“My adventure is over.”It made her sad.She’d enjoyed playing the role of a ruined woman.
“There will be plenty more adventures for us.”He smiled into her eyes.“We’re going to be married, with or without your brother’s approval.I’m pretty sure Eli Chamas no longer wants you.You took care of that.”
“I did, didn’t I?”She was very proud of herself for it too.“I’m a woman of the West now.That means the American method of choosing a husband is best for me.I don’t believe I would have grown to love Eli, because I already love you.”
“Isn’t that funny.I was just thinking that you could be right, and that marriage does make love grow stronger.My parents are proof.It took me a while to recognize it, because I thought I could do better than theirs, but it turns out I was mistaken.Their marriage might not be perfect, and it’s a bit crazy, but I’d rather have what they have, because they’re happy together.I can’t wait to see how our life together turns out.”
“I just thought of a new adventure for us.We could run away and get married,” she said.“An elopement!”How very American and romantic.
It had the added benefit of removing Adeel as an obstacle.
Jayce dashed that idea.“We’re not eloping.If we did, my mother would kill me.And are you honestly trying to tell me that you won’t miss having your sisters at your wedding?”
“I want my sisters to be there,” Malika admitted.She’d almost forgotten about them in her excitement, but she couldn’t get married without them, even if she was still annoyed with Aisha.“I want my mother there, too.”She discovered another obstacle to their plans.“Unless Adeel gives us permission to marry, they won’t be allowed to attend.”
“Leave it to me,” Jayce said.
Malika applauded him for his confidence.
But she knew her brother.He would not make this marriage easy for them.
Chapter Twenty
Jayce
Jayce had hisown obstacles to their marriage to overcome.
They began with the debriefing in the town hall that afternoon.Benny, Mavis, and Huck were also in attendance.
“Twenty-five million dollars,” Benny mourned.He glared at Jayce.“That’s what this mess is going to cost us if you don’t find a way to make this right with Ali.We’re already down a million for Butch Cassidy’s adventure, thanks to you and Malika.We had to refund his money.And those losses don’t include the money we spent on the bank renovations.”
Huck took exception to the attack on his son.“Now hold on a second.Ali is to blame for this mess, not Jayce.He set up Malika’s adventure under false pretenses.He knew she didn’t want to marry Butch Cassidy, and he threw Jayce into her path knowing full well that she’d never be able to resist him.”
“Jayce really is pretty,” Mavis agreed, tossing her support behind Huck.
Jayce couldn’t decide how he felt about that.Relieved, because Mavis was onside and he wasn’t going to be held accountable for any lost money.Or insulted because he was being judged solely based on his looks.
“I’m more than just a pretty face,” he said, choosing a path in between.
Mavis patted his knee.“Of course you are, dear.”
“What are we going to do about this mess?”Benny demanded, because he cared more about the lost money than Jayce’s good looks.
“I’ll talk to Ali,” Jayce offered.“I’ve got to talk to him, anyway.He and I are going to be family.”He had their full attention, and it was time they all knew.“I’m going to marry Malika.”
The room ceased to breathe—although with Benny, given his age, it was sometimes hard to tell.He was, however, the only one of the three who seemed surprised.
“Your mother is going to be so happy,” Huck said, beaming.
Jayce wanted to believe it, but his dad hadn’t heard the shotgun wedding speech she’d delivered.She did like Malika, however, so at least there was that.
Adam burst into the room.He was covered in dirt, and looked like he’d seen better days, but he was alive.Everyone had begun to have doubts.
“Where have you been?”Benny asked.
“Getting a debrief from Dave about how they relocated the research scientist.All is good on that front,” he said.
He pulled up a chair and recounted his story.
