HUNTER (The Caine Brothers Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

door for them to exit the vehicle.
    Allison scooted to the edge of the seat, but instead of leaving the car she put a hand on Hunter’s arm and said, “ask yourself this: when you’re on your death bed will you wish you had one more car, or another million dollars, or a jet ski? Or will you wish you had someone at your side to hold your hand and say goodbye and miss you when you’re gone?”
    Inside, Hunter marched up to the registration desk. Allison’s words still rang in his mind, and made him pause. At thirty-one, he’d never thought about dying. He only thought about forging ahead, doing the things he’d always wanted to do, achieving the success he strove for. He was too young to think about dying. He had his whole life ahead of him.
    But when Allison pointed out that if he continued on the same path he’d die alone surrounded by the trophies of his success, it didn’t sound like as much of an achievement as it should.
    “May I help you, sir?”
    A clerk, dressed in a nice suit waited for him to answer.
    “We need to check in.”
    “Your reservation is under what name, Mr…?
    He hadn’t made the reservation. As his assistant, he’d asked Allison to do it. She stepped up to the counter next to him.
    “McDowell,” she said. “Mr. and Mrs. McDowell.”
    He looked down at her. “What the…?”
    She beamed up at him, like she’d won some pissing contest between them, then returned her attention to the clerk. “We’ve only been married a couple of weeks. He’s still not used to hearing the Mr. and Mrs. thing,” she said in a voice that sounded like she was sharing a secret.
    The clerk grinned. “We get that a lot. Congratulations. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay here. There’s plenty to do, or you can just relax and do nothing. There are brochures in your room for all the activities and facilities, but if you ever have any questions, or need anything, please feel free to call the concierge. That’s what we’re here for.”
    The clerk handed them a couple of key cards.
    “Thank you, Josh. I’m sure we’ll have a wonderful time,” Allison said.
    How did she know the guy’s name? But when Hunter glanced at the clerk again, he noticed the nametag. Why hadn’t he noticed it before?
    The bellhop had loaded their luggage onto the cart, and followed them to the elevator.
    Hunter tolerated the awkward three-way silence on the ride up the elevator, and down the hall to their door. After Allison let them into their room, Hunter tipped the bellhop a fifty.
    “What’s with the Mr. and Mrs. McDowell business?” he asked as soon as he’d shut the door behind the bellhop. Why would she give him her last name? But when he turned, Allison was gone.

    While Hunter dealt with the bellhop, Allison explored the suite. She’d booked it based on the recommendation of the reservation desk, and they’d been right about how beautiful it was. A bright, airy living space, a well-appointed kitchenette, a balcony with a glorious ocean view, an enormous bathroom with the biggest luxury shower she’d ever seen, and a bedroom filled with a California king to die for.
    She flopped backward into the middle of the bed and lay spread eagle on the cool, white duvet.
    A long, relaxed sigh escaped her lips. She could get used to this kind of thing.
    “You look good there.”
    Startled by his deep voice, she lifted her head to see Hunter leaning against the doorframe looking ridiculously sexy. He’d lost the blazer somewhere in the other room. She watched, transfixed, as he rolled the sleeves of his shirt to mid-forearm. She fully subscribed to the idea of forearm porn, and Hunter certainly embodied it.
    She wondered, peripherally, if he ever wore anything other than a suit. She had no complaints about how he filled out a tailored suit because it made going to the office that much more pleasant, but the man had to own something else somewhere in his wardrobe.
    The look in his eyes hovered between feral and confused. She