HUNTER (The Caine Brothers Book 1) Read Free

financials, property information.
    “Well, it’s making a modest profit, probably needs some upgrading, but it’s in a beautiful location with plenty to do.”
    “I’m thinking about buying it as an investment property. You’re right about the location. It’s perfect. I want to make it a destination vacation—a luxury resort for relaxing on the beach, but add an adventure element so guests can get an adrenaline fix in the jungle.”
    Excitement buzzed in his voice, just under the surface.
    “Sounds good.” She had no idea why he asked her opinion, though.
    He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk, lacing his fingers together. No smile, but an eagerness filled his eyes. His attitude drew her in and made her want to share it.
    “Good,” he said. “I need your help. Right now it’s a couple’s resort. I want to go in undercover to get a real feel for the place before I make an offer. That way I know what I’m actually getting, as opposed to everyone putting on their best show for a potential buyer.”
    She had to admit, it sounded reasonable. “How can I help?”
    He cocked his head and looked at her as if the answer was obvious. “It’s a couple’s resort. I can’t go alone. I need someone to go with me. As a couple.”
    “Wait. What? Are you serious? No. Of course not. You and I are not a couple.” She shot back into her seat, startled he’d even suggest such a thing.
    “No, but we need to appear to be a couple for the purposes of exploring the resort.”
    “You act like I’ve already agreed, which I haven’t. Why would I? I hardly know you. You don’t know me at all. I’m sure you know plenty of women you could choose from. Any one of them would be happy to hang on your arm and fawn all over you like an actual girlfriend.”
    “I don’t have a girlfriend, and while I’ve certainly known plenty of women, I need a woman who won’t distract me from the job at hand. It’s strictly a working trip, so I’d like to take my assistant.”
    Had he just insulted her? Claimed she wouldn’t be a distraction? Or simply proposed a business arrangement?
    A trip to a resort in Costa Rica was well outside her budget, and could be a lot of fun, even if she was shackled to Hunter Caine the whole time.
    “Nobody will buy into us as a couple,” she said, crossing her arms.
    “What’s the matter? Don’t think you can even fake an attraction to me?”
    He slipped a sexy tone into his voice on the sly, and she almost missed it, but she couldn’t mistake the smirk that accompanied it. In the office he came across as all business, but the man was clearly comfortable with his own sexuality and she doubted he thought for a second she’d have to fake anything. Come to think of it, she probably wouldn’t, which kind of pissed her off.
    Her instinct was to allow an equal amount of suggestiveness into her own voice and tell him, “I can fake it if you can.” But he probably didn’t need—or deserve—any encouragement, so she chose to ignore the bait.
    Instead, she fiddled with the envelope in her lap, remembering why she’d wanted to talk to him in the first place. Maybe it would be reckless to quit just yet. He didn’t seem to be as bad as his father, at least not yet. He was certainly easy on the eyes, not that that was a necessary, or desirable, quality in a boss.
    “I suppose,” she said. “I actually came to see you today so I could resign…”
    His brows came together and he interrupted; apparently a bad habit of his. “Why?”
    She looked down at her lap for a moment, reading his name in her own flowing script on the envelope, then met his gaze again. “Your father fosters a work environment that’s condescending to women. Your behavior at the wedding didn’t make me believe you’d be any different. I can’t continue to work in that kind of setting.”
    His expression hardened. “I’m not my father. If I made you uncomfortable at the wedding, I apologize. Chalk it up to alcohol