Page 66 of Stone

“Before we go any further, let’s get something right out in the open.Garenth, how do you say ‘I love you’ in your language? Because I want to make it clear that’s how I feel about you.”

He smiled warmly at her. “‘Ahbak.”

“‘Ahbak,Garenth. I’ve been wanting to tell you‘ahbakfor a long time.”

He responded by stopping in the middle of the parking lot and pulling her tightly against him again. The kiss that followed left her weak-kneed.

“Guys. Please?”Kellingchuckled, urging them to continue.

“You planned this surprise,didn’t you, Uncle Chet?” she accused.

“Guilty as charged, but don’t judge me too harshly.Garenthwouldn’t stop grilling me about you. What you were like as a child. What your favorite foods were. Anything he could think of. I got tired of answering questions, so that’s when I decided to offer you the job. I figured if you came here, he’d stop pestering me and divert his questionsand attention to you.”

She laughed. “I’m glad you did.”

They reached their vehicle.Kellingthrew her two pieces of luggage into the passenger seat as she andGarenthclimbed into the back. She snuggled next to him as he planted another kiss on her temple and placed a hand to her hip to press her thigh tightly against his. A warm thread of expectation gathered betweenher legs. Why did she get the feeling neither of them would get much sleep that night?

“Just wait until tomorrow,”Kellingsaid as they left the airport. “You’re going to be blown away by what we’ve uncovered so far at the site. And a lot of the credit goes toGarenth. He’s been invaluable with translating all the writings we’ve been discovering.”

Brielle didn’t respond.She was too busy nuzzlingGarenth’sbaby-fine facial hair and sneaking little kisses in between. But she noticed her uncle glancing at them through the rearview mirror. He must have suspected that she andGarenthwere…involved. She was sure when he cleared his throat and tried again.

“Brie, there’s something very important I need to tell you. It’s aboutGarenth’srequest for a workvisa to allow him to return to the US.”

His tone and comment sunk in. She disengaged herself for a moment to look at her uncle. Before she could ask, he continued.

“We’re still not having any success. It could take years before the government grants him one. However, thereisone way you can bypass a lot of that red tape. I don’t know if either of you would be willingto take such a drastic step, but I wanted to throw the possibility out there for you to consider.”

“What’s that?”

She noticed how he tried to hide his smile. “If you two got married, it would automatically giveGarenthlegal citizenship. Now, like I said, that’s a pretty drastic step, but it’s something for you two to think about. What do you think?”

It would automatically give him legal citizenship.She knew about that technicality. Why hadn’t she thought of it herself?

“Brielle?”

He glanced at the rearview mirror again to find her lovingly caressingGarenth’sface. When she finally replied, her answer was directed to the man embracing her.

“My uncle’s right, you know. It’s a pretty drastic step.Tell me, my love. How do you say, ‘Will you marry me?’ in Arabic?”

“Halsatatazawjani.”

She chuckled. “Na-am,Garenth. My answer is yes.”