Page 128 of Falling for the Billionaire Best Man

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DORIE

A week later

Istood in the middle of my bakery, my eyes sweeping over the little details that had made this place my dream come to life. The used equipment that was toast. The chalkboard menu I’d painstakingly written out every morning for years. It was all so familiar, so mine. And yet, as I looked around, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of detachment. This place had been my everything for so long, but now it felt like a chapter I was ready to close.

It was funny how quickly things had changed. A little over a month ago, I’d been fighting tooth and nail to keep this bakery, to protect it from the brokerage firm that had been harassing me. And now? Now I was standing here, about to say goodbye for good. I was sad but happy. I was closing it not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Because I was in love. Because I had a man who loved me more than life itself. Because, for the first time in my life, I felt free to make decisions that benefited me, and me alone.

When I opened this bakery, it was always supposed to be a temporary layover. Then it was year one and year two and I felt like I didn’t have a way out. I didn’t hate the place, but it always felt like I was in a holding pattern. There was just so much more I wanted to do.

I knew the future wasn’t a guarantee, but it didn’t bother me. I was secure with my relationship with Kaisen. In the end, that was all that mattered. The rest was just icing on the cake.

The bell above the door jingled, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Toby walking in, his usual cheerful smile on his face. He looked around, his brow furrowing slightly when he saw the closed sign on the door.

“Hey, boss,” he said, his tone curious. “What’s going on? Why’d you call me in on a Monday? Big order?”

I smiled, gesturing for him to sit down at one of the tables. “No. I wanted to talk to you about something important.”

He sat down, his expression turning serious. “Is this about that place trying to buy the building?”

I smiled. “No.”

“Okay… what’s up?”

I took a deep breath. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this. This was it. The moment I’d been both dreading and looking forward to. “Toby, do you see yourself staying here? In Cape May, I mean.”

He blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. “Uh… yeah. I mean, Kelly’s here. My family is here. Kelly and I are getting pretty serious. I feel like I’m ready to put down some roots, you know? And honestly, I have you to thank for that. You’ve made this possible for me.”

I felt a lump form in my throat. I nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I’m glad to hear that, Toby. Because I’m closing down the bakery. I’m moving to New York.”

His eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked like I’d just punched him in the gut. “What? Dorie, no. You can’t⁠—”

I held up a hand, cutting him off. “It’s already decided. But before you freak out, there’s something I need to give you.”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the keys to the bakery, sliding them across the table to him. He stared at them, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief.

“What… what’s this?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“The bakery,” I said, my voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside me. “It’s yours. The building is already paid off. I’m not selling it to you—I’m giving it to you. There’s no one else who deserves it more.”

He stared at me, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “Dorie… I… I don’t know what to say.”

I smiled, tears welling in my eyes. “You don’t have to say anything. Just promise me one thing.”

“Anything.”

“Turn it into the Parisian café of your dreams,” I said, my voice breaking. “You’ve always talked about it, and I know you can do it. This place… it’s yours now. The bakery was never your thing. You’re an amazing pastry chef and I know you’ll do great things. Bring some new flavor to Cape May.”

He looked down at the keys, his hands trembling as he picked them up. “Dorie… I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You don’t have to,” I said, standing up and pulling him into a tight hug. “Just take care of it, okay? And take care of yourself. Marry Kelly. Have babies. Grow the business together.”

He hugged me back, his grip tight. “I will. I promise.”

“Good. And kick the crap out of that oven.”

He laughed. “Is this really happening?”