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from the anticipation his words sent through her.
    He took the bag.
    Svetlana headed down the stairs, preventing further conversation.
    Despite the watery sunlight, there was no mistaking the wink of the diamond on her left hand or the way Grant looked at it.
    Realizing they’d probably appreciate a minute alone, Aria said, “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll make sure my suitcase gets loaded properly.”
    “Give me a minute and I’ll do it for you,” Grant replied.
    “I’ve got it.”
    “I promise to return the moment the genius gives his approval,” Svetlana said to Aria.
    Aria glanced at the frozen tundra. “Keep the plane fueled up because I want to get back into my sandals.” After another quick thank you to Svetlana, Aria met the airport employee at the car.
    The man slid the suitcase in the back of the SUV, and she kept her briefcase with her.
    Since Grant had thoughtfully left the engine running, she cranked up the vehicle’s heater. Then she grabbed her purse from the briefcase, pulled out her phone and sent a text message to her parents to let them know she’d arrived safely.
    As warmth gusted from the vents, she checked the GPS to get her bearings. No matter how often she traveled, she still got disoriented in an unfamiliar city.
    She glanced up in time to see Grant give Svetlana a quick salute before turning and walking toward the vehicle. Svetlana jogged back up the airstairs, obviously anxious to be on her way to her fiancé.
    Even before Grant had stowed his duffel on the backseat, the airplane’s main entry door had been closed.
    “Comfortable?” he asked as he slid behind the wheel.
    “I turned up the heat.”
    “I may have to start taking off clothes.”
    That wouldn’t be all bad.
    He fingered a button next to her. “Seat warmer,” he explained before checking the surroundings and heading toward the exit. He stopped in front of the security gate and waited for it to slide open.
    Within a few seconds, they had turned from Airport Road onto East Road. Everywhere she looked, they were surrounded by mountains, plateaus and a seemingly endless covering of white. The sky, though, sizzled with brightness.
    “It’s called the Land of Enchantment,” he said, with obvious pride.
    “I’m not sure why with the cold and snow and gloom. I’m not sure I can even breathe. Just walking to the car left me gasping for air.” At least that was her excuse.
    “We’re a little more than seven thousand feet above sea level,” he agreed.
    “Almost a mile and a half?”
    “You’ll acclimate.”
    She put her head back, but there was no part of her body that was relaxed.
    “Roads aren’t that icy.”
    “I’m not concerned about that,” she admitted. But that’s as far as she’d take that conversation. “Are we making any stops before we go to your cave?”
    “Cave?”
    “Ah…”
    He waited.
    “That wasn’t nice.” Aria squirmed a little. “I’ve been told it’s a very nice cave.”
    “It’s not bad. Quite livable, in fact.”
    “I didn’t mean to insult you.”
    He slid her a sideways glance. “I’m wondering what other preconceived notions you have.”
    She could change the subject, she knew. Make it about business, talk about the weather—or she could find out a thing or two about him. “I thought you’d be a nerd.”
    “A nerd?” His response was perfect, light, non-confrontational. Friendly. “Does anyone really use that word anymore?”
    “Okay. How about geek?”
    “You’re not apologizing very well.”
    “I’m not, am I?” She sighed. “Actually, I wasn’t even trying.”
    “In addition to living dangerously, you say what you’re thinking.”
    “I meant that you’re not what I expected.”
    “So I’m not a geek?”
    She finger-combed a few stray wisps of hair back from her face. “You probably are. But only in the best sense of the word.”
    “Now I’m really interested.”
    “Oh Lord. I mean brainiac.” She unzipped her coat a little, and not just