4. Kingsley #2
So far, I had come up with fast food places .
. . like pizza, Sonic, Whataburger, and maybe even a McDonald’s.
Despite how much I hated McDonald’s, I knew kids loved them.
A pizzeria would really do well out here.
People got pizza all the time. That pizza in Sour Lake was a bust. As soon as that shit cooled off, the cheese tasted plastic.
I’d researched some of the best pizza places in the country and wanted to bring that level of connoisseurship to Nome.
Uncle Marcus’s rodeo arena was coming along nicely, as well as the new training facility for KJ, Karima, Rylan, Milana, and for Kane and I if we got our shit together.
Carter, Epic, and Red Squared would be using it also.
There were plans for a bank and a couple of schools.
Hardin Jefferson would decrease in size significantly, because not only would we get the population of Nome, we would gain China, Cheek, and Meeker’s populations.
China was more than three times the size of Nome.
Uncle WJ, Uncle Marcus, my dad, Uncle Jasper, Uncle Storm, Aunt Tiff, Aunt Chrissy, and Aunt Jen were all in talks with politicians and law enforcement about having a police department in Nome, gaining knowledge to combat an institutionalized system that left people of color at a disadvantage.
COINTELPRO was still alive and well, just repackaged under national security.
As I headed to the truck stop, I called Happily Ever After Floral Shop to order flowers for Treasure.
I wanted them placed on the table at Cheddar’s that I’d reserved for our evening together.
There was so much more I wanted to do for her, but I didn’t know how she would handle it.
Sometimes, I felt like I was overthinking things concerning her, but the last thing I wanted to do was push her away.
I meant what I said about being clingy. I had been waiting for her for a long fucking time. Every day with her, all in her space, would be like a dream come true. She would be living with me by now and most likely, be my fiancée or wife.
However, I still wouldn’t have enough time to make up for all the time those muthafuckas in Liberty stole from us.
They were merely plants in the government’s COINTELPRO operation.
I wondered what the government’s bargaining chip was.
I also wondered if those niggas even served time at all.
That whole sentencing trial could have been bullshit.
Since when did this corrupt government adhere to judges’ rulings?
If that were true, we were all in for a battle, and Treasure had every right to still be afraid.
I was pretty sure she’d heard things that no one knew.
Threats had probably been made that caused her to constantly look over her shoulder.
To keep from doing that, she would just rather stay home.
That was why I refused to cancel dinner. This was a big step for her.
Once I’d confirmed everything was running efficiently and there were no small issues, I took off for Liberty.
Normally, I hung around and talked to the employees, shooting the shit and building relationships, but today, I didn’t have time for that shit.
The rest of today would be dedicated to Treasure.
After getting to Liberty, I quickly got out of my Jag and headed to the back door. Mr. Legend was on the porch, smoking. He stood when he saw me, set his blunt on the arm of the chair he was seated in, then extended his hand to me. He shook it and pulled me in for a half hug.
“You came back early.”
I smiled. “I told Treasure whenever I can be in her space, that was where she was gonna find me.”
He chuckled. “I know the feeling.”
I chuckled, then headed inside to see Mrs. Harper and Treasure, both operating mixers.
They were both commercial sized. I stood still, quietly watching them work.
Treasure had a slight smile on her lips.
When she turned the mixer off, I made subtle movements so she would notice me without getting startled. Her smile grew, and she came to me.
When she got to me, she slid her arms around my waist, and I kissed the top of her head.
“Hey, King.”
“Hey, King’s Treasure.”
She blushed as I held her loosely in my arms. When she puckered her lips, I bit my bottom lip and leaned over to oblige her.
I thought it would be a quick peck, but when she put her hand to my face, I gave her more of me, without tongue.
I was getting heated as hell, and it was hard trying to keep my hands in check.
She pulled away and smiled, causing me to release her bottom lip. I could feel the tremble go through her, so I asked, “You okay?”
“Yeah . . . just excited. Well, maybe that isn’t the right word.”
Her cheeks were slightly red as she smiled shyly.
She wrapped her arms around me again. I closed my eyes, doing my best to keep my mind off what her insides felt like.
Her body felt so good pressed against mine.
I would never get enough of that feeling.
She pulled away from me and grabbed my hand, leading me to another room.
My dick got way too excited, and there was nothing I could do about it. Without my consent, that nigga was preparing for action that my mind knew wasn’t happening anytime soon. I could only hope that my shirt hid that shit, so she wouldn’t want to send me packing.