Page 60 of Return to Me Always

Ben and Tyler exchanged a glance.

"Looks like I'm up," Ben said, taking a breath before heading to the bar.

What on earth was he doing?And what was he so nervous about?

As we waited near a deserted shop front, I looked at Tyler, hoping for some answers. "He's getting us a boat," he admitted.

I couldn't have been more shocked. "Like now? We're getting on a boat right now?"

"That's the plan," he said, rain streaming off his chiseled jaw.

This was insane! "In this weather? At night?"

"I know, I know. But I've done this before. In worse weather," he assured me.

Staring at him, I tried to meet his eyes in the darkness, unsure what to say. "Okay. But—but—" I struggled to put words together. "Can you at least tell me where we're going?"

"The Isle of Skye."

My eyes widened. I had been right! "And can you tell me why?" I asked, hopeful.

He paused, making me think for a moment he might actually answer me, but he didn't have to because Ben walked out of the bar right then, wearing a smile like a cat who had just caught a bird.

"Success." He dangled keys in front of us. "It's a blue and white boat named Marianne."

Tyler clapped him on the back. "Nice job, mate."

"Aye. You owe me a lot of cash when this is over. But I know you're good for it."

"You know I am," Tyler said.

We walked to the end of the street, where I could make out several long docks cluttered with industrial-type fishing boats that looked sturdy and capable of standing up to these cold, unforgiving waters.

A long wooden bridge led to the actual dock, where we found the Marianne. My legs buckled as they fought for balance, the wooden beams swaying against the wind and white-capped water.

"Well, this is where I say goodbye," Ben said, surprising me.

"You're not coming with us?" I knew he had planned to leave soon, but it just seemed so sudden.

"Sorry, Kit Kat. This is it for me. The big guy has it from here on out."

I swallowed hard against the sudden lump in my throat. "Okay. Well, thank you, Ben. Thanks for everything."

"Nae bother. Do me a favor, though." He nodded toward Tyler who was already prepping the rocking boat.

"Yeah? What's that?" I asked.

"Take care of my mate, will ya?"

A deep breath escaped me. "Of course. I'll protect him with my life if I have to."

"Jesus, lass. I'm not saying that. Just somewhere under all those muscles and the frowny face, I suspect that bloke's a big teddy bear."

I couldn't help but smile as I wondered how Tyler would like to be compared to a stuffed animal. After giving Ben a quick hug, I stumbled down the dock to join Tyler. Living in land-locked Arizona, I hadn't exactly had much experience with the sea.

Tyler helped me onto the boat that seemed to be fighting against its constraints. "You ready?" he asked.

I stared into his face and nodded, realizing Iwasready, scared, but ready to go with him on this next step of our wild journey.

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