Page 3 of Falling for the Billionaire Best Man

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KAISEN

The heavy hotel room door slammed shut behind me before I fell against it to catch my breath. I gritted my teeth against the burning ache in my muscles after my ten-mile run and brutal hour in the hotel gym. While my body ached terribly and my muscles sang for relief, my mind was perfectly clear.

I pushed off the door and walked to the fridge in my suite. After grabbing a bottle of water, I moved to stand in front of the window and admire the view.

Cape May was gorgeous in the spring, I’d give it that. The blooming flowers, the quaint charm of the waterfront—it was a far cry from the concrete jungle of Manhattan. I hadn’t been here in years, not since I was a kid, and while it was nice to be back, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was wasting my time. I had a life to get back to, a business to run, and a city that never slept waiting for me.

I peeled off my sweat-soaked shirt and tossed it into the corner, heading straight for the shower. The hot water was merciful, washing away the grime of the morning and easing the tension in my muscles.

My phone buzzed incessantly on the bathroom counter, the vibration muffled by the sound of the water. I ignored it for as long as I could, but eventually, curiosity got the better of me. I turned off the shower, wrapped a towel around my waist, and grabbed my phone.

The screen was lit up with notifications—emails, texts, and a few from the luxury hook-up app I used. A guy had needs.

I checked the notifications first. There were a few likes, which was the equivalent of a woman buying me a drink or propositioning me. I smirked, scrolling through the profiles. I was surprised there were even women in a town this small using the app, but hey, I wasn’t complaining. I swiped through a few, my mind already wandering to the possibilities for later tonight.

I didn’t reply to any of them, but I would later. I swiped back to the missed calls and texts. All of them could wait except for the one from Cullen.

I hit the FaceTime button, and Cullen’s face appeared on the screen almost instantly. “Kaisen! How’s Cape May, dude?”

“It’s fine,” I said, running a hand through my damp hair. “But it’s too damn quiet. I’ve got a meeting back in the city at three, so I need to make this quick. Tell me Eliza’s sister has her shit together and can get this cake tasting done without wasting my time?”

Cullen laughed, either ignorantly or deliberately avoiding the edge in my tone. His breezy go-with-the-flow nature clashed with my type-A personality, but with him being so laid back, he never noticed. Must be fucking nice.

“Dorie’s great, man,” Cullen said. “She’s a total pro. You’ll see.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, checking my watch. “Listen, I’m doing this for you, okay? I don’t have time to be playing taste-tester in some small-town bakery. I’ve got a business to run. And you’re going to make me overdose on sugar. I’m going to have to run twenty miles after this.”

“I’m not telling you to eat every cake. It’s a bite… maybe two. Shit, you sound like Eliza worrying about eating a bite of chocolate. She’s convinced a single bite will cause her to gain fifty pounds and she won’t be able to fit in her wedding dress.” He snorted. “It’s like mirrors everywhere play tricks on her. I mean, she’s got the sort of body that⁠—”

“I’m not sure why I’m the one testing your wedding cake,” I muttered, trying to get him back on track.

“Because we’ve got a million things to do,” he said. “And you’re helping me out. I appreciate it, really. You’re a lifesaver. Just… try to be nice, okay? Dorie’s important to Eliza, and she’s doing us a huge favor with the cake.”

“Nice?” I raised an eyebrow. “I’m always nice.”

Cullen snorted again. “Sure you are. Just don’t scare her off, alright? She’s about to be family. I’ll owe you one.”

“You already owe me,” I said. “But fine. I’ll play nice. For you.”

We chatted for a few more minutes before I hung up and tossed my phone on the bed. I got dressed quickly, pulling on a crisp white shirt and a pair of dark jeans. I checked my reflection in the mirror, running a hand over my jaw. I looked good, as always. Not that it mattered. This was a cake tasting, not a date. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of irritation. I should’ve been in my office, making deals, not wasting my time in some podunk town.

The only reason I was here was because I loved Cullen like a brother. And as someone with a busy life as well, I understood that sometimes things like this needed to be handed off to someone else to take care of. Cullen was just delegating. So, while he was busy back in New York, preparing to take off several weeks from work for his upcoming wedding and honeymoon, I agreed to help with the wedding preparations as much as I could.

Regret had already settled in, though.

I put on my dark glasses, grabbed my wallet and phone, and left my room. It wasn’t surprising to see the town had woken up since my run.

The waterfront bustled with tourists and locals. I passed a few storefronts, admiring the view despite myself. There used to be a taffy store around here somewhere, one my mom used to take me to when I was a kid. I wondered if it was still there.

This was the kind of place where time seemed to stand still, where the same shops and landmarks lingered for decades, unchanging. It was both comforting and suffocating. I wasn’t sure how people could live here their entire lives without feeling like they were a hamster in a wheel spinning day in and day out and never going anywhere.

I loved the city. I loved that there was something exciting to do every night of the week. Someone new every night. Cape May was nice to visit but living here? No thanks.

I could smell coffee and bread. I knew I was close to my destination by the scent alone. I spotted the bakery up ahead. The storefront looked familiar, and as I got closer, I realized why—the same bakery I was supposed to meet Eliza’s sister at had replaced the taffy store. Small world.

I pushed open the door and was immediately hit by the chaos inside. The place was packed with people lined up at the counter, chatting and laughing as they waited for their turn. A young man worked behind the counter, moving with the kind of frantic energy that came with being in the weeds. He handed out cookies and pastries like his life depended on it. I couldn’t help but be impressed by his efficiency.