Page 16 of The Sheikh's Defiant Girlfriend

One of the staff brought a plate for Amir. He helped himself to some food as Sara poured him a drink. They all carried on eating and discussing the wedding, and Mrs. Botros asked Sara a few more questions about herself. Amir jumped in the conversation a few times when he was not speaking to Leylah.

“Forgive me for all the questions, dear,” she said once they were done eating. “I just want to know you better. I’m sorry we didn’t start out on the best of terms. But it’s clear to me now you and my son are very well matched.”

Sara didn’t know exactly how to respond to that, so she smiled and stayed quiet. When Mrs. Botros left after dinner, Sara sighed with relief. It hadn’t been as bad as she’d expected. Tariq went to Amir to take Leylah from him.

“I’ll put her to bed,” Tariq said. Sara laughed and shook her head.

“You were hogging the baby,” Sara told Amir and stroked Leylah’s soft cheeks. “Good night, my lovely.”

“He’s possessive,” Amir said.

“Yes, he is.” Sara kissed Leylah, and Tariq narrowed his eyes and harrumphed.

“I wonder, how exactly did he propose?”

“Oh God,” Tariq muttered and dragged in a breath. He clearly did not like being the center of this conversation. Any of their conversations actually. Amir and Sara always formed an alliance when they were together, and he was often their target. He could not defend himself against them. Sara smiled before she answered Amir. Tariq’s proposal had been awkward, at best.

“This is a story you want to hear,” Sara said with a grin.

“I don’t need to be here for this,” Tariq said and walked off with Leylah. Sara and Amir laughed as they watched him go.

“Scabs!” voices suddenly called out, and Sara turned to see her brothers. Her eldest brother, Jason, came striding toward her and picked her up. Amir and Tariq stood there looking at each other. Her other brothers, James and John, also came over to hug her. James pinched her cheeks.

“Scabby is all grown and has a baby,” James said. Sara slapped his hand away.

“I want to see my niece,” Jason said with excitement.

“Slow down guys.” Sara turned around and gestured for Tariq to come closer. “This is Tariq, my fiancé, and his brother, Amir,” Sara added.

“I’m more of her best friend really,” Amir said. Sara smiled at Amir and rubbed her face on his shoulder. He rubbed her head. He was protective of her in his own way and always marked his territory, just like his brother.

“These are my brothers,” Sara said, still leaning on Amir. Sara’s brothers shook Tariq’s and Amir’s hands. Sara kissed Leylah on the cheek. Leylah laughed in response.

“And this is Leylah,” Sara said. Her brothers leaned in to see Leylah’s face. They all smiled at her.

“She’s so cute,” John said.

“So cute,” Jason agreed and stroked her chin.

“Congratulations to both of you,” James said.

“Thank you,” Tariq said. Sara’s mother came into the room to get Sara and Leylah. She wanted to put her granddaughter to bed before taking her sons to their hotel. Tariq handed Leylah over. Grandmother’s rights could not be denied, Sara knew.

“Let’s step into the living room for a drink,” Tariq said. “It can take your mother a surprisingly long time to get Leylah down for the night.”

“Thank you, Tariq,” Jason said. “That will give us a chance to talk and make sure you’re the right man for our sister.”

Sara squeezed Tariq’s hand. “Sorry,” she mouthed to him. Tariq kept his face expressionless, and Sara smiled. He was never the social type. He didn’t really like to talk to people, or like people for that matter, but he had promised her he would make an effort with her family. She hoped he would follow through.

8

Tariq returned the stares he was receiving from Sara’s brothers. Sara could tell he didn’t feel intimidated by them. If anything, they were a bit unsettled by his calm demeanor. Usually, they were able to intimidate someone within a few minutes. However, their efforts were not working with Tariq. Sara looked back and forth between them and laughed. She was enjoying the showdown. She knew Tariq too well, and they were not going to get to him. He was too stubborn and arrogant.

“Stop it, guys,” she said, giving her nearest brother a sisterly jab with her elbow. “You will never get Tariq to back down. Fun as this is for me, it’s pointless for you. Tariq, they’re my brothers. You don’t have to worry about them stealing me.”

“Why do you call SaraScabs?” Amir asked, finally ending the staring contest. He went to the sideboard to refill his glass of mint tea. Sara growled. This stupid childhood nickname had followed her throughout her life.

James laughed as he replied, “She was always covered in scabs growing up.”

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