Iris Johansen - Star-Spangled Bride

His hand covered her lips. "Hush. I'm getting pretty tired of that song and dance. You do love me. You're absolutely crazy about me, and if we're lucky, we're going to spend the next fifty years together."

"Lucky?" she repeated bitterly as she jerked away and slammed the suitcase shut. "Where are we going to spend those years? You'd grow to hate me. You don't know what it's like trying to survive on the fringe. I've lived there all my life and I'm not going to make you live there too."

"Because you love me too much?" Gabe asked softly.

She whirled to face him. "All right, because I love you too much," she said fiercely. "I love you! Are you satisfied?"

"No, I'd prefer for you to say it with a modicum of tenderness, but it will do for now."

"It doesn't make any difference if I love you or not. I'm leaving and I'm not coming back. You can file for a divorce and I'll-"

"No divorce. If you file, I'll fight it."

"Why?" she asked in despair. "Do you know what life would be like for you? I can't ever go back to America. That's where your roots are, your business holdings, your friends."

"I'm not saying I won't miss it." His hands cupped her shoulders. "But I'd miss you more. I won't give you up, Ronnie."

"You're going to have to."

He shook his head. "You've been so concerned with saving me from this dreaded 'fringe' that you've never bothered to consult me. You found that life terrible because you were made to feel so alone. We'll be together from now on."

Together. The word was as beautiful as a beacon in a storm. "You've never been there. You don't know."

"I know what you're like. I know what our life has been like this past week."

"Life can't always be a honeymoon."

"Who says? There's no reason why it can't if we work at it." He framed her face with his hands and looked into her eyes. "Listen, Ronnie, I've found something I've never had before. What I'm giving up is nothing to what I'm gaining."

Dear God, she loved him. He was saying the words she most wanted to hear and it was terribly painful to keep putting obstacles in his path. "It wouldn't work. Long-distance relationships never do. You'd have to spend three quarters of your time in the States attending to your business."

"I'd transfer the central office here."

"I'd get bored just staying here in Tanadahl and being a hausfrau. I'd turn into something you wouldn't like."

"Who wants you to be a hausfrau? We'll work it out. I talked to the sheikh this morning and he consented to grant you Sedikhan citizenship. That means you'll be eligible to receive a Sedikhan passport."

"A legal passport?" she asked, stunned.

"Very legal in the international community and backed by a heck of a lot of clout. We'd live here at Tanadahl and you'd be free to travel to pursue your career."

She shook her head. "Only to those countries with no extradition treaties with the U.S."

He nodded. "That's true. I can't offer you the whole world. I wish I could." He asked softly, "Is this enough?"

It was enough for her, more than she had ever dreamed possible. It was a miracle. She hurled herself into his arms and buried her face in his chest. Her voice was muffled. "I shouldn't let you do it."

"You're not letting me do anything. You're just responding to an irresistible force."

"Geez, you're vain." Her arms tightened around him. She whispered, "I do love you."

"Louder."

She looked up at him. "I've loved you since the moment you took my hand in that ruin in Mekhit and I'll love you until the day I die."

His eyes glittered with moisture as he kissed her lips. "Now, that's a satisfactory declaration. I knew you'd get it right with a little practice."

"Better than yours," she said unsteadily. "But I admit offering to give up your country for me had a certain punch." She released him and stepped back. "Is Dave still waiting for me in the helicopter?"

He shook his head. "I wasn't taking any chances. I told him to go back to Marasef."

"Too bad. You'll have to radio him to come back."

He stiffened. "I thought we had settled this." "A typical male assumption. You settled everything to your satisfaction but not to mine." "Ronnie, for Lord's sake, this is-" She stopped him with a quick kiss on the lips. "Shut up and call Dave. Don't worry, you're not going to get rid of me now. I just have something to do in Marasef."

"Are you sure you want to see him?" Gabe asked as they walked down the hotel corridor. "You've had enough traumas in the last forty-eight hours. You don't need the flak he's going to give you."

"I don't expect a warm, social meeting. It's just something I have to do."

She knocked on the door of Pilsner's room.

Pilsner's expression was impassive as he opened the door. "Good day, Mrs. Falkner. I was surprised to receive your phone call. Won't you come in?"

"Thank you. It's kind of you to see me."

"I assure you, I don't feel in a kindly mood." He closed the door after they entered. "I won'toffer you any refreshments, as I assume this will be a very short visit." He glanced coldly at Gabe. "I wasn't pleased with that trickery at the hospital."

"I wasn't pleased with you for trying to jail my wife. I happen to like having her around."

"I was doing my duty."

"Stop squabbling," Ronnie wearily told them both. "I'm sorry, Mr. Pilsner, Gabe is being very protective of me these days."

"I've noticed that," he said coldly. "He's made my position in this matter very uncomfortable."

Gabe said, "Believe me, it could have been worse."

"I realize that," Pilsner said to Ronnie's surprise. "I've been wondering at your restraint."

"Ronnie thinks you're Nathan Hale," Gabe said. "No below-the-belt punches to sterling patriots."

"Really?" A curious expression flickered over his face as he glanced at Ronnie. "How interesting."

"I knew I shouldn't have brought you, Gabe," she said impatiently. "May I speak now?"

"By all means," Pilsner said. "Let's get it over with."

"I'll make this as brief as I can." She took adeep breath. "Your visit here is useless. You're not going to be able to touch me while I'm in Sedikhan. The sheikh has agreed to give me Sedikhan citizenship."

Pilsner's lips tightened. "Your doing, I assume, Falkner."

"Checkmate," Gabe said.

"No, it isn't," Ronnie said. "It's not really a victory for us. My husband would be giving up too much for me to accept. Sedikhan is a wonderful country, but it's not Gabe's country." She paused. "And it's not my country."

"You have no country," Pilsner said. "I'd think you'd be very glad of this opportunity. I doubt you'll get a better chance."

"Unless you offer me one."

His expression hardened. "I've told you that possibility doesn't exist."

"I have a deal to offer you."

"I don't make deals."

"Don't bristle, just listen to me. I'm not offering you a bribe." She took a deep breath. "Gabe is going to let the publicity about me die down and take the heat off you."

Gabe looked at her in shock. "The hell I am."

She ignored him. "If I let you take me back tothe States to stand trial, I doubt if any jury would give me more than five years. There's a good chance I'd get less, maybe even probation."

"You're not going to stand trial," Gabe said.

"You see, he'd do everything he could to make it easier for me. He's a very powerful and determined man." She added simply, "And he loves me."

"That's become abundantly clear to me," Pilsner said dryly. "Perhaps the marriage wasn't as contrived as I first thought, but it doesn't change anything. The crime still exists."

"I'll pay for it. I'll serve my probation in Sedikhan. I'll stay here for the next five years, and at the end of that time, if you don't agree I'm worthy of being an American citizen, I'll come back to the U.S. and give myself into your custody."