Page 159 of When Love Takes Root
Maya smirked. “That’s one way to trap a man.”
JJ looked at Celeste, then me, then back at Celeste. “You cooking?”
Celeste’s brows lifted. “Why do you sound surprised?”
“Because last time you said dinner, we ate cereal and rotisserie chicken.”
“I was tired.”
Kayden muttered, “That chicken was fighting for its life.”
The room went quiet for one beat.
Then Celeste laughed.
Not politely. Not carefully. Fully. Her hand pressed to her stomach, her shoulders folded forward, and the sound filled the salon with joy nobody could fake. Zuri laughed because Celeste was laughing. Skye joined because Zuri did. Maya covered her mouth, and JJ looked away with a grin that tried to act grown and failed.
Kayden’s face softened before he could stop it.
For one second, he forgot to stand watch over his mother’s laughter.
Camden had been right.
They had missed her peace.
Celeste wiped beneath one eye and looked at me. “Would you like to come to dinner?”
Every Coleman child turned toward me.
“I’d like that.”
Skye cheered.
Zuri clapped.
Maya nodded like she was adding evidence to a file.
JJ grinned. “Cool.”
Kayden looked at his mother. “He following us?”
Celeste’s smile gentled. “Yes.”
He nodded, then turned to me. “You drive reckless?”
“No.”
“You speed?”
“Not with your mother in the car.”
Celeste turned toward him. “Kayden Jeremiah Coleman.”
The middle name hit closer than I expected.
Jeremiah.
I kept my face steady.
