Fireplace Surround

[Michael Wiseman]

Good afternoon, Though I haven't become an active member yet on BiggerPockets, I'm hoping that will change very quickly here in the next couple of months. I am wondering if anyone has any advice or guidance about what kind of adhesive would work best for a fireplace surround using natural stone, interlocking 12x12 tiles. I won't be grouting since the tile fits snug, so I'm just looking for the best adhesive for the tile on the Hardibacker framework. I'm looking for long-lasting durable adhesive that does not necessarily have a long dry/cure time. I've tried the premixed thinset mortar but it is hard to spread and requires dry/cure time of approximately 48-72 hours for larger tile, such as the one I'm using. Thank you in advance for any assistance. Best, Michael