Page 3 of Bound to a Virgo Menace (BLP Signs of Love #3)

I was running late this morning. I’d gotten in late from my overnight shift at the Ramsey’s house. Their little one was only a few months old, and they hired me as their night nurse.

I loved my job. Taking care of newborns was my bread and butter. I’d always been passionate about newborns and helping mothers during that vulnerable time. It was important that mothers had a space to help them mentally, emotionally, and physically once the baby was here.

In a way, I guess I was so passionate because I had a wonderful mama. She was loving, kind, attentive, and so nurturing. Mama was the best to ever do it.

If I ever had kids, I hoped to at least be half the mama she was.

After her passing, Uncle Elijah and his wife, Aunt Vivian, came down from Illinois and rented a condo so Tevyn and I could finish our senior year.

I appreciated them so much for coming to our rescue.

Uncle Elijah and Mama were siblings. He was the oldest, and they were super close.

It pained me to see him so hurt as well. Even though Mama had passed, I still ended my high school volleyball career with the record I wanted. My jersey was even retired. It was because of Mama’s passing.

Plus, it was the school’s way of thanking me for all my hard work. I cried during the ceremony because of Mama and the beautiful tribute. Mama was my best friend. That hurt would never go away. The hole in my heart may never be filled.

I could’ve transferred and went straight to Holly Springs, Illinois, but I knew mama would want me to finish where I started. After our graduation, Tevyn and I packed up, and our uncle and aunt brought us to Illinois with them. Life was different in the Midwest.

It was busy and loud, not like the South. It took Tevyn and I a minute to adjust. With the help of our cousins, life and grief wasn’t so bad.

My scholarship to SU was no longer an option for me emotionally and mentally.

Mama’s death really took a toll on me, so I decided to go to school and study what my heart was really passionate about after volleyball.

Being a pediatric nurse was a goal of mine, and I accomplished it.

However, after a few years of working in a hospital and dealing with stress and politics, I left.

Now, I ran my own night nurse business. It was the best decision I ever made. I even had two employees. When I wasn’t running my business, I worked part time at our family’s flower shop along with my favorite cousin Haylow.

We were both twenty-nine and still lived at home with Uncle Elijah and Aunt Vivian. I was in no rush to move out. Honestly, I wasn’t ready. My mama’s death left me with a bad case of PTSD.

I couldn’t be alone for long periods of time. I had to be around my family to keep the anxiety away. If Hay wasn’t around, then I was with my aunt or uncle or Tevyn. Being around my big cousin Vo and his girls always brought me joy as well.

There was never a dull moment around Vo’s three girls and his wife Rusha. She always made me feel like I was at home with them.

A horn honked behind me. The light was green, and I made a quick right into the flower shop’s parking lot. Quickly, I grabbed my Telfar bag and exited my car. When I locked it, I realized I had applied my mascara but not my lip gloss.

I didn’t feel like unlocking my door, so I removed my gloss from my purse. The SUV next to my car had tint all around, so I was able to see my reflection in the window. I looked around then leaned forward, applying my gloss.

This was my favorite gloss. It had a buttery feel with a high-gloss finish. I rubbed my lips together and fluffed my big curls. Yeah, I looked good. As I twisted the cap on my gloss, the driver’s window slowly lowered.

My entire body froze the moment I locked eyes with Peel. He was the finest man I’d ever seen. That rugged, bad boy look he rocked made my body quiver every time we saw each other in passing.

His espresso-colored eyes, freshly lined cornrows that stopped past his neck, and that caramel complexion of his always made me speechless.

There was a tattoo above his right eye that paired well with his dark features.

Peel’s hair, brows, and beard were a really dark shade of brown, which added greatly to his dark sex appeal.

I pursed my lips to the side when my eyes settled on the small astrology book in his hand.

Here I was face to face with the devil. I swallowed hard when Peel flashed me a sexy ass grin.

Peel was my cousin-in-law Tread’s right hand man and enforcer. Tread was married to my older cousin Bryte. They had two beautiful girls together. Tread’s life with Bryte came first then his empire. His girls always came first.

“Miss Hevyn, so we meet again. You should be more careful about whose vehicle you look into.”

My eyes shifted to my shoes. I was so embarrassed. If I had paid attention, I would’ve noticed it was his custom, black-on-black SUV.

“Look at me,” he commanded softly in his deep yet hypnotizing tone.

My eyes immediately fluttered to his.

“You look beautiful today, Hevyn.”

I blushed and looked at his steering wheel.

“Th-Thank you, Peel,” I stuttered.

I cursed myself on the inside for allowing him to make me feel so shy and nervous.

“Call me, Cache. Only you have that privilege, Hevyn.”

My eyes snapped to his. “Wh-Why me?”

Cache chuckled, revealing the softer side of his rugged features.

“I like you, Hevyn. I wanna take you out and get to know you better.”

“I’m just a regular girl, Cache. I see the girls that want your attention at Tread’s club. I’m not that kind of girl. If that’s your preference, then I can’t compete or compare with them. Thank you for the compliment and interest in a date, though, but I’ll have to pass. Enjoy your day.”

I waved bye and headed inside the flower shop. My heart thumped wildly and hands grew sweaty. I hoped I wasn’t mean to him.

Cache seemed nice yet authoritative from what I’d noticed. He played no games when it came down to business. I stepped inside the flower shop, and immediately I was met with the floral fragrances from the flowers.

I’d grown to love that smell so much. It brought a level of comfort to me. Once upon a time Mama loved flowers. No sadness today. I swallowed my grief. Hay’s and my eyes met, and I gave her the universal look that said bitch, I got tea. Her eyes widened with a wide grin on her face.

“Bitch, I see the look. I need all the tea neoww,” Hay voiced loudly like she didn’t have a line of customers.

“Sis, I’m tryna to get up out this store. Do I need to come back there and help y’all out,” Tread voiced with a smirk.

I stopped next to him, and he pulled me in for a tight side hug.

“What’s up, big cousin?” I questioned, pushing up my glasses.

“Shit, I’m coolin’. I’d be even better if Hay gave me my baby’s bouquet. Whassup with you?”

“You’re like clockwork every couple of weeks. I’m good though. Let me jump in so I can help this girl out.”

“Please do somethin’. Hay killin’ me,” Tread responded, laughing at the way Hay rolled her eyes at him.

“Tread, hush. Bryte’s ass is gon’ get her flowers. I got them right here,” she shot back. She added a little more gloss to her lips then handed him the bouquet. Chapped lips was something that Hay and I didn’t play about.

I walked into the back and quickly put my things away in my locker. Once I was good to go, I tied my apron around my waist and walked back to the front. When I made it to the counter, I stopped in my tracks.

My eyes clashed with Cache’s pretty brown eyes. He stood next to Tread with the sexiest, devilish smirk on his face. Cache stood a few inches taller than Tread.

He was donned in his all-black weather tech jacket, black cargo pants, and designer black boots. There was a look of hunger in his eyes that made my clit pulse in an alarming kind of way. My body wanted him—badly.

“Now, Hevyn, I know you didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily? When is your birthday?” Cache probed with his hands in his pockets.

“July twentieth.” I barely spoke loud enough for Cache to hear.

The sly smirk on his face revealed he heard me.

I adjusted my glasses while chewing on the inner flesh of my cheek. He made me so nervous and speechless. I’d never met a man whose presence made me feel so unsettled yet horny at the same time.

Why did he have to move closer to me? Why did he choose to lean over the counter and stare me down like I was his prey? Was anybody else seeing this?

My eyes glanced at Hay first. She wore the biggest grin on her face. Her silly self balled her fists and pumped her pelvis back and forth. That girl was a trip. I looked away from her and at Tread. He wore a smirk as well while he looked from me to Cache.

Cache cleared his voice. “I need your eyes on me, Hevyn.”

Slowly, I dragged my eyes to meet his gaze. When they did, Cache’s smoldering look locked me in place.

“You’re great at following my commands. That’s my kind of girl. You’re a Cancer, which means we’re very compatible. Now, to piggyback off your observation earlier. Do you see me joke, laugh, or flirt with those girls from the club?”

I shook my head and nibbled on my lower glossed lip.

“Then your assumption about my preference in women would be wrong, correct?”

I nodded this time.

“My girl. I want you, Hevyn. A fun fact about me is that I always get what I want. Now I see you’re at work, so I won’t hold you any longer. I’ll give you my number, and later on, I’ll explain to you why you’re my type of woman, Hevyn. Where’s your phone?”

I fumbled with the pocket of my apron until Hay slipped her hand inside my pocket. She unlocked it and slid it across the counter to Cache.

“Here you go, Peel. My girl a lil shy,” Hay expressed with a chuckle.

Cache revealed his pretty white teeth decorated in jewels. Why was this man so fuckin’ dreamy?

“It’s cool, Haylow. My little butterfly will open up to me soon.”

I watched as he programmed his number into my phone. When he was done, he slid me my phone back.

“Hevyn, you got twenty-four hours to text me so I get your information. If not, I’ll pop up when and where you least expect me to. Have a beautiful day, butterfly.”

He winked at me as he walked backward. It looked as if Cache had his fill of my face and presence, so he turned away and strolled out of the shop with Tread.

Finally, I was able to exhale. Cache had me discombobulated the rest of my day. What was I going to do? I couldn’t contact him. I shouldn’t contact him. Right?