Around the World in 80 Men Series: Books 11-20 by Brandi Ratliff, Rebecca Ratliff Page A

called. I have to go today, Tyler.” She stood and walked
over to him, then rested her head against his chest. “I don't
want to leave you yet.” Tyler lifted her head up gently with a
finger under her chin, then pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
    “Well,
I guess we better plan our breakup, huh?” Tyler's words forced
a small smile on her lips, but that's all she could conjure. They
decided that they would pack her bags first, then go break up. Morgan
only had an hour to think up her script and she hoped it would be
good enough.
    Before
walking out the door, Tyler stopped and held her close. “I've
had the best time with you, and even though we're breaking up, I
don't plan to let you out of my life.” He kissed the top of
her head when he felt her nod into his wide chest.

    *****

    “Morgan,
is something the matter, dear?” Gwen reached across the table
to gently touch the girl's arm. Morgan had been sitting silently at
the table during their lunch. Partially due to the fact she was
genuinely sad about leaving, but mostly due to acting. She knew it
would be hard to play someone who wasn't her typical, happy self, but
she put herself into the mindset of a woman who was about to break up
with the love of her life.
    She
was holding onto Tyler's hand and when Gwen asked the question, she
tightened her grip to let her fiance know it was coming. She looked
over to the sexy man, and before she could even say a word, the first
tear fell. Gwen brought her hands up to her face and shook her head
slowly back and forth. She knew what was coming too.
    “Tyler...you...you
know I love you, but...” she looked over to Gwen, then back at
Tyler. “I can't do this...”
    “Can't
do what?.....us?” The man acted perfectly.
    Morgan
put her head down and nodded, then wiped a tear from her eye. “We've
been snowed in the whole week, and I...I just can't do this. I...I
don't want to. I mean...I can't live out here in the middle of
nowhere. I..I'm from a big city, and that's what I'm used to.”
Rambling was always a good way to get a point across. “I can't
live here and...” she looked between Gwen and Tyler again, then
with a lower voice she added, “and I would never ask you to
leave your family.”
    Tyler
brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her softly. He put her
hand back down on the table and sighed loudly. “I didn't even
ask you...I just...I didn't even think about you leaving your life
behind. I can't expect that of you either.”
    “I
have to go. Today. I'm sorry...the last thing I've ever wanted to do
is hurt you,” Morgan whispered and slid the ring from her
finger, then set it on the table in front of him.
    “Come
here.” Tyler pulled her in for a hug and held her tightly for a
few moments. “It's okay,” he whispered.
    Morgan
said her goodbyes to the family, and even changed out the raccoon on
Uncle Matt's lap for Oswald. Even in just the short time with the
family, she had fallen in love with the whole bunch of them. They
were a great group of people and it saddened Morgan even more because
under the circumstances, she wondered if she would ever see Tyler or
his family ever again.
    “Morgan,
I know that you may not be ready right now, but you two love each
other, so just give it time.” Gwen hugged her tightly, feeling
as if the break up wouldn't be permanent, and already looking forward
to having her return. Morgan nodded and let her believe that there
was still a possibility for their future, as she hoped that it would
lessen the pain that she had caused.
    The
gorgeous Canadian man drove her back to the house, and along the way,
Morgan spent her last ride with him cuddled up to his side.
    “It
really fucking sucks that you have to leave today,” Tyler spoke
to her as they entered the house. When they were safe from the wind
and he didn't have to yell, he grabbed her and pulled her in for
another hug, then told her that he couldn't thank her enough for what
she had done.
    “No
problem, Tyler. I