Read Online Return to You by Samantha Chase - Free Book Online

collapsed on the only chair without glass on it. “I have to pay for windows, and I’m going to want to get an alarm system installed, and we have the reunion next weekend…I mean, I just can’t swing that right now.”
    â€œIt will be my treat,” Selena said reassuringly as she knelt at her friend’s side. “It will be a business expense. I can write it off since I’m up here for an event. Let me do this for you. We never got to have that apartment in the city, remember? So let’s stay at that Marriott resort we always wanted to go to—you know, the one up on the bluff—and be pampered for a few days. What do you say? I know it’s not ideal circumstances, but I promise to try to make it fun.”
    Jen looked at Selena and then James and then the other officer, and that’s when Selena noticed the look. This was the officer Jen had told her about. He was looking at Jen with more than just casual interest. Maybe there was a silver lining to this nightmare of a night. “Do you think that will be okay, officer?” Selena asked him directly. “Should Jen stay here, or will it be okay for her to get away for a few days? We’ll only be about fifteen minutes up the road, and you’d be able to reach her if you needed to.” She did her best to keep her tone light and casual, but inside she was just a little bit giddy at the prospect of Jen and this guy actually dating.
    He cleared his throat and then looked to James before answering. “That’s really up to her, Miss Ainsley. As long as we know how to contact her, she should go wherever she’s going to feel the safest.” He turned his attention to Jen. “You should be fine in either place.”
    Selena wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but his politically correct answer sort of took the wind out of her sails. It wasn’t as if this was the time for any declaration of love or even mild interest, but it would have been nice if he’d at least cracked a smile. “As soon as we get our reservations, Jen will call you and let you know where we’ll be.” Maybe then he’d be inclined to have more than a businesslike conversation with her.
    He nodded and then turned to James. “I’m going to go see what I can do to help them get these windows covered and secured before we leave, if that’s all right.” James nodded.
    â€œI think I have some plywood in the garage and maybe some plastic. I bought supplies like that last hurricane season, but I don’t know how much I still have left,” Jen said, standing and leading him out the front door, leaving James and Selena alone again.
    Unfortunately, her emotions were too close to the surface for her to deal with James directly right now. They eyed one another, but neither said a word long after the front door had closed. Stepping around him, Selena walked over to the pantry, found a dustpan and broom, and started to clean up the kitchen. She hadn’t so much as moved the broom more than a few times when James stepped up behind her and took it from her hands.
    â€œLet me,” he said and didn’t give Selena a chance to respond before he started sweeping. His movements were quick and efficient, and Selena could feel the barely concealed anger radiating from him. She was sure part of it had to do with the fact that he had to come out in the middle of the night, but she sensed his feelings had a little something to do with her too.
    â€œYou don’t have to do this,” she said wearily. “Don’t you have to go back to the station and file a report or something?” She was hoping to give him an excuse to leave, actually hoping that he would leave, but he didn’t seem willing to cooperate with her wishes at the moment.
    The broom stilled as he looked at her. “Jen’s a friend of mine. The extra few minutes Mike and I spend here helping her out isn’t going to