Unauthorized Return (Unauthorized Series Book 4) Read Free Page B

building. The sign in front read KCCU, which was her credit union. Aria pulled the car expertly into a tiny stall directly in front of the door and killed the engine, hurrying to open her door. She wanted to get in and out before anyone saw them.
    “What are we doing here?” Coleton asked, lunging out of his side of the car and trying to keep up with her as she jogged towards the door of the credit union. She ignored the question for a moment while she took her badge off of her belt, tucking it into a pocket, then concealed her gun under her shirt.
    “We need money,” she finally said brusquely, stepping inside the building into the cool air-conditioned foyer.
    “What for?”
    Aria stopped at the customer desk and grabbed a withdrawal slip and a pen. “We need to buy a car,” she said distractedly while she pondered the number boxes. How much would they need, and how much would the department pay her back?
    “Is this the Police Department credit union?”
    “No – mine.”
    Coleton touched her on her arm and the contact was enough to make Aria stop her musing and look up at him.
    “You are paying for this out of your own pocket?”
    Aria shook her head. “I’ll be reimbursed,” she said and looked back to the withdrawal slip. It was a non-issue. They needed a new car. Police department vehicles were out. Buying was safer than renting. She didn’t have time to explain all of this to him. Aria bent over the slip and concentrated on writing legibly. Ordinarily, her handwriting was worse than a doctors. Most of her habits were excessively neat, but she had never been able to tame her messy handwriting for some reason.
    Next to her, Coleton took a step backwards and made a noise of dissent. She ignored him, not sure what he would possibly be upset about. But when he stepped forward again and tore the pen out of her hand she looked up at him.
    His eyes flashed and his lips twisted. “No way. I’m not going along with this,” he said and then he walked past her to the door, his stride heavy and masculine.
    Aria watched him go, her mouth open. What in the world was his problem? She looked back down at her withdrawal slip and then looked up at the row of tellers waiting for her. But she couldn’t leave him outside alone. She threw the almost-blank withdrawal slip in the garbage and ran outside.
    She found Coleton on the sidewalk, head down like he was deep in thought. She ran up to him and lightly tapped the back of her hand on his shoulder, resisting the urge to shove him and trying to keep the sudden surge of anger out of her voice. “What are you doing? You don’t just run away from me!”
    “You’re not paying out of your own pocket to protect me,” he said, turning his dark eyes on her, his jaw clenched and his face rigid.
    Aria shook her head, not sure why that was such an issue for him. Did he have a problem with women? Wouldn’t that be just what she needed. Somehow, she hadn’t thought he was the type.
    “I told you, I will be reimbursed,” she said. She shook her head. “I’m not sure why this is even an issue. I have money.”
    “I’m sure you do, but I’m still not letting you do this.”
    Aria took a step back, her eyes wide. She almost laughed at his words. “Not letting me?” She was glad to see the expression on his face change as he realized he had made a mistake, but she wasn’t done. “Excuse me, who exactly do you think is in charge here?”
    Coleton shook his head and held up his hands. Aria realized suddenly that they were on the sidewalk in broad daylight. Anyone could drive by and see them. Westwood Harbor was a decent sized city, and the chances of word getting back to anyone who was looking for Coleton were slim, but it still wasn’t smart what they were doing. She grabbed Coleton by the hand and pulled him to her car, then motioned for him to get inside so they could continue their argument in relative privacy.
    As Coleton climbed in, Aria walked around to the driver’s