know what?” Nuray continued. “We are so glad he didn’t.”
Tariq looked up, his face creasing with emotion as he gazed at his mother. His expression said he wanted to ask more, but his mother picked up on this before he could say anything further. She reached her hand behind her and tapped her son’s knee with the tips of her fingers. “You did what was right for you.”
“Now, do what’s right for Emily and make her an honorable woman!” Nazeer cheered from the driver’s seat.
Tariq rolled his eyes to his father in the mirror. He let out a playful sigh and grabbed Emily’s hand in his. If he was annoyed, he didn’t show it. Instead, he said, “When it happens, you’ll both be the first to know. You have my word.”
“You better!” Nuray warned before turning her attention to Emily. “We’re glad he waited,” she confirmed. “Now he’s met you.”
Emily smiled but said nothing. She squeezed Tariq’s hand as his mother turned back to face the front, sighing contentedly. She loved this—the family banter, the playful teases, the adorable way Tariq’s face squished up when he was embarrassed.
Before long, the foursome reached the airport and it was back to the runway to find Tariq’s private jet. Nuray hugged Emily tightly and made her promise to come visit again soon.
“We haven’t seen him like this in so long. Not since he was a little boy,” Nazeer said, taking Emily aside after a brief embrace. He placed both hands on her shoulders and clarified, “Happy, I mean. He never talks to us like he did tonight. So open, laughing. I think I know why.” He narrowed his eyes toward her in a lighthearted manner. “He’s in love,” he said with a wink in his tone.
“Oh!” Emily blurted out; her face red hot as Nazeer set his hands at his side.
“Thank you for making my son so happy,” he added. “Hopefully the next time we see you you’ll have a ring on that finger.”
Emily nodded happily and soon she was standing with Tariq once more. After one last wave goodbye, both Tariq and Emily were back on his private jet and on their way home. The flight back to Arizona would be seventeen hours, and Emily knew she would be exhausted if she didn’t get some sleep now. Saying that, she didn’t know how she would ever get to sleep now after such an amazing day.
Still, she told Tariq she would be headed off to bed and thanked him immensely for spoiling her with so much history, for his wonderful company, and for the hilarious thrill of getting to meet his parents.
“Funny, funny girl,” he said sweetly.
The way he looked at her then was almost too much to handle. He leaned in and met her lips with his in a soft, lingering kiss. The way he breathed against her skin was something Emily knew would be burned into her memory for years to come. In that moment, everything changed. She didn't want to be afraid anymore, didn't want to be the shy girl so out of control of her own life.
Like Tariq, travel had always been Emily’s favorite thing in the world. Not to places like the Grand Canyon or sunny Hawaii, no. Her dream was to visit other cultures and lands—to expand her mind and see something bigger than herself; to be around people who could make her see the world in a different way.
And who better to do this with, she thought, than her new favorite person.
Chapter 10
The private jet was just as luxurious as Emily remembered. She wanted to take one last wander around the cabin so she could appreciate it, but she was too exhausted from their unexpectedly romantic day of sightseeing, and went right to bed for what she assumed would be hours and hours of rest before landing in Phoenix.
Instead, it was only a handful of hours before the wheels touched down.
Emily’s heart sank. Had they had to make an emergency stop somewhere? This was it. Her mother was right—don't take risks! This was her comeuppance for trusting that a sexy guy would actually take an interest in her. They were probably crashed on a deserted island somewhere.
Just as she began to feel the panic rise up in her, Tariq gently knocked on the door and entered the room.
“Sorry, I hope I didn't wake you,” he said quietly.
“What happened? Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” he gave her a peculiar smile. “We had to make a stop.”
“I knew it,” she