Page 10 of Calculated Kisses with a Scorpio (BLP Signs of Love #10)

“You mind taking a walk with me so we can talk?”

I looked up to find Kairo’s face inches from mine.

My breath stalled as I drew in a shaky breath. I shook my head, and he stood upright, holding out his hand. I took it and allowed Kairo to pull me to my feet.

He linked our fingers and pulled me toward the back of the house.

“Shouldn’t we tell everyone where we’re going?”

“Nah, we good. Pops got cameras around the whole lot, so if they get curious, that’s the first place he’ll look.”

“Okay, good.”

Everyone had paired off during dessert in the family room.

Our parents took up one corner, the younger married couples took another, and Kashia got a phone call that had her rushing out, so Kairo was right about us not being missed.

Once we were outside, I removed my heels and went straight for the grass.

Kairo joined me, and I noticed his bare feet.

Smiling, I walked to the edge of their pool and looked back at him.

Kairo nodded, and I wasted no time sitting on the edge and putting my feet in.

“Talk to me about your fascination with plants, feeling the grass with your feet, and water. Is it all zodiac sign related?”

I giggled and shook my head.

“No. The love for plants and flowers comes from my grandmother. I think from the moment I could put one foot in front of the other, I followed her all around her different gardens. Touching grass grounds me. I read Accidentally in Love with You by Kaye Lovett about three years ago and have been doing it ever since. The way the author wrote that grounding scene between her two main characters, I just knew it was something I had to try. Any chance I get to feel the earth beneath my feet, I take. My love of water comes from something I made up about being a water sign. It’s just another way to recharge.

My showers are pretty long, especially if I had a rough day.

It’s as if when the water hits my skin, a piece of me is replenished. ”

“I hear that and can respect it. If I can remember correctly, I think I’m a Scorpio. So that would make me a water sign too. I’m going to test your shower theory.”

“You are, and it may do you some good to give it a try.”

I looked at Kairo over my shoulder and smiled.

He was a lot more laid-back than I would have thought.

I’d never met a person as rich as him, but from what I watched on television, they were all stuck-up and annoying.

Kairo nor his family was anything like that.

We sat in the quiet for a while and I enjoyed it.

When I was with Benny, every moment had to be filled with noise or some type of activity.

The fact that Kairo could exist in silence moved me.

“What did you want to talk about?” I asked while leaning back on my hands and kicking my feet.

“The fundraiser is Saturday, so we need to discuss how our night will go. I have my stylist coming to your house tomorrow to get you fitted for your dress. When we’re at the event, do you mind a little PDA? Hand holding, a kiss to your temple, or just affection period?”

“I’m going to be your wife, so no, I don’t mind. Just remember you promised thirty days of us getting to know one another.”

Kairo bumped his shoulder against mine, leaned over, and pressed his lips to my ear.

“You may not see it right now, but it’s gon’ always be whatever you want. I like you, and I can’t wait to see where our journey takes us . . . Just know it’ll outlast thirty days.”

The Fundraiser

My nerves were all over the place, and my palms were sweaty.

I was second-guessing being here. I didn’t belong in this crowd, and I felt that truth grow the closer we got to the front door. There was paparazzi and a red carpet, and all I kept thinking about was how my face would be plastered all over the news in the morning.

Kairo stopped walking, turned me toward him, and grabbed my face.

“You’re physically shaking. If you don’t want to be here, we can go.”

I shook my head and placed my hands on his.

“No, no. I’m okay. I’m nervous, but I know how important this night is. I’ll shake the nervousness. Promise.”

“Aight. If that changes, let me know. I don’t care what I’m doing.”

I blew out a breath and nodded.

Kairo and I stared at each other a second longer before he nodded. He grabbed my hand and led me inside. My eyes scanned the room in awe. Everything was decorated in burgundy, cream, and gold.

Toward the back was a huge digital sign that read 6.5 million, with a sign above it that read THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION !

“Kairo, Finley!” I turned and was immediately greeted by Kairo’s parents.

His mother pulled me into her arms.

“Hey.” Kairo hugged both his parents, and Mr. Moore gave me a side hug. “Y’all been here long?”he asked when I was back under his arm.

“For about fifteen minutes. We’re seated over there.” Mrs. Moore used her thumb to point over her shoulder.

I felt eyes on me, so I looked around until my eyes landed on Camille and a white man.

It was clear as day that they were staring at me because of how quickly they looked away when they realized they’d been caught.

I squeezed Kairo’s hand, and he looked down at me.

I used my eyes to indicate where he should look.

His eyes followed my direction, and he frowned.

He told me not to worry about them, but there was something in his features that went against what he said to me.

Mr. Moore and Kairo had a silent conversation with their eyes.

“Let’s go get us a drink.” Mrs. Moore looped her arm through mine and pulled me away.

“Who is the white man?” I asked as soon as we were away from the men.

“Right now, he’s Diamonds I have to use the restroom.” Kairo scooted back, and I shook my head. “I’m okay. It’s just the bathroom.” I giggled.

“You sure?” He looked around, and I nodded.

“Positive. Give me five minutes, and if I’m not back, come and get me.”

His left eyebrow rose, and for some reason, the action made me cackle.

I shook my finger at him and kissed his cheek before leaving the table. When I made it to the bathroom, I rushed to relieve myself so I wouldn’t be cornered in the stall. The door opened, and I smirked. I wiped, flushed, fixed my clothes, then left the stall.

At the sink, I washed my hands and stared at Camille in the mirror.

“You do know this shit is cliche, right? Who corners people in the bathroom as grown women?” I chuckled and shook my head.

“What are you doing here with Kairo? How do you even know him? Word is you’re his fiancée, but that can’t be the truth when I was just riding his dick not even eight months ago.”

I shrugged and dried my hands.

“I’m not sure what you want me to say. I’m here with Kairo, minding my business. How I know him is my business, and what you and he had is none of my business. Is this little powwow over? I need to get back to my fiancé.”

Camille’s face grew tight and turned red.

She looked ready to bust a blood vessel, and I hated that for her.

It was supposed to be on sight, but this fundraiser saved her.

She tried to get under my skin about the dick riding, but Kairo had been transparent about their situationship.

I didn’t need to give her a reaction to news that wasn’t new to me.

She wanted me to care, but what he did before me wasn’t my concern.

Camille folded her arms over her chest, and a smug look crossed her face, letting me know whatever she was about to say would piss me off.

It was the way her eyes scanned me from the top of my head to the bottom of my dress that hid my feet.

“You will never fit into his world like I do. It’s clear to everyone here that you’re cosplaying, and whatever you’re doing won’t last. When it’s all said and done, Kairo will come back where he belongs.”

“That’s a motherfuckin’ lie.” Camille and I jumped because we hadn’t heard the door.

“If God Himself came down here and told me that the only way I’d get into Heaven was to mess with you again, I’d choose Hell.

You in here trying to break down a woman who did nothing to you, but feel like I’d want you?

” He scoffed. “Come on, baby girl. Your five minutes been up.” He stuck his hand out for me to grab.

“Kairo, you don’t mean that.” Camille pleaded.

With no response, Kairo led me out of the bathroom.

Camille rushed out behind us, and I groaned. She was about to show her ass. Kairo must have sensed it because he pulled me into a vacant room. Camille burst through the door, and her chest heaved up and down.

Her display of crazy was uncomfortable.

“Yo, what the hell is your problem?”

“She set me up, and you’re falling for it. She knows what we had and is jealous.”

“Okay, we’re not doing this, because you make no damn sense.”

Kairo and I walked around her and out of the vacant room.

I thought we were going back to our table, but Kairo’s long legs carried us outside.

His driver was already waiting, so it took no time for us to climb inside of his truck and drive away.

My head spun as I thought about Camille’s random spazzing.

Her thinking I was the reason she got fired was the craziest part to me.

Not holding herself accountable would be her downfall.

We got on I-10, and Kairo turned to me.

“I’m not ready for you to be out of my presence. You okay with spending the night with me? No pressure, just want to hang without all the stuffiness.”

“I’m cool with that. I’ll text my parents because knowing my daddy, he’s staying up.”

Kairo laughed.

“Yeah, let him know. I don’t need Mr. White sending the troops for his baby girl.”

I giggled and rolled my eyes.

Kairo pulled me closer to him, and I snuggled into his side.

I slid my hand into his and looked at him.

I never wanted a man to kiss me the way I wanted Kairo to.

His eyes dropped to my lips, and I knew he wanted the same.

We were supposed to be moving slow so we could get to know one another, but I wanted to do that and have him inside me.

Maybe going to his house wasn’t the greatest idea.

“Will you have any backlash for leaving the fundraiser early?” I asked to cool myself down some.

However, Kairo had other plans for this car ride.

“Come here,” he whispered and leaned forward.

I moved my head closer to his, thinking he wanted to say something he didn’t want his driver to hear.

“Yes?”

No words were exchanged as Kairo pressed his lips against mine. The contact of our lips caused me to moan, and the parting of my lips was rewarded with his tongue. It had been a year since I’d been touched, and this kiss had me ready to sit on something hard until I came undone.

If he didn’t get me to his house soon, I was about to embarrass myself.