“I came to support you. To zip your zippers.” He tutted, swiping his thumb against your cheek. “Don’t cry. You look so beautiful. You’re going to do an amazing job.”
“But—” she began.
“I’m not here to step on your deal,” he said. “I promise. Marie only knows me as your colleague.”
“But I called to add you to the list—” she started.
“I never tried calling her again. Babe, this has been your thing from the start.”
The sincerity in his eyes nearly split her in two. So many questions filled her, dying to spill out. But the only thing that could cross her lips was, “Why?”
Amad cupped her face in his hands. He brushed a soft kiss over her lips, and then he said, “I’m sorry for the way I treated you. I’ve never…done this before. Shared my space with a woman.” He drew a breath, perhaps prepping himself for what came next. “But if there’s anyone I want to try with, it’s you. Because I love you, Vanessa. And I can’t live without you.”
More tears spilled onto her cheeks, and she clutched at his arms. “I love you too, Amad. I want to try. I know it might be new for you, but it’s new for me too. I’m going to be more honest going forward. And I know we’re going to—”
“Vanessa!” Marie’s sonorous voice filled the room. “Almost ready?”
“Fuck,” Vanessa said quietly while Amad laughed. She cleared her throat, then said loudly, “Almost, Marie!”
“No more talking for now. Just the bullet points. I love you, you’re going to kill it, and I’m going to spend so much money on dinner later tonight to start making this up to you.”
She laughed, swatting at him before she tugged up her jumpsuit. “Come on, help me out. I need to go be a model real quick.”
“Just call on your trusted zipper boy,” Amad cracked, helping her slide her arms into the shifting material of the jumpsuit.
“You’re my zipper boy?” she asked, another swell of emotion threatening to take over.
“Oh, yes. Your zipper boy and so much more.”
The two of them laughed before sharing what had to be the sweetest, most tender kiss of Vanessa’s life.
Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
“Are you ready, little Tati?” Amad cooed to his daughter as he strolled down the halls of the palace. “Mommy’s almost here!”
Vanessa was set to arrive any moment now, and he wanted them to be the first people she saw.
Tatiana gurgled. She’d celebrated her five-month birthday while Vanessa had been on her business trip. He wasn’t sure who it pained more—him or Vanessa.
The two of them had fallen head over heels in love with this little peanut. Tatiana ruled their lives. Amad even brought her to business meetings in the baby carrier, where she’d nap against his chest as he met with the tribal leaders.
He was the first man in all of Amatbahn history to do such a thing…and he liked the distinction.
Even his ultra-progressive brother Fatim probably wouldn’t do that with his baby.
Ever since he and Vanessa had taken those terrible five days of solitude, he’d spent each day trying to show her just how big of a man he could be. But now, his definition was more refined than before. Now, it included conferring about business roadblocks and inspiration. Coming to her for suggestions and ideas. Treating her with the respect that she’d deserved from the beginning.
Not to say that she didn’t want some of the luxury that he could offer her. He still made sure she went for luxurious spa days and that she received the occasional decadent gift. Even she wouldn’t deny him that.
Heels clicked down the smooth palace floor. Amad gasped, looking at Tati.
“You hear that, baby girl? Let’s go see if that’s Mommy!”
He shifted arms so she could see out ahead of them. She was holding her head up like a pro these days, and her wide, brown eyes skated around, taking everything in. He’d selected a ruffled dress for Vanessa’s arrival—a prototype of a new western-inspired line that Vanessa was working on with Calla, strictly for little girls.
“Tati? Amad?” Vanessa’s voice rang out through the hallway, and then her footsteps clicked faster. She rounded the corner and gasped, holding out her arms as she hurried toward the two of them. Her chestnut brown hair was swept back into a professional bun, her plump lips painted vixen red. Amad’s heart skipped a beat as he beheld her. Only four days apart and it had felt closer to four years.