Page 116 of Earned Husband

I opened my eyes, lifting my head away from his so I could look at him. “Yep?”

“I love you.”

I smiled so wide that it made my cheeks hurt. My heart skipped too many beats to be healthy. “I love you too.”

Taking his face in my hands, I held his gaze intently, lowered my head, and kissed him, happier than I’d ever been but also knowing that our quiet moment together before we had to face the chaos again was rapidly coming to an end.

The voices that had been echoing from outside were much closer now, the men obviously having moved into the house. It wouldn’t be long before one of his brothers or one of mine came looking for him.

Sighing against his lips, I broke the kiss and pulled away. “I should go.”

“Yeah.” He wound his arms around me for a tight hug. “I love you, baby. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be the one in white.”

“You’re wearing white?”

I smacked his shoulder playfully and stood up before I decided against leaving at all. “I can’t tell you that. I’m not going to tell you anything, actually, except that I’ll be there.”

“I’ll be waiting,” he said, walking me back toward the terrace doors and kissing me soundly before he watched me go.

When I got back to the resort, I was convinced I’d perfected my innocent expression, but as soon as my mom walked into my suite, I knew I hadn’t gotten away with it. She didn’t say anything, but her smile was so knowing that I knew she knew.

Thankfully, she didn’t give me a lecture or even a quick scolding for breaking the rules. She simply swept a hand out toward the door. “It’s time to have our henna done. Let’s go, darling.”

I nodded, following her to the resort’s expansive sitting area where all the women, my family and Colin’s, were gathered. Little bowls of fragrant paste were waiting on the coffee tables, the henna artists already there.

Mom showed me to an older artist and waved me toward the chair, smiling with tears in her eyes as the older womangot started. As I watched, she drew intricate patterns across my palms and wrists, vines, flowers, and tiny details woven into every line.

Around me, the room buzzed with laughter and conversation. Colin’s Mom, Nora, asked so many delighted questions about this particular art, and thankfully, most of my family were focused on her. I didn’t say much after greeting everyone, promising to catch up when the henna was done, but I was barely even aware of them anymore as I watched my artist apply the henna that was symbolic of everything waiting just beyond tomorrow.

The reality of it settled gently over me when the henna started darkening as it dried. I was marrying Colin Thayer, the man I was madly in love with.

Tomorrow.

Honestly? It couldn’t come fast enough.

CHAPTER 49

COLIN

Deja smiled at me, radiant beneath layers of exquisite embroidery, delicate gold, and artistry so delicate and impeccable that it rivaled anything I’d ever seen in a museum. The imam pronounced us husband and wife as I stared back at her, absolutely speechless trying to believe that this beautiful, incredible woman, had just saidyes.

Tome.

Everything that screamed wealth and luxury was front and center at the ceremony, flowers, and color, and spices, but I barely even noticed it. There were white roses arranged with orchids, jasmine, and greenery. Brass lanterns flickered between arrangements of spices and candles while rich fabrics softened every corner of the venue, but as far as I was concerned, all of it paled in comparison to her.

A heartbeat after we were officially married, our guests started cheering and applauding, and once again, we were pulled into hugs and our cheeks were kissed, but I was still reeling. I honestly couldn’t believe this.

Any of it.

Mostly that Deja was now mywife. Tension I hadn’t even realized I was still holding on to evaporated when she squeezedmy hand, smiling up at me. Meanwhile, I just kept staring at her. Finally, she laughed but kept a firm grip on me as she pulled me toward the reception venue.

“Just breathe, Colin,” she murmured, winking before hugging yet another aunt who flung herself at us.

I hugged and talked, and I even managed to breathe eventually, but only once I saw my family also letting loose. Even my mom seemed to be having a great time, looking more like her old self while talking to these women than I’d seen her look in years.

Something inside me released then, perhaps the fear that Mom would never recover. It’d taken her a long time, but here she was, living it up with Layla and her sisters as if she’d always been part of their family.