Page 5 of Calculated Kisses with a Scorpio (BLP Signs of Love #10)

No matter what went on around me, my eyes always found their way back to Finley.

How could one interaction have me so far outside of myself? Growing up, Pops always commented that he knew my mama was the one for him with just one look. I believed him, but I never saw the same for myself.

I’d dated many women between fifteen and thirty-five and never, . . . but something shifted and turned never into today.

“So Kairo, the chronicle said that you’ll be promoted in just six months.

Are you ready? I remember when Kane was about to take over, and he was scared shitless.

” Mr. White laughed. “He was cool as a cucumber on the outside, but on the inside, he was trying to convince yo’ mama to grab you and run away. ”

I laughed because it was true. Too many times, since I’d been elected, my father told me of the days of him wanting to bail. Pops often let me know that it was okay to be afraid.

“I’m a little nervous, but I know I can handle it. The three locations here helped me prepare to oversee the company as a whole. I know I can’t be as hands on once I’m in my new position, though, and that has me a little stressed, but overall, I feel ready.”

“Nervous is good because this is a big step, but I have faith in you. Your family does a lot of great things for our community, and I know you’ll continue it. I grew up with your parents, so it’s in you to do amazing.”

I smiled at Mrs. White because, although I didn’t know her on a personal level, I could feel that she meant what she said.

We continued to eat and talk around the food.

My family had family dinner every Sunday, but since Karter, Kashia, and I no longer lived at home, Sunday was the only time we got together.

This family ate together every night . .

. I could tell. The front door opened. Finley groaned, and it had me looking over my shoulder.

It was a man and a woman that I assumed were a couple by the way she clung to his arm.

“Look at the convict in her natural habitat.” The man and Mr. White laughed loudly as Finley fumed.

“Why are you here, bird brain? Alana, you can stay, but your husband is not welcome here.”

“I’m sorry, Lee. I told him not to cut up, but you know your brother doesn’t listen to anyone.”

“I wonder where he gets that from.” Mrs. White looked at her husband, but blushed and looked away when he blew her a kiss.

I smirked at their interaction because it reminded me of my parents.

The siblings groaned at the parents’ affection, and it definitely put me in the mind of my family.

I was introduced to Kemi and Alana, and Finley got up to make their plates after they washed their hands.

Kemi was too tickled that Camille had gone as far as she had.

I was one year older than Kemi, but seven years older than Finley, so whatever school drama she had never would have crossed my path.

Knowing Camille had history with Finley pissed me off even more, because it couldn’t be disputed that she targeted her.

I knew firing Camille wouldn’t be enough, and that pissed me off.

“You all head to the living room to find something for us to watch before it gets too late.”

“Mommy, you can’t kidnap this man. I’m pretty sure he has a plethora of things he can be doing.”

Finley’s eyes met mine as she pleaded with me to agree.

I smirked and shrugged. “My evening is open. I can stay a little longer if you all don’t mind.”

Murder .

Finley wanted to cut my body up in small pieces and scatter them in her garden.

Mrs. White clapped and ushered us out of their kitchen.

Their home was small but homey and filled with pictures beginning when Mr. and Mrs. White were children to what looked like last year’s Christmas.

There were family pictures in my childhood home, too, but the Whites seemed like the type that documented every moment.

I liked it, and suddenly, a thought popped into my head that I was sure would have these people chasing me out of their home with a pitchfork.

“Mr. White, may I have a moment of your time?”

All eyes turned toward me, and for the first time in a long time, I was nervous.

He held eye contact then nodded.

“Sure. We can go to my man cave.” I stood and pushed my chair in. “We’ll be right back. Munchkin, it’s your turn to pick, so please don’t select no sappy mess.”

“Daddy, you’ll be sleep as soon as the opening credits start, so not too much on me, old man.”

Mr. White waved her off, then led me out of the kitchen and over to the sliding glass door that led to the backyard.

After removing our shoes, we went straight for the shed, and it was nice and had me ready to get something like it for my home.

A seventy-five-inch television sat toward the back, and a sectional and recliner sat in the middle of the floor, and there was a gaming side with a pool table, dart board, and a poker table.

It looked like a sweet getaway. My man cave was lacking in comparison, but that was because I worked more than I played.

As long as I had my television, my favorite beer, and sports highlights, I was good.

“What did you want to discuss, young man?” He offered me a beer, and I accepted.

“This is going to sound absolutely crazy, but how would you feel if I asked for your daughter’s hand in marriage?”

As if we were doing the mannequin challenge, he froze.

“I’m sorry, what? Didn’t you two just meet today?

” Mr. White set his beer bottle down, so I did the same and watched as he folded his arms across his chest and glared at me.

“My baby girl don’t keep secrets from me or her mother, and she’s never mentioned you.

So, asking for her hand in marriage feels off. What aren’t you saying?”

I nodded and stuffed my hands in my pockets.

Talking about Diamonds & Moore business with an outsider was frowned upon, but in this case, it was necessary.

There was something in me that woke up when Finley hit my radar.

Then seeing her family dynamics be so close to mine, I knew I’d never experience that with anyone else.

The fact that I hadn’t before, in twenty years of entertaining women, let me know I needed to act before I missed the opportunity.

This was insane, but I took the time to explain everything I felt and why it was important to act before I left their home.

The more I spoke, the more his body relaxed, and my nerves eased up.

“I will admit, the timeline has me moving faster than I would normally, but?—”

He held up his hand.

“I get it, but it’s not up to me.” He smiled.

“Munchkin is her own woman, so at the end of the day, the decision has to be hers to make. I will tell you that this last year hasn’t been kind, and thirty years is a long time, and starting things off with a friendship can potentially lead to more.

You said you have ninety days to marry?” I nodded and so did he.

“Okay. Finley can be impulsive but can be levelheaded as well, so tell her what you need, but follow it with you wanting to spend the first thirty days getting to know her. My baby girl deserves the world, and although you could fund it, . . . money means nothing to her. If you spend time getting to know Finley and everything that comes with her, then your next thirty years could last a lifetime.” He smiled.

“If she agrees, then her mother and I will back you two, one hundred percent.”

“Thank you, sir.” We shook hands. “I’m actually going to say bye and head home so I can think of a few ways to speak with Finley. I don’t want to come off like a creep, especially after the wild day she had.”

He tossed his head back and laughed.

We walked out of the shed, back into the house, and into the living room where the movie was queued up, and I let everyone know I had to head out, but I didn’t miss the disappointment on Finley’s face.

That had me smiling inside like a fat kid that was about to eat the last slice of cake.

I tipped my head at her and left their house.

As soon as I got in my car, I called Von.

“Damn, bruh. Was about to send SWAT out to find you. You know you can’t just be going off grid like that. Did you forget dinner at your parents’ house was tonight? Who lives over on Hilmeade?”

“Sorry, dad . I put my cell phone in my pocket and hadn’t thought of it since.

I did forget, though, so I’ll shoot Pops a message when I get home.

” I started my car then looked up, catching Finley’s eyes, and chuckled at how fast she moved away from the window.

“Once things settled at the Kingsland Boulevard location, I had to get shit straight with letting Camille go. As I started thinking about how her ass set me up for a lawsuit, I felt bad about shorty not being able to make her purchase. I bought it and then brought it to her. When I got there, I realized I wanted to be in her presence for as long as she’d have me.

Her mama invited me to stay for dinner, and the next thing I knew, I was asking her pops for his blessing to ask his daughter for her hand in marriage. ”

Von started to cough and choke.

“You so damn dramatic. I gotta be losing my mind, right?”

Dre’von and I had been friends since grade school, and he knew all of Diamonds & Moore business like he shared our last name.

Von was my business partner, and as I climbed the ladder in my family’s business, I brought him up with me.

He wasn’t the type to eat off another man’s plate, so he worked just as hard as me.

I considered letting him replace me as the district manager because there was no one who deserved it more than him.

This man knew me just as much as I knew myself, so for me to be impulsive about something so serious probably had him ready to call an intervention.

His coughing slowed down, and he inhaled deeply.

“Yo, you serious?”