Page 117 of Hired Husband

“You look…” he started but trailed off, simply shaking his head as he pulled me closer. “You look incredible, Jasmine. Just… wow.”

I smiled. “Right back at you.”

The officiant called us forward, keeping the ceremony simple while our families and the entire Bedouin tribe looked on. Isaac’s thumbs brushed over my knuckles as he listened to the man, a member of the tribe who’d graciously agreed to marry us when we’d learned he was the local favorite.

We quickly found out why, too. The man had the ability to make people laugh while bringing tears to all our eyes. He was charming, deep, funny, and most importantly, efficient.

“I believe you have written your own vows,” he said, glancing between us once his welcoming speech was over. “Isaac, why don’t you begin?”

Isaac swallowed hard, those eyes shining again as he looked right into mine. “Uh, yeah, okay. I can start.”

The officiant inclined his chin, his own eyes dancing with amusement and love. We’d gotten to know him pretty well over the last few weeks and he knew all about the speech Isaac had made at my other almost engagement. “Excellent. Let’s try to avoid repetition.”

Isaac rolled his eyes, but the comment had broken the ice. When he looked at me again, he suddenly seemed a lot more confident. “You know, when I first met you, I never would’ve imagined that you and I would end up here one day.”

“Same,” I murmured quietly and he laughed.

“But now,” he said, his voice a little softer. “I honestly can’t imagine my life without you in it. I know it probably sounds like a cliché, and it is, but it’s also true. You have brought me to life in ways I didn’t even know I was missing. You make me feel alive, Jasmine. Just by being exactly who you are, you have opened my eyes to not only the beauty, but the possibility that exists in this world.” He drew in a deep breath. “I never want to make you feel like you have to be anything or anyone other than your slightly bossy, very opinionated self.”

I smiled through my tears. “Thank you.”

He grinned back at me. “I promise that I’ll always have your back and that I’ll always show up. I promise to go on every adventure with you and never to question whether we’re breaking into historical sites. I promise to trust you, and love you, and to nurture that spark that makes you you, for the rest of our lives.”

A couple tears escaped as I squeezed his hands. “Ditto.”

The officiant chuckled, then nodded at me. “Anything else you’d like to add?”

“Just a few things,” I said, and quiet laughter murmured through the gathered crowd. “I’m sure no one is surprised that there are some things I’d like to say, but I’ll keep it short. I know you’re all hungry.”

I glanced out at our families, winked, then turned back to Isaac. “It’s funny, because I didn’t particularly like you when we first met, but I’ve also always felt like you see me. When you look at me, it’s like you don’t see the model or the Ruby of the Nile, you just see me.”

I held his hands tighter, emotion clogging my throat. “At first, that was pretty scary. I wasn’t used to being looked at like that, and I wasn’t sure I could trust it, but then I got to know you and I realized that you’re what I’ve always been looking for.”

I smiled. “All I’ve ever wanted is someone I can count on. Someone who loves me in spite of who I am on the outside, and not because of it. Someone who would be my partner in every journey and adventure life has to offer and who doesn’t only want to stay on the beaten path. It helps that you’re pretty too.”

Another chuckle rippled through the crowd, Isaac grinning through tears of his own now.

“I promise that from now on, I will always fight for us. I promise never to run from you again and to stand by your side no matter what life throws at us. I promise to love you until you feel suffocated by all the love I’m heaping onto you and to follow you wherever you may go. I promise that I will communicate instead of hiding and that I will be there for you, every single day for the rest of our lives.”

There was a lot more I wanted to say, but I turned toward the officiant and smiled. “The rest is for his ears only.”

The man laughed again, then pronounced us husband and wife, telling Isaac to kiss his bride. The words hadn’t even fully left his mouth before Isaac’s lips were on mine and he dipped me down so low, I was sure the ends of my hair were brushing the rug, but I didn’t care.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back, thanking every god out there, modern and ancient, for sending him across my path.

The next few hours blurred into a wonderful whirlwind of photographs, smiling, hugging, accepting congratulations, and finally getting to eat the food we’d been smelling all day. Fires had been lit and the locals were teaching our guests how to dance.

No one seemed particularly interested in leaving the party even once it was getting late. Isaac didn’t leave my side for a second, his hand in mine as we talked, laughed, and danced.

We were just coming off the makeshift dance floor next to one of the fires when I noticed Zara disappearing behind one of the tents. Joseph followed less than a full minute later, glancing over his shoulder like he was trying to make sure they weren’t being seen.

“Where do you think they’re going?” Isaac asked, obviously noticing the same thing.

I let out an exaggerated sigh. “I think they’re sneaking off. On our wedding.”

Isaac laughed. “Good for them.”

I leaned closer to his side. “Do you think they’re going to be getting married next?”