Page 34 of Falling for the Billionaire Best Man

“Why not?” he asked, his tone teasing. “You needed a new coffee machine, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but—” I stopped, my frustration warring with gratitude. “Thank you. It’s… amazing. But I have no idea how to install it, hook it up to the water line, or even use it.”

Kaisen chuckled. “I can come over soon and help you with that.”

I hesitated, glancing at the clock. “I’m supposed to come to your house later for dinner with Cullen and Eliza.”

He sighed. “Shit. Yeah. Forgot.”

I got the feeling he wasn’t exactly thrilled with the thank-you dinner. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see my sister, but it was going to be them asking questions about the venue and all the other work Kaisen and I had been doing on their behalf. If they would have just shown up when they were supposed to, they would know it all already. Sundays were my evenings to have a glass of wine and watch TV. Monday mornings were a chance to sleep in. I could stay up past nine.

“Well, thanks for the espresso machine. I’ll figure it out. I’ll see you later. Do you know what they’re bringing for dinner?”

“No,” he said. “I imagine pizza. Not a lot of options.”

“Great,” I murmured.

“Uh, by the way, I’m sorry for running out on you the other day. That phone call⁠—”

“It’s fine,” I interrupted, not wanting to dwell on it. “I get it. Work stuff. You didn’t need to be there anyway. Thanks for making the boxes that you did. I’ll see you later.”

I hung up and stared at the espresso machine. I couldn’t resist taking it out of the box. I told myself I would pay him back for it. But since it was here, I may as well check it out.

My fingers traced the smooth surface of the machine, still in disbelief that it was sitting in my kitchen. Rick batted at a stray piece of packing foam, his tail swishing with excitement. I pulled out the manual, which could easily be mistaken for an actual book. I wasn’t someone who liked to read instructions. It was why I had an ancient coffeemaker. I added water, grounds, and turned it on. This thing looked like it was developed by NASA.

I opened the manual, trying to read it. It was complicated. Just as I was about to give up, there was a knock at the door. I expected to see Kaisen. I couldn’t help but smile thinking he was going to show up. Annie was standing there instead. I tamped down the disappointment.

“Hey,” she said, stepping inside.

I was holding the manual in my hand.

“What’s that?” she asked.

I walked into the kitchen where the machine was sitting and waiting and absolutely intimidating me. “That,” I said and gestured to the machine.

“Holy shit! The bakery must be doing a lot better than I thought.”

“No, it isn’t. I didn’t buy it. Are you kidding? I buy my clothes secondhand.”

“Where did you get it?”

“Kaisen bought it for me.”

Annie’s eyebrows shot up. “Kaisen? The guy you introduced me to last week? The one who looks like he stepped out of a magazine?”

“Yeah,” I said, my tone dry. “That Kaisen. The obnoxious pain in my ass my sister has thrust on me while she gallivants around the eastern seaboard.”

Annie walked over to the machine, running her fingers over the sleek surface. “This thing looks expensive. Like, really expensive.”

I frowned, pulling out my phone. “How expensive do you think?”

We looked it up, and my jaw dropped. The machine cost more than my rent. Annie whistled, shaking her head. “Dorie, this guy must be loaded.”

“Or he likes to pretend he is with flashy things,” I said.

“What’s his name?”

“Kaisen Seely, I think.”