Page 187 of Daddy's Pride
The quaint little coffee shop sat between a bookshop and an art studio. As Josiah pushed open the door, the scent of freshly ground coffee beans greeted him, a soothing balm to his jittery nerves. Soft jazz music mingled with the murmur of hushed conversations and the clinking of cups on saucers.
He chose a spot near the back, a secluded nook with two plush armchairs around a small table. The intimate space felt like a cocoon, shielding him from the hustle of the city outside. Minutes ticked by, during which the anticipation tightened its grip around Josiah, the thrill of waiting for Brody mixing with an undercurrent of vulnerability.
The server flashed him a kind smile, adding a dash of normalcy to the whirlwind of emotions within Josiah. “Can I get you something while you wait?” she asked.
“Ah, just water for now, thanks.”
He kept glancing at the door, his heart skipping beats at the thought of Brody walking through it at any moment. He twisted the silver ring on his thumb, a nervous tick he couldn’t shake. The door opened and closed with customers, but none were Brody. A laugh bubbled in his throat. How could he be so wired over a man he’d just met? Yet Brody wasn’t just any man. He was the one who made Josiah’s skin tingle from memory alone.
He checked his phone. Still five minutes to go. Time seemed to crawl, each second stretching out like a thread unwinding from a spool. Was this what hope felt like? Excitement mixed with a heady dose of fear—the fear of wanting something too much, of being too needy.
The bell above the door jingled, and Josiah looked up again. This time, Brody stepped into the shop. His stride held the assurance of a man who knew his place in the world, who moved through it with purpose. The softness around his middle spoke of a life lived well and enjoyed, a contrast to the steel in his posture.
Brody’s gaze swept the room and found Josiah. His eyes—that gorgeous green that had haunted Josiah’s dreams—lit up, crinkling at the corners with a smile that sent a shiver down Josiah’s spine. All the nervous energy that had been coiled tight within Josiah was released, replaced by an effervescent joy.
“Hey,” Brody said, his warm baritone reverberating inside Josiah, stirring something primal and eager.
“Hi.”
Brody brushed Josiah’s cheek with a familiarity that belied the short time they had known each other. “Can I get a kiss?”
Josiah lifted his lips. Brody’s kiss was brief but soft.
They sat in the plush chairs, the small table a cozy island amid the coffee shop’s morning hum. “Did you order yet?” Brody asked.
“Just water. I wasn’t sure what you wanted.”
“What would you like?”
“A latte, please.”
“Anything sweet with that? Their cookies are delicious.”
“Sure. Pick something for me.”
A few minutes later, Brody returned with a tray holding their coffee and a small plate with cookies. “I got chocolate chip, lemon, and snickerdoodle.”
They settled back in, and Josiah nibbled on a lemon cookie.
“How are you feeling? Any soreness?” Brody asked.
Josiah chuckled. “Yeah, I’m feeling it. But I like it.”
“You do?”
“It’s grounding… and a tangible reminder of what we shared.”
“I liked it.”
Joy filled Josiah. He wasn’t the only one who’d felt that special connection. “It was incredible.”
“I haven’t had that kind of connection with anyone in a long time.”
Josiah’s heart danced to an excited beat. “Neither have I. It was like we were synced, moving together perfectly on the dance floor… and off it too.”
Brody’s laughter rumbled up. “That’s one way to put it. You move well, Josiah, in every sense.”
A blush crept over Josiah’s cheeks, but he didn’t shy away from the praise or the probing intensity of Brody’s gaze. The air seemed to thicken around them, charged with unspoken promises and the pull of mutual desire.