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Chapter 9

**Edited by Adelina Clonts aka Seawriter**

"The Rented Husband"

2011 Copyright All Rights Reserved

Chapter 9

"Good Morning Ms. Murray," Grey Black, one of the firm’s notable security guards spoke as she entered the building.He was a middle aged man with a head full of salt and pepper colored hair and he forever seemed to wear a brilliant smile on his face.He was always in that same exact spot every day and had greeted her in the same manner morning after morning since her first day on the job.No matter how bad or tired she felt, his smile never failed to warm her.

She offered him a weak smile of her own in return before replying, “Good morning Grey.How are the kids?”

Grey beamed at the mention of his kids.His wife lost her battle with breast cancer just a little over a year ago and he has been raising their seven year old twin daughters as a widower ever since.“There doing fine, Ms. Murray.Lisa just won the third grade spelling bee at her school and Leary sang like a beautiful song bird in Church last Sunday.”

“That’s wonderful.Those two girls truly are special,” she told him genuinely and heard Grey let out a soft sigh of sadness.She could see the toll of his wife’s death written all over his face and wished that she could do something to magically make those worry lines disappear.But short of giving him his wife back there wasn’t much she,or anyone else for that matter,could do.

Grey read the sympathy in Olivia’s eyes.“Ms. Murray, don’t you go worrying about me.Me and the kids are doing just fine.It’s hard sometimes but we meander through.You-,” he told her and pointed at her chest, “need to worry about yourself.You don’t look like you slept a wink last night.”

Olivia quickly averted her eyes.If someone like Grey Black could pick on her lack of sleep then surely Brody O’Connor would too.Her stomach took a funny dip at the thought of him just knowing that she had trouble sleeping last night.That little fact would probably go to his head and swell up that already over sized ego that he was currently sporting.

Never mind the fact that it was the cold hard truth.She tossed and turned, threw the covers off of her and then jerked them back on, all because of him.....But it would be a cold day in hell before she would let Brody know that.

"You need to bring the girls by the office sometime for me to see them again," Olivia said softly when she turned back to Grey.This time she gave him a sincere smile and was thankful for the change of subject.She was determined to think of anything today other than the precocious Brody O'Connor.

"I will Ms. Murray.In a week they will be on break and I'll bring them by to see you."Olivia switched her brief case from one hand to the other, already feeling the beginnings of a migraine as she thought ahead to the day’s events; lunch with her sister Ashley, dinner with Brody's mother and then the inevitable interaction with Brody himself.All she had to do was survive the day, she reminded herself and tonight she would sleep, come hell or high water, mindless of one certain dark haired player.

"Good," Grey said, bringing Olivia's full attention back to him."Oh, and by the way,Ms. Murray, they tried to trace that call for you yesterday but came up empty.It came from a disposable phone so there was no way to identify the caller."

Olivia simply shrugged her shoulders."That's what I figured.More than likely it was a bunch of kids getting their kicks by making prank calls.My number just so happened to be the lucky one that they dialed."

Grey furrowed his brows and looked at Olivia with nothing but fatherly concern."Maybe, maybe not,Ms. Murray.You just be careful ma'am.There are too many weirdos out there in today's world and that's just a damn shame, but it's the truth."

Olivia placed her hand on Grey's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze of reassurance."Always, Grey," and with that being said she dropped her hand to her side and lifted the corners of her lips into a confident smile.She hooked her thumb over her shoulder and added, "I should probably be getting on to work now.If one of the senior partners catches me slacking off,then I'll never make partner here."

"You go on now, Ms. Murray," Grey told her reasonably."I'll see ya around.Just make sure that you watch your back, okay?"

"Will do Grey.You just remember to bring those beautiful girls by my office," she said as she turned and headed for the elevator.

"Will do, Ms. Murray," Grey answered and as she walked away,she heard Grey turning around to greet the next person that had walked in.Olivia pressed the up button and tapped her foot as she waited impatiently for the elevator to open.The ding came and she slid into the elevator trying to force herself to think about the day ahead.She knew she had a two o'clock appointment but other than that her day was clear.Maybe, she thought, this would be a good day to work on the Phillips case.She had been putting it off for days because of the technicalities that marred the defense and if she threw herself into it head first,then she would not have time to think about another certain person that she refused to name.

The elevator opened to her hall and she stepped out already feeling better about the day because she had a plan.As she got closer to her office, Olivia was greeted by her friend and assistant, Marcey, who was holding up a cappuccino for her as she passed by her desk.Olivia reached for it and said "Thank you," while glancing down the hall.

Marcey rolled her eyes."He's not in yet," she told her.

"Who?" Olivia asked feigning innocence.

"Like you don't know," Marcey replied sarcastically.

Olivia set her mouth in a grim line and huffed."I don't have the slightest idea of who you’re talking about."

Marcey eyed Olivia and didn't miss the dark circles that rimmed her eyes.She knew that Olivia was getting in over her head when she decided to involve Brody in her little scheme against her family and even tried to warn her about him but did she listen?No.Olivia had always been one to walk her own path and did as she pleased.This time was no different."Go preach it to someone else girlfriend because those lines that you’re selling, I ain't buying."

Olivia shook her head and decided that little remark didn't even deserve a response.Turning her heels, she headed for her office, stopping before she opened the door."Hey, I'll be messing with the Phillips case for a while and I don't want to be disturbed.Hold all my calls until after lunch."

Marcey glanced over her shoulder and flashed a sugary sweet smile."Sure thing, boss lady."

Olivia just stared back at her friend for a long minute before letting out a breath that ruffled her bangs.She loved her friend to death and she was a damn good assistant but sometimes she knew exactly what buttons to push in order to piss her off.Instead of saying anything, Olivia jostled her brief case and coffee to one hand so that she could open her door.Once she was in the sanctum of her office, she slammed the door closed behind her.

Walking over to her desk, Olivia ceremoniously dumped her brief case on top and laid her cup of coffee beside it before making her way around the desk to her cushy chair, only to collapse in it and cover her face.That migraine of hers was growing stronger by the minute with no immediate relief in sight.

While Olivia kept her eyes closed and massaged her temples, she heard the unmistakable creak of her door opening.Thinking that it was only Marcey she didn't bother to open her eyes and grumbled, "Marcey, I said no interruptions."

Brody smirked to himself.Olivia had her head down and was rubbing at her temples.He quietly closed the door behind him and stepped up to her desk with his hands stuffed in his pockets.When she made no moves to say anything else Brody finally spoke loudly, "Honey- I'm home!"

Olivia's head snapped up and she narrowed those angry eyes on him.Oh yeah, this is the Olivia that he liked; the feisty one that kept him on his toes.He rolled the small box that he had in his pocket around in his hand and couldn't wait to see her face when he showed it to her.He was sure that she would probably balk at it but if they really wanted to pull off this ruse of theirs it was a mere technicality.

"What are you doing in here?" Olivia breathed out, irritation dripping out from every syllable.

Brody only shot her a facetious grin."Now honey cakes, what is the family going to think when they hear you talk to me like that?" he tsked her with a cluck of his tongue and pulled his hands out of his pockets, leaving the little box nestled in there for the time being.He too noticed that Olivia looked overly tired and that gave him a little sense of self satisfaction.It was good to know that she had slept probably about as much as he had the night before which was nada with his raging hard on and no relief in sight.

Not wanting to go there again, Brody turned the direction of those thoughts and held out his hands to her. "Come on now, where's the love, baby?"

Olivia was going to hit him.She was going to smack his face and wipe that smug grin clear off it. Tightening her grip on the arm rests of her chair she spoke in a low threatening tone, "You, Mr. O'Connor, can leave.I don't have to deal with you until this evening and not a minute earlier."

Brody stayed in his place and stared back at Olivia.He knew that he was making her uncomfortable but damnit; she had been making him uncomfortable ever since she approached him with this proposal in the first place, especially below the belt.

Quirking up the corner of his lips, Brody took a seat in front of her desk, leaning over so that he was close enough to her that he could pick up the summery scent of flowers from either her lotion or shampoo.It was refreshing and actually kind of nice he thought and would have strained to lean in further if Olivia hadn't suddenly jumped up out of her chair.

Standing over him now, she looked like an angry kitten ready to claw his eyes out and he would have found it rather adorable looking if she hadn't of just kicked him in the shins.

"Ow, damnit," he swore."Now what did you go and do that for?"

Olivia took a step back and threw her hands up in the air."Why do you have to be so dang insistent?If you would have just let me alone then I wouldn't have kicked you and if you don't leave by the time I get to three then I will kick you again."

Brody snorted and looked up at her."Temper, temper.Now honeydew, all of this can't be good for the baby can it?" he asked with a hint of laughter dancing in his eyes.

"Oh, you-" Olivia snapped and with as much strength as she could muster she kicked out at his other shin too."There is no baby for real you egghead!" she told him and reared back to kick him again when Brody reached up and snatched her to his lap, confining her arms with his arms and wrapping his legs around hers so that she couldn't kick him again."Now baby doll, that just wasn't very nice."

Olivia seethed.She took back her statement about hitting the man.She was going to out right kill him and then bury him out back of her condo so that the neighbors’ dog could relieve himself on his resting place."I don't like nice," she bit out between her tightly clenched teeth, ‘and will you quit with all of the pet names?It's driving me crazy."

"Crazy huh?I like crazy,"Brody drawled and continued to hold her in place."Now if I let you go,do you promise to play nice?"

Olivia dramatically blew out a deep breath of air for the second time today.After a long minute of silent debating she conceded, "Fine."

"Fine, what?" Brody asked, not quite ready to let her go.He was actually enjoying the feel of a soft woman settled in his lap, even if she was mad as a wet hornet.

"Really,Brody?Are you going there?" Olivia asked incredulously.His chuckle answered her question and with a third release of a deep breath she added, "Fine, I promise to be nice, now get your grimy paws off of me."

Brody instantly released her hands and feet.Olivia jumped up so fast you would have thought her butt was on fire.She whirled around on him even faster and pointed her finger in his face."If you ever pull something like that again then I will kick you where the sun don't shine, understand?"

Brody stood and towered over her and in a much more composed tone and said, "If you ever kick me again - period, then I will turn you over my knee and spank that pretty little butt of yours until it turns cherry red, understood?"

Olivia's eyes widened at his threat and for a second Brody could have sworn that he saw something else in her eyes, passion maybe, but it was gone just as fast as it came.Brody's cocky smile only grew.

Unable to maintain eye contact with him, she looked away and muttered under her breath, "You are incorrigible."

"No, I'm honest," he replied.

Shaking her head she looked back up at him and asked, "What are you doing here anyway?You have your own work to do I'm sure and dinner isn't until tonight."

Brody reached his hand in his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box.Without saying a word he handed it to her.

"What is this?" she asked tentatively taking the box from his hand.She opened it and her mouth flew open.She snapped the box closed and pushed it back to his chest."Oh, no buckaroo, I am not wearing that.No way, Jose."

Brody cocked his head to the side and started, "Okay,Ms. No Way, Jose, how do you plan to explain the lack of engagement ring and wedding bands to the family when we are telling them about our secret nuptials?”He pulled the ring out of the box and held it up in the air."I already had this," he said and took a step closer to her so that they were now standing toe to toe."On the way to meet mom,we can stop by Wal-Mart and pick up a cheap set of wedding bands but either way,we have to have some kind of proof for our families to buy this plan of ours.There is no marriage license so this is the next best thing."

Olivia closed her mouth.She wanted to protest, God knew she wanted to protest but he was right.This was easy proof but she just couldn't bring herself to put the vicious thing on her finger."I...I-" she started but nothing else had a chance to come out of her mouth because Brody closed the distance between them and crashed his lips to hers.

At first she resisted his attentions but all too soon she gave in.His mouth was so soft but commanding and dominating at the same time.She let him lead on gradually, only so happy to following.He gently glided his tongue along her bottom lip and she opened freely, allowing him full access to slowly plunder her mouth.While their tongues mated in a ritual as old as mother earth herself, Brody took her ring finger in his hand and slipped the ring on it with ease.For a few seconds longer, he lingered with the kiss before regrettably pulling back and watching on as Olivia came out of her lust filled haze.

"You," she said and took a step away from him, "You- you did it again."

Brody nodded."And I'll probably do it again and again Mrs. O'Connor.Get used to it."Accomplishing what he had originally gone in there to do Brody turned and headed for the door."Darling," he said opening the door and glancing back over his shoulders, "I'll pick you up at six.I don't tolerate lateness very well, so be ready."

Olivia was left utterly speechless as she watched Brody walk out the door and close it behind him.She felt the heavy weight on her finger and looked down, realizing for the first time what he had done.He had slipped on that stupid ring.She observed it for a moment and had to admit to herself that it was a beautiful diamond but it was that man that drove her to the brink of insanity.

She went back to her chair and sat, looking out at nothing in particular.With this ring on her finger, it made everything seem more real to her now.The plan that the two of them had created to get both of their overbearing families off of their backs was officially in effect.Still staring off into space, she touched her kiss swollen lips and had to wonder if she was doing the right thing.

Yes, she told herself.She was doing the only thing that she could do in order to save face against her family.If she didn't do something they would have her saddled up with the next Joe Blow that they could convince to commit to her and Olivia knew there was no way in hell that she could handle another one of them.

Sighing, she dropped her hands to her lap and reflected on the steamy kiss that Brody had given her.She didn't want to admit it but there was no way that she could deny it either.Damn, that man really knows how to lay one on a woman and make her senseless.

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