Page 102 of When Love Takes Root

Calista shook her head. “No. We need to make sure you don’t panic and put that grief committee dress back on.”

Leilani looked entirely too pleased with herself. “You think he’s fine?”

I lowered my hands. “Who?” Every face in the room looked at me. I sighed. “Yes.”

Cassia leaned in. “How fine?”

“Too fine for me to be answering this around women who can’t be trusted.”

Leilani grinned. “Mm-hmm. Does he kiss good?”

My face answered before I could lie.

The room erupted.

“Look at her!”

Calista pointed at my face. “That’s confirmation.”

Corinne clapped once through the phone. “I knew that electrician had voltage.”

Leilani fanned herself with a chip. “I hope he grounded.”

I smiled and grabbed my perfume from the dresser. “I hate all of you.”

Leilani grinned. “No, you don’t. Now spray something that says I love the Lord, but I might let him hold my hand by the fountain.”

The doorbell rang.

Every woman froze.

My heart jumped so hard I pressed my hand to my chest.

Cassia whispered, “The shoulders have arrived.”

Calista looked toward the hallway. “Everybody act normal.”

Leilani blinked. “When have we ever done that?”

Corinne shouted through the phone, “Take me with you. I need to see him.”

I picked up the phone. “Absolutely not.”

“Girl, don’t you hang up on me.”

“You can call back when you remember you’re not on this date.”

I ended the call before she could threaten me, and my phone immediately started buzzing again on the vanity.

Cassia looked at it. “She calling back.”

I walked toward the door. “Let her fight voicemail.”

By the time I reached the living room, Calista, Cassia, and Leilani had somehow arranged themselves like they were not absolutely waiting to inspect this man. Calista stood near the fireplace with a glass of water she had not been drinking. Cassia sat on the arm of the couch with one ankle crossed over the other, pretending to scroll through her phone upside down. Leilani stood by the entry table rubbing her belly, looking innocent enough to be indicted.

I opened the door before any of them could say something that got us all delivered.

Josiah stood on my porch holding a small bouquet of cream roses, lavender, and eucalyptus.