Page 48 of When Love Takes Root

Both my sisters turned at the same time.

Calista grinned. “Wassup, O?”

Cassia smiled. “Hey, Ony.”

Justice froze halfway through unzipping a pouch. “Y’all just appear when somebody says the family name?”

Calista glanced at him. “We felt a disturbance in the edges.”

Cassia added, “And the group chat.”

Onyx shook his head. “Juice, these are the baby twins. Calista and Cassia.”

The nickname fit him. Justice sounded like paperwork. Juice sounded like the man standing in my salon, ready to turn a fire hazard into a comedy set.

Juice looked between us. “Craig and Cordelia had a franchise.”

Calista pointed at him. “And don’t you forget it.”

Josiah’s mouth threatened a smile before he focused on the tester again. Even that small break in his composure made me wonder what he looked like laughing for real.

Then I hated myself a little for wondering.

Calista’s gaze moved from him to me.

I widened my eyes in warning.

She ignored me with the dedication of a youngest sister who feared neither God nor consequences.

“Well,” she drawled, “who . . . is . . . that?”

“Electrician,” I answered too quickly.

Cassia blinked. “That wasn’t a name.”

Onyx supplied, “That’s Josiah. J. Brooks.”

Juice smirked, enjoying the scene unfold.

Calista looked at Josiah again, then at me, then back at him. “Oh.”

I hated that oh. I’d heard that tone from my sisters my whole life, and it never meant they were about to mind their business.

Josiah rose to his full height, and my sisters, for once in their dramatic lives, paused.

Josiah greeted them with a respectful nod. “Ladies.”

Cassia smiled softly. “Hi.”

Calista recovered first. “Hello, tall safety professional.”

“Calista.”

“What? He looks safe.”

Juice coughed into his fist while suddenly finding the ceiling fascinating.

Josiah looked at me, and humor warmed his eyes, though his face stayed composed. “You have a lively family.”