Page 66 of Earned Husband

I elbowed her hard. My heart fluttered in my chest as I watched him continue.

“I understand the responsibility that comes with asking to marry her and I understand what she means to your family. I also understand that this marriage represents far more than two people, but I’d still like to ask.”

Colin smiled, pausing for a beat to glance at me again before he looked back at my father. “Mr. Saad, I would be honored if you would give me your blessing to marry your daughter.”

Complete and utter silence followed, so absolute that it was painful. My ears started ringing with the weight of it. Even the waitstaff suddenly froze near the open kitchen across the room. Dad looked thoughtfully toward the ceiling, only humming out a sound that made it seem like he was actually considering the damn question.

I pressed my lips together, but then I made the fatal mistake of looking at my sister, and the second our eyes met, I realized she was about to laugh.No. No, no, no.

A tiny snort escaped her and I jabbed her ribs so hard that she nearly inhaled the olive in her drink. She glared at me but looked back at Colin when my father cleared his throat.

“Marriage is a lifetime commitment,” Dad said, still as somber as if he was only now realizing why were at dinnerto begin with. “Once vows are made, regardless of how the relationship came into being, they are forever.”

“Yes, sir.”

“If I give you my blessing and you hurt her…” He trailed off, but Tarek pumped his eyebrows at Colin, and somehow, that gesture seemed more threatening than if he’d cracked his knuckles or produced a knife.

Because it made it look like he’d actually enjoy killing Colin if he hurt me. Frankly, out of everything that’d happened tonight so far, that was probably the one thing that hadn’t been an act. My brother was extremely protective.

“I understand,” Colin said without flinching. “I have no intention of hurting her or leaving.”

Dad nodded slowly. “She’s a stubborn woman, but she’s precious to me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“She works too hard,” Dad said as if Colin hadn’t spoken at all. “It will be your job to take care of her and to make sure she gets enough rest.”

“I’ll certainly try.”

“You will certainly fail.”

A ripple of laughter rang out across the table and even Colin smiled, but when Dad went back to simply studying him and not saying anything at all, his shoulders eventually began to lose some of their confident set.

I suddenly wished I could just remind him there was no way my father was going to say no, but finally, my dad put the man out of his misery. He stepped forward and extended a hand toward Colin. “I believe you will spend your life trying your best.” A warm smile spread across Dad’s lips. “You have my blessing, son.”

Colin’s relief was visible as he accepted my father’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “Thank you, sir.”

As they shook, applause erupted around the room. My mother dabbed discreetly at one eye while Ashanti hugged Khaled like they’d just received their own blessing all over again. Rami was grinning like he’d set us up and even Tarek seemed pleased.

Jasmine leaned against my shoulder with a dreamy sigh. “It must be nice, finally getting married and knowing you’re about to have real freedom from our parents.”

I glanced at her, one of my eyebrows arching. “Well, don’t get too jealous. You could be next.”

Her eyes widened in horror. “No, I’m not. Rami is older, and technically, Tarek is too.”

“Tarek is two and a half minutes older than you,” I reminded her. “I doubt that will matter, though, Mom and Dad are far less likely to think that either of them are even remotely ready for wives, so that leaves you.”

She straightened up, her head shaking over and over again. “I’d rather jump off the family yacht.”

I burst out laughing so loudly that everyone in the room turned to look at me. Mom narrowed her eyes in a way that said,Can you please attempt to act like a lady for five minutes?

“At least the sharks would leave me alone,” Jasmine muttered and I dissolved into another fit of giggles.

Mom sighed, but a fond smile spread on her lips.

Colin finally managed to escape the circle of men. As soon as they let him go, he made his way around the table and stopped beside the empty chair next to mine. “Is this seat taken?”

I smiled up at him. “Yes, it is. By you.”