Page 104 of When Love Takes Root

That one went straight through me. I nodded because words would’ve done too much. Josiah waited at the door while I grabbed my purse. He didn’t rush me, didn’t reach for my waist in front of my people, didn’t act like their presence annoyed him. He stood there with his hands relaxed at his sides, letting my family fuss because he seemed to understand fussing was sometimes how love checked the locks.

When we stepped onto the porch, he held out his hand. I took it.

His fingers closed around me with a steady warmth that made the noise inside my chest lower itself. He walked me to his truck, opened my door, and helped me up with one hand at mine and the other hovering near my back, close enough to catch me, careful enough not to claim more than I had offered.

“You good?” he asked.

I nodded. “I’m good.”

Then he leaned in and kissed my forehead, slow and certain, before stepping back to close the door.

From the porch, Cassia yelled, “We saw that!”

Josiah laughed as he walked around the front of the truck. By the time he got in, I was still trying not to smile and failing like I had been paid to fail publicly.

He started the engine. “You ready?”

“I was until my family started acting like they were raised outside.”

“They love you.”

“They’re nosy.”

“Both can be true.”

“That sounds exactly like something JJ would say.”

“Smart man.”

I looked over at him. “Don’t encourage my grown child.”

Josiah pulled from the curb with one hand on the wheel and the other resting near the console. “I would never disrespect the chain of command in your house.”

I blinked. “The chain of command?”

“Yes, ma’am. You at the top. JJ somewhere under you. Kayden probably patrolling the emotional perimeter. Maya acting unbothered while paying attention to everything. Zuri asking questions she already knows the answers to. And Skye somewhere trying to sneak syrup into a backpack like she’s running a breakfast operation.”

I laughed before I could stop myself. “You have never met all my children at one time and still somehow read my house down.”

“I pay attention.”

He reached across the console without looking away from the road and opened his hand. He didn’t grab mine. Didn’t assume. Just offered.

I stared at his palm for a moment, then gave him my hand.

He laced our fingers and rested them against the console like it was the most natural thing in the world. His thumb brushed my knuckles.

“So,” I said because silence was getting too bold, “where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

“Josiah.”

“Celeste.”

“Why did you tell me to dress comfortably?”

He glanced over, and his eyes moved over me once, quicker this time because he was driving. “Because we’ll be doing some walking. And because you look beautiful, as always, but I wanted you comfortable enough to enjoy yourself.”