Page 81 of Return to Me Always

Thanks, Mom. Thanks a lot.

Tyler kissed the top of my head. "Night."

Memorizing that handsome face, dread filled me at the thought of parting from him. How I missed him sleeping beside me. How I missed his warm body next to mine.

But there was nothing I could do right now. So I just said, "Good night." And right before I went inside, Tyler shocked me by grabbing my ass, like a nice, big handful.

"What was that?" I whispered, giggling.

He laughed with me. "Just couldn't help it, love. You did it. You saved us."

What was he talking about exactly? My head was so damn foggy I couldn't be sure. "You mean with the voicemail?"

He raised his brows, nodding. "Aye. Of course."

"But it was an accident."

He leaned in closer to me, just a breath away. "It doesn't matter. You still did it. You got us out of this whole bloody mess. You." And he punctuated the last word with one final kiss, his lips lingering on mine. "Get some sleep, lass."

Then he was gone, leaving me in a daze.

"Kat? You coming?" my mom asked from inside.

Closing the door behind me, I wondered how I could ever fall asleep with him right next door when all I wanted to do was... well, I wanted to doeverythingwith him. And I meanteverydamn thing you could do.

As much as I loved my mom, I needed her to go back to Phoenix. Like yesterday.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I slept like the dead. When I woke up, I was all alone. And beyond confused. Everything came crashing back to me, especially the fact that we werefree—totally in the clear—and the relief felt amazing.

The police no longer wanted us. We could do anything now.

Before I could think too much about it, my mom burst into the room, several bags in her hands.

"Oh, good. You're finally awake," she said. "I bought you some new clothes."

Oh, thank God.

She started unpacking everything, including a take-out container loaded with pancakes, and I crawled out of bed to grab one.

"You're the best, Mom. Thank you."

Beaming, she said, "You're quite welcome."

While I devoured pancakes, she flitted around the room, opening curtains, cleaning up, and taking out my new clothes, which were actually pretty cute and obviously way better than the shredded mess that I still wore.

Goodness, I was dying to clean myself up after I finished eating. And even more than that, I absolutelycould notwait to see Tyler.

No question I was obsessed with him, wondering what he was doing right at this moment. Was he eating too? Was he still sleeping? Was he in the shower? Oh, damn, I shouldn't think about that. Especially not with my mom in the room.

Spending every single minute with him had completely spoiled me, and now, I wanted it back. Well, minus the whole running-from-the-police thing. ButwouldI get it back?

Since this was all over, what would happen between us? Would we just return to our regular lives? Tyler going back to college in London and me going off to... oh, I didn't even know where I wanted to go.

At the thought of leaving Tyler, ugh, I suddenly felt sick, the pancakes churning in my belly. I knew with my whole heart, my whole soul, that I wouldn't say goodbye to Tyler.

But wouldhesay goodbye tome? That was the real question. I didn't have a freaking clue what his answer would be, and that's what really upset me. That's what really killed me.

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