Page 86 of Double Daddies (Dirty Daddies Anthologies #8)

Chapter Three

Wren

The shop is buzzing with chatter this morning as customers come and go. The air is thick with the smell of freshly ground coffee and the subtle, sugary notes of syrup. The sounds of frothing milk and whirring blenders fill the space with a chaotic symphony that I've come to know so well.

My eyes flit around the crowded room, noting the faces of regulars and a few unfamiliar ones. Wyatt is busy at the register, his gruff voice a comforting presence amid the noise.

I’m refilling the pastry display, arranging muffins and croissants in neat rows, when the door swings open. I glance up, and my breath catches in my throat.

It’s the twins. Elijah and Ezra, the men who’ve been haunting my thoughts. Their presence fills the room, their broad shoulders and sharp eyes commanding attention without even trying. They move through the shop with a practiced ease, their steps in sync as they make their way to the counter.

“Wren,” Ezra greets me, his voice low and smooth like dark chocolate. “I’m Ezra and this is Elijah.”

I nod then scrunch my nose. “How—” I’m momentarily fearful and confused until he points to my nametag.

“Oh, right. Hi,” I manage to reply, my voice sounding smaller than I’d hoped. “It’s nice to meet you both officially. What can I get you?”

The corner of Ezra’s mouth quirks up, a hint of amusement flickering across his face.

“I’ll have a black coffee," Ezra says, leaning casually against the counter. “No sugar, please.”

“Same for me,” Elijah echoes, his eyes never leaving mine. “But with sugar. Life’s too bitter without a little sweetness, don’t you agree?”

I nod, trying not to let his words affect me as I prepare their drinks. The room is suddenly too warm, too small, with them standing so close. I can smell their colognes mixing in the air, a heady blend of woodsy notes and spice that makes my head spin.

I set their cups in front of them, the steam curling lazily in the air between us. “Anything else I can get you?”

“Actually,” Ezra begins, “we wanted to talk to you about something.”

His words send a jolt of unease through me. The last time I had a serious talk with someone, it didn’t end well. I swallow hard, my eyes darting between them.

“Is something wrong?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

Elijah steps forward, his expression more serious now. “Not at all,” he answers, his tone reassuring. “We just... Well, we wanted to ask you out.”

I stare at him, my mind reeling. Did he really just say that?

Both of them?

Together?

“I’m sorry?” I stammer, my cheeks heating up.

Ezra sighs, shooting a look at Elijah. “What my brother is trying to say,” he begins, his voice measured, “is that after yesterday, we want to get to know you.”

I blink, still trying to process their words. It feels like the floor has dropped out from beneath me, leaving me suspended in disbelief.

“I’ve never been propositioned like this before,” I finally manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Ah, we’re one of a kind,” Elijah jokes, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. “The best kind, in fact.”

I can feel their eyes on me, appraising, curious. It makes me feel both vulnerable and strangely powerful, as though their interest could crumble or ignite at any moment.

“So twins, huh?” I observe, trying to change the conversation to a safer topic. “That must have been … interesting growing up.”

“It had its moments,” Ezra says, his tone dry and measured. “Shared birthdays, shared clothes, shared everything, really.”

“Everything?” I echo, a nervous laugh escaping me.

“Most things,” Elijah corrects, his smile widening as though he’s enjoying some private joke. “We’re closer than most, but we do have separate lives, too.”

I nod, my mind struggling to wrap itself around the concept. They’re not just twins; they're two halves of a whole. The way they move together, their gestures in sync, their words flowing one after the other—it's like watching a dance, graceful and mesmerizing.

The bell above the door chimes again, and a new customer walks in. I’m grateful for the distraction, and the opportunity to break away from their intense gazes.

“I should get back to work,” I say, trying to keep the nerves out of my voice. “Thanks for coming by.”

They exchange a look, a silent conversation passing between them.

“Of course,” Ezra says, his voice softening. “Think about it, won’t you?”

I freeze, my cheeks heating up. “I’m... not really looking to date right now,” I confess, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Oh, come on,” Elijah persists, leaning closer. “One date. That’s all we’re asking.”

I shake my head, a nervous laugh escaping my lips. “It’s not a good time for me,” I explain, fiddling with the hem of my apron. “Besides, I’m sure there are plenty of other girls who would be more than happy to go out with you.”

Ezra watches me, his eyes sharp and discerning. “You’re right,” he agrees. “There are. But we’re only interested in you.”

The air between us thickens, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. It’s been so long since someone has shown this kind of interest in me, and it’s both thrilling and terrifying.

But I remind myself that this isn’t what I need right now.

I’m in no position to start something new, not with the weight of my past still clinging to me like a lead weight. Not with the secrets I hold close.

“Listen,” Elijah says, his tone softer. “I know we are asking a lot. You don’t know us, and we’re asking you to date us both, but to be honest, we think you're worth it.”

I bite my lip, my resolve wavering. A small part of me wants to say yes, to see where this could lead. But the rest of me is too scared, too cautious. “I don’t know,” I murmur, looking down at my hands. “It’s just... I'm not ready for anything serious. And dating two guys at once? That’s a lot.”

They exchange a glance, and I can see a hint of disappointment in their eyes.

“Okay,” Ezra finally says, his voice gentle. “We respect that.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a card, sliding it across the counter toward me. “But if you ever change your mind, or if you just want to talk, here’s our numbers.”

I hesitate for a moment before picking up the card, turning it over in my hands.

“Thank you,” I murmur, tucking the card into the pocket of my apron. “I-I’ll think about it.”

They nod, finishing their drinks in contemplative silence. The air is thick with things unsaid, with possibilities and uncertainties.

“Have a good day, Wren,” Elijah whispers as he leans over the counter. His smoked leather cologne fills my senses and makes me dizzy.

I watch them go, their figures receding into the afternoon sun. A part of me wants to call out, to stop them and tell them I’ve changed my mind. But the fear is still there, a tight knot in my chest, holding me back.

The door closes behind them with a soft chime, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I stand there, my heart racing, my mind a jumble of emotions. The card in my pocket feels like a promise, a temptation I’m not sure I can resist.

I let out a breath, my hands shaking as I return to the counter.

My mind is racing, my thoughts a tangled mess of confusion, doubt, and, if I’m being honest, a flicker of excitement.

Their proposition hangs in the air like a question without an answer, and I find myself repeating their words over and over in my head.

The thought of being involved with the twins is like nothing I’ve ever considered.

It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at once, like standing at the edge of a cliff, wondering if I should jump.

But then reality sets in, and thoughts of Richard bombard my mind. Can I even trust anymore?

As the day wears on, I find myself reaching for their card, tracing the letters of their names with my fingertip.

Ezra and Elijah. The twins. A pair of enigmas wrapped in tailored suits and shrouded in mystery.

I’m not sure what to make of them, but I know one thing: they've stirred something in me that I can't ignore. A longing, a curiosity, a need. But it’s more than that. It’s the possibility of something I’ve never allowed myself to imagine.

Something that feels dangerous and thrilling all at once.

But another part of me is scared. Scared of the unknown, of what it might mean to open myself up to two men. To trust not just one person again, but two, with my heart and my body.

I shake my head, trying to clear my mind.

I have a life to live and a job to do. I can’t let myself get swept up in fantasies, no matter how tempting they might be.

They might as well be on a different planet from me.

I’m a simple barista, living paycheck to paycheck, while they’re.

.. well, they're everything I'm not. Rich, successful, powerful.

What could they possibly see in me? It's probably just a whim, a passing curiosity that will fade as quickly as it came.

The coffee shop is quiet now, the lunchtime rush having come and gone. I’m wiping down the counter, the soft hum of the air conditioning a calming backdrop to the chaos my life has become. Wyatt is in the back, doing inventory, leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts.

I try to focus on my work, but their faces keep drifting into my mind. The intensity in Ezra’s eyes, the warmth in Elijah’s smile. The way they looked at me, as if they could see past the coffee shop counter and into the depths of my soul. It’s unnerving and exhilarating all at once.

By the end of the day, I’m exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I lock up the shop and trudge upstairs to my tiny apartment, the card still a heavy presence in my pocket.

As I collapse onto my bed, I pull it out and stare at it, the gold lettering stark against the black-colored paper. Their numbers are there, just a call away.

All I have to do is reach out.