Page 33 of Falling for the Billionaire Best Man

13

DORIE

It was Sunday, and I was at the bakery, enjoying the quiet as I finalized a sketch of Eliza’s massive wedding cake. Happily, I sipped my coffee and focused on my drawing. I could already see the cake in my mind. It was going to be a masterpiece. My best one yet. I was going to get some good pictures to make it the crown jewel of my portfolio. I didn’t get the chance to do a lot of these grand cakes. Usually, it was just one or two tiers. I was making a cake fit for royalty.

If only the royalty would give me some direction about what they wanted. Tell me anything. When we first talked about the cake, she tossed around a few ideas but that was it. I’d sent her a million questions. I’d sent her pictures of other cakes and asked if she liked them. It was so loosey-goosey. I had no idea if I was wasting my time with this design or not.

I’d been working on it for weeks, tweaking and refining things, but Eliza still hadn’t given me the final approval. I was starting to feel the pressure. Wedding season was in full swing, and I had a mountain of orders to fill. I couldn’t keep putting this off.

I sighed and cocked my head to the side to study the design. The peace and quiet of the shop was a nice change. I knew people thought I was crazy. I worked my ass off all week, and the day the bakery was closed, I was hanging out. But it was easier. It helped me focus. I didn’t get distracted by my cat or worry about doing the laundry or doing the dishes.

My phone buzzed on the counter, interrupting the peace. I glanced at the screen. Eliza. Finally. “Hey.”

“Dorie!” Her voice was bright and cheerful, as always. “We just got into town! I wanted to let you know we’re bringing dinner over to Kaisen’s place tonight. It’s our way of thanking you guys for holding down the fort while we took a week for ourselves. And we need to go over all the details you guys have been working on. I expect you to be there. Don’t you dare tell me you’re too busy.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but she was already talking again. “Oh, and Cullen says hi! We had the best time on our trip. I’ll tell you all about it later. Gotta go!”

The line went dead before I could get a word in. I stared at my phone, frustration bubbling up inside me. I was happy for her, really. She and Cullen had been together for years, and they deserved this trip. But I needed her to finalize the cake design.

What was she doing? She just flitted from one thing to the next. I knew she was under a lot of pressure with her career and the wedding planning. I got it. That was why I was trying to do as much as I could for her.

But come on. I didn’t want to spend a week making a cake and have her see it at the reception and hate it. That would kill me. I just needed her to give me a hint.

Tonight, I would sit on her until she gave me some answers.

I packed up my sketchbook, turned off the lights, and headed out. I needed to stop by a confectionary store a few miles away to pick up some odds and ends for my orders this week. My car grumbled and moaned the entire way there and back, but I managed to get everything I needed. I dropped off the groceries at the bakery and headed home, my mind still spinning with cake designs and wedding plans.

When I got to my condo, I found a package on my doorstep. I frowned, picking it up. I hadn’t ordered anything. I carried it upstairs, setting it on the kitchen counter. Inside was a luxury espresso machine. My eyes widened as I pulled it out of the box, my heart skipping. This thing was beautiful—sleek, shiny, and way out of my price range. It looked professional grade, more fitting in a coffee shop than my place. It had all the bells and whistles.

“What the hell?”

Rick hopped on the counter and curled his body around the box. He was just as excited as I was.

“Look at this, buddy. This is awesome.”

I read the bulleted list of things the machine could do, which was pretty much everything except wash the dishes.

“Wait,” I frowned.

Did I buy this in my sleep?

After a glass of wine?

“Oh no,” I groaned.

There was only one person that would do this. One person arrogant enough to think I needed him to buy me some fancy coffee machine.

Kaisen.

“Son of a bitch,” I muttered.

For a few seconds, I had been so excited.

As if on cue, my phone buzzed. Kaisen’s name lit up the screen. I answered, ready to lay into him for being so forward. So presumptuous. So nice. “Did you buy me an espresso machine?”

There was a pause on the other end. “Do you like it?” he asked. The smugness in his voice made me want to pull my hair out. Not my hair—his hair.

I groaned. “Kaisen, you can’t just buy me things. That cost a fortune. I just needed coffee. I don’t need foam and espresso and all the other stuff. Coffee. I don’t need you to pity me and buy me a stupid coffeemaker.”