job if I closed down,” she said with a sigh. “Thankfully, he’s my only employee, but still. He’s supporting his mom right now. And Mrs. Watts—she’s a single mom and a nurse with a young daughter. They live in the apartment upstairs. If I lose the building, they’d be out of a home in a terrible market. I’m bound to protect them, but I feel so hopeless.”
“Dorie, let me help. I have connections. I can?—”
She shook her head, cutting me off. “No. It’s my mess. My business. I’ll figure it out. I don’t need you to swoop in and save the day.”
I frowned and was about to say something, but she moved to grab a couple of cups. “I don’t have vanilla or whatever you put in yours. I’ve got milk, sugar, and chocolate syrup. I’m sure we can make it better for you.”
“I don’t mind it like this,” I said.
She sipped her coffee, staring at nothing. She was a proud woman. And very stubborn. I got it, but she didn’t have to fight a corporation alone. I happened to know she was going to lose if she tried.
“You know what I do for a living,” I said. “I know a little something about this kind of thing.”
She looked up at me. For a moment, I thought she might give in. But then she shook her head again, her expression a mask of stubbornness. “I can’t ask you to get involved in this. It’s not your problem. Everyone else is dealing with it on their own. I have to as well.”
“Do you know what the plan is for the property?”
“Condos from what I understand,” she said. “Like one of those all-in-one deals. They’ll have the fancy condos on top and the expensive shops that only the residents that own the condos can afford. Places like my bakery or my neighbor’s antique shop or the guy that owns the pharmacy are all going to be gone. It’s a total takeover.” Dorie set her coffee cup down on the counter and turned to face me. “Are you hungry? I can make us something. I’m not much of a cook, but I can manage eggs and toast.”
“You’re a baker,” I said.
“A baker is not the same as a chef,” she said with a small smile. It looked like she was trying to hold it together. If making me breakfast made her feel better, then that worked for me.
“Eggs sounds amazing,” I said.
She moved to the fridge, pulling out a carton of eggs and a stick of butter. I stayed out of her way. I could still feel the tension radiating off her. Cooking was a good distraction. She cracked the eggs into a bowl, whisking them in a way that made it clear she’d done this a thousand times before.
The sizzle of butter hitting the pan filled the kitchen, and soon the smell of scrambled eggs joined the lingering aroma of coffee. I didn’t know why I was turned on, but I was. It was such a simple act. Her making me breakfast while we were both in our underwear. I loved that she was comfortable with me now.
Her tank top rode up slightly as she reached for the salt, revealing a sliver of skin at her waist. I found myself tracking that movement, remembering how that same skin had felt under my hands last night. She caught me looking and raised an eyebrow.
“What?” she asked, whisking the eggs again.
“Nothing,” I said, smirking. “Just appreciating the view.”
She rolled her eyes, but I caught the hint of a blush spreading across her cheeks. Rick watched us from the cat tree, looking supremely unimpressed with the entire interaction. The cat was scary, but I wasn’t going to show any fear.
She popped some bread into the toaster and a few minutes later she was serving up two plates.
“Here,” she said, sliding one in front of me. “Nothing fancy, but it’ll keep you from starving.”
I took a bite and was surprised. The eggs were fluffy, perfectly seasoned. “This is really good,” I said.
She shrugged, taking a bite of her own toast. “Told you I can manage basic cooking. Just don’t ask me to make anything complicated.”
We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Rick watched us from his perch, occasionally letting out a disgruntled meow.
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help with this condo developer?”
“No. I’m good.”
After we finished eating, she slid off the chair and started to rinse the dishes.
I stepped closer, caging her in against the counter. “What do you need from me right now?” I asked, my voice low.
She hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. “I don’t want to think about work, or the wedding, right now,” she said softly.
I didn’t need to be told twice. I kissed her, my hands sliding down to her waist, and I lifted her onto the counter. She gasped, her fingers tangling in my hair. I deepened the kiss, my body pressing against hers. I could feel the tension in her shoulders melt away as she kissed me back, her hands roaming over my chest.
When I finally pulled away, we were both breathless. I rested my forehead against hers, my hands still gripping her waist.
I kissed her again, slower this time, savoring the feel of her lips against mine. I stepped between her legs. Her hands slid down my chest, her fingers tracing the muscles she had discovered last night. Her touch sent electricity coursing through my body.
My tongue teased hers as my hands slid down to cup her ass. She arched into me, her nails raking down my back, and she moaned into my mouth. She wrapped her legs around my waist and jerked me closer to her.
I tugged at the hem of her tank top, pulling it up and over her head. She lifted her arms obediently, tossing the garment aside. Her full breasts begged for attention. I obliged eagerly, taking one into my mouth while teasing the other with my fingers.
The sounds she made were delicious, spurring me on as I nibbled at her nipple.
Rick chose that moment to let out a loud, judgmental meow from across the kitchen.
Dorie burst out laughing. “I think someone’s jealous.”
I pulled back, looking at the cat. “You’re going to have to get used to me, buddy.”
Rick just blinked slowly, unimpressed. I ignored him.