Chapter 48
48
KAISEN
I ’d never brought anyone back to my penthouse after a date. Not once. It had always been hotels—nice ones, sure, but hotels, nonetheless. I liked the separation, the clear line between my party-boy life and my home life. But as I stepped off the elevator with Dorie behind me, her eyes wide with amazement as she took in the view of the city from the floor-to-ceiling windows, I knew I’d made the right decision. She wasn’t just anyone. She was Dorie. And she belonged here.
I planned on having her a lot. She needed to see where she would be spending some time. That is when I could get her away from Cape May.
I set the shopping bags down on the kitchen island, the takeout we’d picked up on the way home still warm. Dorie was still standing by the windows, her hands pressed against the glass as she stared out at the skyline. I walked over to her, slipping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on her shoulder.
“Welcome home,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
She turned to look at me, her eyes shining with wonder. “This is incredible, Kaisen. I can’t believe you’ve never brought anyone here before.”
I shrugged, trying to play it cool, but the truth was, I was nervous. This was a big step for me. A huge step. But it felt right. “I wanted to keep it separate,” I admitted. “My single bachelor playboy life and my home life. But you… you’re different, Dorie. You’re the first. And the last. You are my life. There is no more bachelor playboy.”
She smiled, her cheeks flushing as she looked away. “Well, I’m honored.”
I kissed the top of her head before stepping back. “Come on, I’ll give you the grand tour.”
I took her hand, leading her through the sprawling space. “This is the living room,” I said, gesturing to the open area filled with plush furniture and a massive fireplace. “I don’t spend much time here, honestly. It’s too lonely.”
Dorie squeezed my hand, her eyes soft with understanding. “It’s beautiful, though. Cozy in a modern way.”
“Cozy?” I raised an eyebrow, smirking. “That’s not exactly the vibe I was going for.”
She laughed. “Well, maybe it could be cozier. With a few rugs and pillows? And plants. Lots of plants.”
“You think I need greenery?”
“Yes!” she said emphatically, spinning to face me. “Plants make everything feel alive. Like a home instead of a showroom.”
I chuckled, pulling her closer. “Alright, interior decorator Dorie. What else?”
I wanted her input because I wanted her to see this space as her own.
“Art,” she said after a moment. “Something personal. Not just designer pieces that match the color scheme. Something that means something to you.”
I frowned, glancing at the abstract paintings on the walls. They’d been chosen by my decorator, not me. “Fair point,” I admitted.
We moved into the kitchen next—a chef’s dream with marble countertops and top-of-the-line appliances that rarely saw use beyond reheating takeout. Dorie ran her fingers along the edge of the island, her eyes lighting up. “Oh, I could do some serious cooking in here,” she said, grinning.
“You cook?” I asked, surprised.
“I mean, I wouldn’t call myself a chef or anything,” she said with a laugh. “I’m a baker.”
“Well, you’re welcome to take over anytime,” I said.
She smiled. “I think I can manage that.”
We moved through the dining area—a massive table that could easily seat twelve—and down the hallway to the bedrooms. I paused outside the master suite, my hand resting on the doorknob. “This is… mine,” I said, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “But it could be ours, if you want.”
I opened the door slowly, revealing the spacious room with its king-sized bed, more floor-to-ceiling windows, and en suite bathroom. The bed was neatly made, the pillows perfectly fluffed—another detail courtesy of my decorator. It looked like something out of a magazine, not like a place where someone actually lived.
Dorie stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over the room. She walked over to the windows, staring out at the city lights. “It’s breathtaking,” she murmured.
She had skipped over my proposal. I needed to be clearer.
“This could be ours,” I said again. “Our room.”
Dorie turned to me, her brow furrowing slightly. “Our room?”
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. This was a huge step. I knew I wanted it, but I also knew what I was asking her. “Yeah. If you want it to be.”
She didn’t say anything at first, just looked around. I watched her, my nerves on edge as I waited for her reaction. She walked over to the bed, running her hand over the soft duvet, before turning back to me.
“It’s beautiful,” she said softly.
“I’ll get your suitcase, and you can put your stuff in the closet.”
I walked out of the room to get the two bags she brought. She packed with the intention of leaving some things here in New York. But I wanted a lot more than that.
As she hung up her clothes in the closet, I leaned against the doorframe, watching her with a smile.
“Dorie,” I said after a moment, my voice hesitant.
“Yes?”
“How would you feel about spending more time in the city?”
She turned to me, a dress in her hands. “What do you mean?”
I took a deep breath, stepping into the closet. “I know it’s a big ask, and nothing would happen until after your busy season this summer. But I want you here. With me.”
She didn’t say anything for several seconds which felt like hours. “Actually, I was thinking about transferring ownership of the bakery to Toby.”
I was afraid to breathe. Afraid I would say something, and she would change her mind.
“Really?” I managed to squeak out.
“Toby’s ready to take over, and I’m ready to come back here,” she said. “It’s always been my goal to get back to New York.”
I nodded. “You said that.”
“Toby was the real reason I fought so hard to keep the bakery in the first place,” she went on. “I feel like I’m ready to take the next step in my career. I have experience now and a portfolio. Eliza’s cake earned me a lot of attention. I think I’m ready to start a business here. I’ve been afraid to take the leap. There was always an excuse not to do it, but I’m ready. I have your support. It sucks Eliza will be moving out of the city, but she’ll be here for a while.”
I was bobbing my head up and down. “Yes. Exactly. I’ll help you find a property. Whatever you need.”
“I’ve been looking at apartments?—”
“Move in with me,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “If you don’t like the penthouse, we can find a new one. But I want you here, Dorie. With me. I want to wake up with you every morning, even if it’s at some insane hour.”
She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. “Are you sure?”
I nodded, my heart swelling with emotion. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
She smiled, tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t want to intrude. This is fast. I don’t want to?—”
“I want you here. I was going to ask you to move in anyway, but if you’re ready to leave Cape May, I’m ready for you to be here. I want you here. And let’s be honest, it’s a waste of money for you to get an apartment. You’ll just be here anyway, or I’ll be at your place. Plus, do you know how much apartments cost here? A good, safe place with more than two-hundred square feet?”
She laughed. “I’ve noticed. It’s definitely a challenge.”
“So, stay here. You said you would put plants in the living room. Do it. We’ll do it together. Decorate the place any way you want.”
Her face lit up. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
I grinned, pulling her into my arms and kissing her deeply. When we finally pulled away, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. This was right. This was where I was supposed to be.
“Let’s eat dinner before it gets cold.”
We sat at the dining table, the takeout containers spread out between us, steam rising from the noodles and dumplings. I twirled a forkful of lo mein, still in disbelief this was all happening.
“So, what do you want to bring here first? Besides you, obviously.”
She smiled, popping a dumpling into her mouth before answering. “Plants, definitely. Not my couch. Definitely all my baking dishes. I’m not married to my mismatched plates and cups.”
“We can throw everything out and start fresh,” I offered. “We can go shopping and pick out all new dishes.”
“No need to do that,” she said with a laugh. “That seems wasteful. I don’t care what plate I eat off of. I think your furniture is all very nice. If I can’t get out of my lease, I could sublet a furnished unit. That’s always a big hit.”
“Good idea,” I said. “Whatever you want.”
“There is something I want to bring,” she said. “More like I need to bring.”
“Sure, what?”
“Rick.”
I stared at her, the chopsticks in my hand hovering mid-air. “Rick?” I repeated, as if I hadn’t heard her correctly. “As in, your demon cat with a personal vendetta against me? That Rick?”
Dorie smiled, that soft, amused smile that always made it impossible for me to stay mad. “Yes, that Rick. He’s my cat, Kaisen. He’s part of the package.”
I groaned, letting the noodles drop back onto the plate. “Dorie, that cat hates me. He glares at me like I’ve personally offended every feline on the planet. Last time I was at your place, he hissed at me for breathing too loudly. Every time I think we’re friends, he turns on me.”
She laughed, leaning back in her chair. “He’s just protective. Once he gets used to you?—”
“In the few weeks I’ve known him, he’s gotten worse. He’s not protective; he’s a furry little sociopath. He changes moods more than I change my socks.”
“Kaisen,” she said, her tone both teasing and firm. “He’s coming with me. End of story.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Fine. Fine! But just know, if he scratches my leather couch or pees on my favorite shoes?—”
“He won’t,” she interrupted.
“—I’m getting a dog to even things out,” I finished.
She burst out laughing, nearly spilling her water. “A dog? You? Kaisen, you don’t even like dogs.”
“I like them more than Rick,” I muttered, stabbing a dumpling with my chopstick. “At least dogs are predictable. They wag their tails, they fetch, they don’t plot your demise while pretending to nap.”
Dorie shook her head, still grinning. “Rick’s not that bad. You just need to bond with him. Maybe if you stopped staring at him like he’s about to pounce on you, he’d relax a little.”
“He is about to pounce on me!” I argued, pointing my chopstick at her for emphasis. “He’s always two seconds away from launching himself at my face. I swear, the moment I let my guard down?—”
“He’s never attacked me. Not really. He has his cat tree and toys.”
“Another cat then,” I said. “I’ll visit the shelters tomorrow to find something as emotionally disturbed as Rick, so he has a friend. Maybe then he’ll leave me alone.”
She laughed again. “Works for me. Hopefully, they don’t gang up on us.”
I groaned. “I didn’t think of that.”
We finished our dinner, and I helped her finish unpacking. Later that evening, we sat on the balcony, enjoying a glass of wine and watching the city lights. Dorie was wearing the earrings I’d given her.
“They look good on you,” I said when she caught me staring.
She smiled, touching one of the earrings. “You have a keen understanding of what I’d like. Impeccable style.”
“My mom left them for me. For the woman I’d fall in love with. And when I gave them to you… I knew. I knew you were it for me, Dorie.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she reached for my hand, squeezing it tightly. “I love you, Kaisen.”