Page 13 of Calculated Kisses with a Scorpio (BLP Signs of Love #10)

I shook my head and looked at Kairo with wide eyes.

He and his father continued to talk, and I just couldn’t believe it. Mr. Moore let us know that Camille and Steven would be arrested on Friday to ensure they had to sit for the weekend. I couldn’t even feel sad, because she had been ready to tear my life apart just to save hers. That wasn’t okay.

I watched as Mrs. Moore packed three to-go plates with furrowed brows, but her intentions were made clear when she bagged up the food she cooked and told her husband and daughter it was time to go.

I laughed at Kashia pouting about being kicked out.

After they left, we ate, then migrated to the couch.

“Are you okay?” I asked Kairo then climbed into his lap, and he wrapped an arm around my waist.

“I’m more pissed than anything. I trusted someone with my family’s name, and I shouldn’t have. It makes me feel foolish.” He shook his head. “Pops let me know that Ma is beating herself up because it was at her recommendation that I promote Camille.”

I shook my head. “Camille’s actions aren’t on you or her. Just like I told you before, her actions are hers to own on her own. You can be pissed, but you better not be blaming yourself for her being trifling.”

He smirked, and I pressed my forehead against his.

We were supposed to use this month to get to know one another, but I felt like I’d known Kairo Moore for years.

Things were moving fast with us, but I didn’t want it to be any other way.

These past two weeks of hiding, I would have figured he would be tired of being cooped up with me, but I think he preferred it.

I rubbed my hand across his cheek, then kissed his lips.

“Want to go tend to my garden with me? Mommy has been in charge of my babies, and I know they miss me.”

“Let’s go. We need to figure out how to move them here without killing them. Also, look at the backyard and figure out how you want it to look so I can have my guy create your oasis.”

“I want to fight back, but I know you’ll win in the end, so I’ll just say okay.”

Kario laughed and pecked my lips.

The light pecks started to change to a little bit more, and when I felt him growing under me, I jumped up out of his lap.

I wanted to leave the house because I needed some sun and fresh air.

Kairo had a backyard to die for, but it was plain.

What I needed to see was some life around me, and his backyard just wasn’t it.

Kairo giving me free reign on setting the tone for the backyard was another thing I loved about him.

Record scratch . . . Love?

“Come on. Let’s go chill with your plants and folks. We been hiding long enough.”

I giggled. “You can’t steal my idea then phrase it like you came up with it.”

Kairo smacked my butt as I passed him.

It didn’t take us long to get on the road to head to my house.

I felt bad for neglecting my family, but they all let me know that everything was okay because I needed to recharge.

When everything happened, I knew for sure that I would want to be home thinking about if it was a good idea to still marry Kairo.

Yet, when the time for me to choose what I knew over what could be, I realized there was no way I could spend days away from him.

The only thing that would have worked out for me was for my entire support system to move Kairo into my childhood home, or having my parents move into this house with us.

Neither would have worked, though, because my father would have made him sleep in Kemi’s room, and them staying here was a no go because I liked hunching on this man too much.

“Family who missed me, where are you?” I yelled as Kairo and I crossed the threshold.

Immediately, my eyes went to the backyard, and I was itching to get out there, but knew I couldn’t move around without speaking first.

“Uhm, Munchkin, wherever you are, stay right there!” My mother yelled from the hallway.

My brows dipped as I looked at Kairo who only shrugged.

“If you don’t stop, you’ll be sleeping in your shed.” Mommy hissed then giggled.

My eyebrows shot up, and my mouth fell open.

I was too grossed out to focus on anything but my garden.

Yeah, it looked like it was time to go back to knocking, because I couldn’t afford to be scarred.

It took my parents five whole minutes to get themselves together enough for Kairo and I to walk past the hallway to the sliding glass door.

When we got outside, Kemi and Alana were cuddled up on the gazebo furniture watching some foreign film on his cell phone.

From as far as I could remember, Kemi loved movies where no one spoke English, and it used to drive me up a wall when it was his turn to pick on movie night.

“Hey, Brother. Why are you torturing Alana like this?”

I hugged my brother then my sister-in-law.

“It’s not torture when you find your person and they’re interested in the same things as you.” He flipped me off.

“Whatever. Did you know your parents were in there being gross?” I made a gagging face.

“Why do you think we’re out here? Kairo said you were coming over, and since we missed you, we came too, but we got more than we bargained for.” Kemi looked at me then shivered. “We really need to start knocking before just walking in.”

My mind was stuck on my brother saying Kairo told him I was on the way, and he came.

I tossed my arms around Kemi and Alana and told them they really loved me, to which Kemi denied it, claiming he could only love me on the second Sunday of every month.

Instead of calling him a liar, I kissed his cheek then went to go love on my man.

He leaned down enough for me to wrap my arms around his neck.

He stared at me like he did the first time we met, and I blushed.

“How did I get so lucky?” I whispered.

Kairo pecked my lips and shrugged.

“When I find out, I’ll let you know.”

Unable to stop myself, I blushed harder and leaned into him.

“You are such a smooth talker.” We laughed. “Come on so I can teach you how to take care of my babies.”

As we pulled apart, the sliding glass door opened, and there stood nasty and nastier.

Kairo muttered about having to go to the bathroom, so he slipped inside while I looked at my mom.

She didn’t have a strong poker face, so when I saw her tears, I rushed to her.

When I reached her, she grabbed my face and looked me in my eyes.

She had me so worried, and when she smiled, I was even more confused.

Movement to the right of me caught my eye, and I saw Kemi and Alana heading toward me.

Were they about to tell me someone was dying?

Was I dying?

“I am so proud of the woman that you are. Last year when you came back home, you were so defeated. My bubbly, always smiling and laughing Munchkin was a shell of herself. I hated it, and it made me feel like a terrible mother that there was nothing I could do to make things better for you. But in just a few short weeks, . . . you managed to find a love that was spiritually and wonderfully made. My munchkin is back, and even when odds were against you to tear you down, you allowed yourself to be loved enough to stand strong. I am proud to be your mama and can’t wait to see what other joys life brings you. ”

“Come let me show you something, Munchkin.” Daddy took my hand and pulled me into the house.

My breath stalled as I saw the house transformed.

How had I missed Kairo setting me up? “A while ago, a man approached me about taking your hand in marriage. I was confused because, what kind of scheme was he running?” I laughed through my tears.

“Like your mother, I worried about you, but I can see now that you were being prepared for something only Kairo could provide. I told him that if you accepted his hand that your mother and I would back you one hundred percent. That man has gone above and beyond in proving to you that love exists wherever the two of you are. You’ve said yes, but your man felt it necessary to still propose in a way that speaks to you.

It would have been in the backyard, but you’re nosy and would have noticed the change. ”

Everyone laughed and Mommy hit him.

“Come here.” Kairo held out his hand, and I walked over to him.

He grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me, and I forgot we weren’t alone until Kemi yelled out okay . I giggled, pulled away, and wrapped my arms around his neck. He was supposed to be proposing, but I wasn’t ready to let him go yet.

“I should kick your butt for not telling me so I could get my nails and hair done.”

Instead of replying, he kissed my lips.

“As long as you’re still agreeing to be my wife, . . . I’ll take it.”