Objection Overruled (32 page)

She’d learned her lesson. With a few phone calls, she’d been able to resume the friendships she’d let stagnate in “the Gary years.” Those cute bumper stickers proclaiming Life Is Good became an understatement.

The mountain retreat concluded, Jackie and her friends returned to Baltimore. She approached the turn to the hotel where her friends were going to clean up and change. They’d planned on meeting Brandon and a few of his buddies in DC for drinks and dinner.

Mimi, riding shotgun, grabbed Jackie’s arm. “Why don’t you take us to your office? You refused to show me last summer.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. My office is a dump. There’s nothing to see. I’m ready for a shower.”

Charlotte poked her head from the backseat. “You should see my place. Dump-o-rama. And, it’s in the middle of a strip mall. Just show us. Maybe I can get some decorating ideas.”

Jackie loved her renewed sense of sisterhood and knew they’d nag her to death until she showed them the Whale. She sighed and took the next right. Within ten minutes, she pulled up to her building. Six trucks, some with trailers, hogged all the parking spaces.

Jackie jumped out of her car. “That’s weird. It’s a Sunday. Why are all these trucks here?”

Mimi and Charlotte shot her dumb looks.

Something was up.

Jackie led them into the building. The elevator button refused to light up, so Jackie led them up the stairs. A flurry of activity greeted them when they reached her floor. All her office furniture lay piled in the hallway.

Two guys hauling a giant roll of carpet pushed by her onto the stairs. “Excuse me,” one grumbled. “Fucking elevator is out again. What a dump.”

Jackie resisted the urge to trip him. Yes, it was a dump and the fucking elevator was always out, but it was hers!

She picked her way past boxes and carts overflowing with tools. She entered her office. Marilyn darted around, barking orders at someone stripping wallpaper.

“What the hell is going on?”

Pink flushed Marilyn’s cheeks. “Oh shit.” She glanced at her watch. “You’re early.”

Jackie looked at the workers and back at Marilyn, then at her friends, who hovered just inside the office door. “Someone had better explain.”

Marilyn grabbed her Chanel bag and searched through it. She pulled out some papers and handed them to Jackie.

Jackie scanned the letters. Some company called Northfield Real Estate had bought the building. They were remodeling. She’d be out of her office for two weeks.

“Two weeks! I have work to do. Who’s this new owner?”

Marilyn shrugged and pointed over Jackie’s shoulder.

Jackie turned around. Brandon stood in the door next to Mimi and Charlotte. They all grinned like monkeys.

Jackie threw her arms up. “What!”

Brandon handed her a notebook. “You’ve been busy, so I went ahead and filed a few papers. I know a good corporate lawyer.” He gave Mimi a wink.

The notebook contained Articles of Incorporation for the Northfield Real Estate Company. Brandon owned it. “You bought this building? Why? And what are you doing to my office?”

“Technically, I bought it, but I thought maybe you’d be interested in joining Northfield. Kind of a nice meld of names, don’t you think?”

Jackie rolled her eyes. “Northfield. I get it. Ha-ha.” She drilled a laser-sharp look into him. “Explain.”

“I love this building. It’s you. A renegade. Authentic. Raw. Unpretentious. Strong.” He took her hands and kissed each finger. “Unpredictable.”

Her heart warmed, and her irritation at the chaotic scene dissipated like waves reaching the shore.

He squeezed her hands. “I don’t want to lose this building. In fact, my business is moving in upstairs. No more weeklong separations. I’ll see you every day. And I thought we could spiff up the place a bit.”

“Okay, as long as you don’t raise the rent.”

“I’m sure we can negotiate that.”

Brandon knelt down in front of her. “I love you, Jackie. I want to spend every moment of the rest of our lives together. Will you marry me?”

Jackie was unprepared for the overwhelming surge of joy. Her heart felt like it had burst. Tears streamed down her face. Her legs shook, and she collapsed onto the floor. She folded her arms around Brandon. He hugged her tight.

“Yes! Yes!” she cried.

Brandon kissed her.

Showers of confetti rained down on Jackie and Brandon. Through teary eyes, she looked up at the smiling faces of the people who loved her and believed in her.

Jackie looked at Brandon. “I love you, Brandon Marshfield. And trust you. I’m yours.”

Loose Id Titles by J.K. O’Hanlon

Objection Overruled

J.K. O’Hanlon

J.K. O’Hanlon believes that a woman should have it all.  While working as a lawyer, J.K. found true love with the hottie down the hall, but even a sizzling office romance couldn’t spice up the daily grind of legal documents. Combining her background in law with her unfailing sense of humor, J.K. now writes smart, sassy, and sexy stories about women who balance exciting careers with their passionate desire for love. In between penning steamy sex scenes, J.K. mixes and writes about cocktails as The Thirsty Jane (
http://www.thirstyjane.com
). Find out more about J.K. and her books at
http://jkohanlon.com/
.