**Edited by krisgee**

“The Rented Husband”

2011 © All Rights Reserved

Chapter 14

                “I cannot believe that you didn’t tell them,” Brody growled, trailing Olivia as she bustled through the airport. 

                “I’ll tell them once we land,” she assured him as if it was no big deal.  Frankly, it was none of his business when she told her parents about their newly formed relationship - at least that was the way that she saw it.  This was her idea to begin with and she would spread the news when she was good and dang ready. 

                Olivia came to an abrupt stop with Brody almost bumping into her when they reached the long line at the first security check point.  She stood there, still as a statute refusing to acknowledge him.

                Brody blew out a loud, frustrated breath and Olivia could have sworn that it sounded like he stomped his foot.  “This is payback isn’t it?” he accused.  “Payback because I made you watch the World Series all week."

                Olivia made a gargled laughing sound.  "As if."  She turned around and pinned him with her angry eyes and poked him hard in the chest.  "You’re damn right it's payback Brody O'Conner, but not over a few measly baseball games.  It's payback for you moving in on my life, taking over my personal space," she told him circling her hands around herself, "and eating all of my food.  My food Brody, not yours."

                Brody's lips curved into a mocking smile.  He lifted his hand and touched her cheek, finding amusement in the way that she recoiled from his touch.  "Now sweet pea, what kind of husband would I be if I didn't live with my wife, hmm?"

                She scowled at him.  "You’re impossible," she snapped and quickly turned around, giving him a front row seat to her back.

                She had truly met her limit with him.  All week long he has successfully found ways to nettle Olivia and handily dance the jive on her last nerve to the point that she was about ready to pull out her hair.

                Standing in line she continued to stew over the different incidents of the past week and decided right then and there that she would probably have more satisfaction out of pulling out his hair instead.  Nice and slow, she pictured it, strand by individual strand until he was bald as a newborn babe’s butt.  

                It all started with the break in escapade after the dinner with his mother.  Brody haughtily decided that he would suddenly embrace his role as her all encumbering husband and ran with it like an Olympic finalist going for the gold. 

                He had done everything from leaving the toilet seat up so that when she woke up in the middle of the night, her backside conveniently fell in the chilly water to finding his dirty boxers discarded in the middle of her bathroom floor.  And let's not forget the God awful pet names he insisted on using, not only at home but at work as well.  Now, everyone in the office had it in their uptight big heads that they were married and the sly remarks that she was receiving were just about as bad as Brody himself.  

                Did she hold off on telling her Navy Seal dad about their nuptials on purpose? 

                Hell yeah, she thought to herself.  Payback can be a real bitch.  

                Standing there in line she continued to silently seethe.  Olivia folded her arms over her chest and kept her attention facing forwards, determined to ignore the overbearing presence standing behind her.

                Brody smiled.  He was getting a kick out of this.  All week she tried to stay calm and collected both at the office and at her condo.  Olivia was valiantly playing her part as if she was cool as a cucumber but he could see that it was starting to wear her down which is exactly what he wanted.

                He preferred the fiery temper of Olivia Murray compared to the somber one that she was trying like crazy to maintain.  

                Placing his hands on her shoulders, he squeezed her tight muscles and felt her body stiffen. Bending down so that his mouth was close to her ear he whispered in husky tones. "If I remember correctly I did offer for you to move into my house, and then we would have eaten my food baby cakes."  Before she could respond he nipped at her ear, following the little love bite up with a swipe of his tongue to ease the sting.

                Olivia gasped and then jerked away, rounding on him so fast that Brody had no way to protect himself.  The little she-devil kicked her foot out with force and connected perfectly with his knee.  

                "Damn it woman!"   He swore while at the same time he hopped around on one foot, holding on to his throbbing knee.  He couldn't help but to smile about the fact that his little hell cat was back.  She was no longer the meek woman that she had tried to be all week.  Instead, her claws were out and she was all fiery passion.  Hawaii was suddenly looking up.

                "Next."  

                Olivia heard the security guard and once again turned away from Brody.  She stomped forward, dropped her carry-on bag on the conveyor belt and took off her watch and high heeled shoes.  She walked through the metal detector with out any problems, grabbed her bag and kept on trucking, not once looking back. 

                Brody has his own ticket, he could find his own way, she silently mused.  She didn't have to play the part in the airport because there was no one around to see.  When they land, that was going to be a whole different story.  Then it would be show time and she would have to put on the performance of her life.

                "You could have waited for me," Brody griped, slumping down in his seat beside Olivia.  He pulled out his favorite blue pillow from his carry on and slipped it behind his head, situating himself comfortably in the seat for the long ride ahead.   

                Olivia spared him a side glance and lifted a brow when she noticed the familiar pillow.  It was the same one that she had spotted on her couch all week long.  Some kids have there blankies or their binkies and evidently the all so studly Mr. O'Connor had his favorite Carolina blue pillow. 

                Snorting at the absurdity of it all, she turned away from him and pulled out her laptop.  The trip would be a long one and she had enough sparring with Brody for the day.  This was the perfect opportunity for her to work on her upcoming case.  Powering up, she delved right on in.

                "Hey......time to wake up Mrs. O'Conner," Brody sang sweetly.

                "Huh?"  Olivia blinked her eyes, trying to figure out where she was.

                "Honey," Brody said and flashed a cheeky grin.  "We're here."

                Olivia straightened up and looked around, realizing there were on a plane.  Hawaii.  "We're in Hawaii?" she asked, still trying to brush off the last remnants of sleep.

                "That we are doll face.  Home of natural beauty in its most elemental form."

                Olivia rolled her eyes.  "Save it Shakespeare."

                Brody chuckled.  "My, you’re cranky when you wake up." 

                She grunted in response.  She closed her laptop and stood, stretching her arms.  She waited for Brody to pack up his pillow and made a mental note of it for later use.  He stepped out in the aisle and waved her in front of him.  She went ahead and followed the other passengers to the exit.  It was quite a scene as they both struggled through the airport and collected their luggage. 

                45 minutes later, they hailed a cab and headed for the hotel.  Olivia's nerves were spread thin and once again she found herself second guessing this absurd plan that they had concocted.  Then she thought back to the last blind date that her dear brother had set her up with and shook off any last minute insecurities.  This was going to work - it had to work or else she was going to lose her mind.

                They arrived at the hotel and Brody paid the cabby.  He carried in the luggage, leaving only the roll-a-bout for Olivia to manage.  As soon as they entered the lobby, Olivia paused and grabbed his wrist, holding it in a death grip. 

                Looking up he instantly understood what she was looking at.

                "Mama....Daddy," she choked out.  The older couple strode forward, looking back and forth between Brody and her. 

                "Livy," Ted said as he approached his daughter.  "How are you?"  He leaned in and gave her an awkward hug considering that she had yet to free her strangling grip on Brody's wrist.  He stepped back and inclined his head in Brody's direction.  "Who’s your friend?"

                Olivia opened her mouth but no sound came out of it.  She stood there in front of her parents, gaping like a goldfish. 

                Brody sensed her hesitation and set one of the suitcases on the floor, freeing up his hand.  He held it out to the older Mr. Murray and flashed a brilliant smile.  "Mr. Murray," he started, "I'm Brody O'Connor.  I'm Olivia's husband."

                For a long minute no one moved, no one said a word.  It was as if the world had suddenly stopped spinning on its axis. 

                The next minute all hell broke loose.

                A thousand different scenarios ran through Ted Murray's head, all of them leading to one thing.  The scoundrel in front of him had taken advantage of his innocent little girl.  Not thinking, he sucked in a breath, reared his fisted hand back and then let it fly forward with the tenacity of cannon, the bull’s-eye being Brody's nose.  

                Brody stumbled backwards, bringing his hand up to cover his now bloodied nose. 

                Cursing a blue streak at his luck, he glanced over at his supposed wife.  "Damnation," he told her.  "Now, I know where you get that prickly temper of yours from."