Page 7 of The Sheikh's Secret Family

The worst thing was that his time with Emelia would be coming to an end. Tariq would have happily sat through a hundred meetings with her around. Why hadn’t he met Emelia earlier in the year? It wasn’t fair that they only had a few months together. It wasn’t fair that he had to leave her behind when the semester ended.

Maybe they could have more than a few months. Maybe if Tariq admitted who he really was, Emelia would still care about him. Maybe she would still look at him with those beautiful green eyes like he was the most important person in the world.

Or maybe she wouldn’t. Tariq groaned again. It was just as possible that, if he admitted who he really was, Emelia would push him away. After all, he’d been lying to her the whole time they’d known each other. Or, Tariq corrected, not lying, just not telling the whole truth, either. But to someone how had as much trouble trusting as Emelia did, the difference probably wouldn’t seem that important.

The one thing that Tariq knew for certain was that he didn’t want to leave without Emelia knowing how he felt. He loved her. Over the last couple months, that had become clear. She was his dream girl. She could make him laugh and make him think. She was his equal in everything, from their language studies to their conversations. Not to mention that she was absolutely gorgeous, and that kissing her was the best thing in the world.

A plan started to form in Tariq’s mind. He loved Emelia. It seemed like maybe, just maybe, she loved him back. He didn’t want to give that up. Emelia might be mad when she found out the truth, but surely she could get past it. Maybe, after she graduated next year, she’d be willing to come to Al Salyah. Maybe they could be together.

Starting to feel more cheerful, Tariq sat up, looking around his dorm room. This was where they had fallen in love. When Emelia came over to study that evening, he would surprise her with something romantic. Then he’d confess how he felt about her. And then, when she was convinced that Tariq really did care about her, he would explain who he was and why he hadn’t told her.

The whole day, Tariq was brimming with excitement. By the time evening came, his plan was set in his mind. After his last class, he raced to the Lebanese restaurant where they’d eaten the first night they met and asked them to make a take-out feast. While that was being prepared, he went to the grocery store next door for candles and flowers.

Tariq knew that he was probably straying too far into the realm of cheesy. Hopefully, Emelia could see past that.

When the food was ready, Tariq hurried back to his room and set up the food on the floor and the candles on the shelves and his desk all around the room. Then he realized he’d forgotten matches and hurried back out to buy some. Finally, at five fifty-six, just four minutes before Emelia was supposed to arrive to study, everything was ready.

Tariq turned out the light, letting the room be lit by the flickering warm light of the candles, and waited for her knock. His heart was beating so fast he was worried it would escape from his chest. What if Emelia didn’t feel the same way about him? What if she thought he was silly or cheesy? What if, when he admitted that he was actually Tariq Jal Ibrahim, future sheikh of Al Salyah, she felt betrayed and wanted nothing more to do with him?

Finally, after what seemed like hours, there was a soft knock.

“Come in!” Tariq called.

Emelia opened the door and stepped inside, a look of confusion playing across her sweet features, followed by a blush and a little smile.

“TJ? What’s going on?” she asked, clasping her hands in front of her. Somehow, it was like she had known to dress up that day. Instead of her usual leggings and too-big tops, she was wearing a green dress with tights. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and glowed auburn with the candlelight. She looked as lovely as always and Tariq felt a wave of love and affection. He’d come to the US for a year of freedom and he’d found so much more.

“Just a little celebration,” he said. He took her hand and escorted her to the picnic on the floor, both of them sitting with their backs against the bed. “I got food from the Lebanese place.”

“It looks delicious,” Emelia said, taking a deep breath and smiling at the scent of falafel and flatbread. “And the candles?”

“Part of the celebration,” Tariq replied. His heart was still racing, but now that Emelia was here, he felt calmer. This was the woman he loved.

“Okay, and what are we celebrating?” Emelia asked. She looked curious, nervous, a little hopeful. Tariq had planned to wait until after dinner to bring up his secrets and his feelings, but he couldn’t.

“Emelia,” he began, “these few months with you have been amazing. The best of my life. You’re the most beautiful, fascinating, intelligent woman I’ve ever met. And I wanted you to know that I love you.”

For a moment, Tariq wasn’t sure what Emelia’s reaction would be. Her green eyes were wide with surprise and one of her hands flew to her mouth at his words. The pause seemed to stretch, breathless. What if Emelia didn’t feel the same way? What if he’d ruined any chance of them spending at least the next few weeks together? Then, finally, Emelia spoke, her soft voice quiet but certain.

“I love you, too,” she said. “I didn’t know if that was possible for me, but I guess it is. Oh TJ, being with you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I feel like I can finally be myself.”

Tariq knew that the next thing he needed to do was to come clean about who he was. He needed to tell Emelia that he was really Tariq Jal Ibrahim, the future sheikh of Al Salyah. He needed to tell her about his parents. He needed to tell her that he loved her despite all that, and that he hoped that she still loved him too.

But Tariq’s confidence failed. Emelia looked so vulnerable, so beautiful, sitting there in the candlelight. He couldn’t stand to shatter her beliefs about him now.

Instead, he rose up on his knees and kissed her, just once, gently and softly. When they pulled away, he hesitated there, one hand on the side of her face. This moment felt precious and fragile and Tariq never wanted it to end.

“I love you,” he said again. “No matter what.”

Emelia grinned, more confident now. Tariq couldn’t help noticing how the candlelight highlighted the gold flecks in those deep green eyes. “I love you, too. I’ve never met someone so kind, so interesting, so funny, and so smart. When I’m with you, I feel…” She trailed off and Tariq ran his thumb across her warm cheek.

“I know. I feel the same way. Free and hopeful.”

“And whole,” Emelia added, glancing up at Tariq through her eyelashes. “I feel complete.”

Tariq’s heart felt as full and warm as mug of hot chocolate. “Me too. I think we’re just better together.”

“We are,” Emelia agreed. “We fit.”

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