Page 47 of When Love Takes Root

I swallowed. “Celeste is fine.”

“Josiah Brooks.”

I accepted his hand. Lord, that was a mistake.

His palm was warm and calloused, his grip firm without trying to prove anything. The tattoos along his forearm shifted when his fingers closed around mine, and my pulse became far too interested in the contact.

I pulled away first.

“Thank you for coming.”

“You did right calling. You shut the back stations down?”

“Yes. Dryers too.”

Approval moved across his face, brief but clear. “Good.”

Onyx looked from Josiah to me. Juice did the same.

I reached for the business card on the counter as though it needed supervision.

“The lights near stations three and four flickered first, then the dryers cut off. The outlet by the shampoo bowls sparked yesterday, but we haven’t used it since.”

Josiah’s eyes sharpened, all business now. “Any burning smell?”

“Near the rear wall. It faded some.”

Josiah replied, “Show me.”

I led them toward the back, far too aware of him behind me. He gave me room and never crowded my steps. Somehow, that made him worse.

A man with presence who understood distance was more dangerous than a loud one could ever manage to be.

Josiah crouched near the outlet and pulled out a tester from his bag. Juice opened the tool case beside him before he had to ask. Onyx stayed near me, arms folded.

“I told you it wasn’t small, sis,” he murmured.

“I heard you.”

“You heard Leilani.”

“I heard both of y’all.”

“But did you believe us?”

I cut my eyes at him. “Onyx.”

He lifted both hands. “I’m just making sure my godchildren’s mama remains amongst the living.”

Before I could answer, the bell over the door chimed again.

Calista called out, “Celeste? I came to see if you were alive or being dramatic.”

Cassia entered behind her, carrying a small bakery bag. Cassia announced, “I brought lemon pound cake. Because Calista said she was bringing emotional support, and I knew that meant noise.”

Calista placed one hand on her chest. “My presence is a ministry.”

Onyx looked toward the front and laughed. “Lord. More C-Blacks.”