Page 61 of 7 Days and 7 Nights

“Oh, no you don’t,” Diane hissed. “You’re not going to get away with this.”

“There’s nothing to get away with. I told you she’s just not feeling—”

“Fine.”

He could hear the panic in Diane’s voice now, but really didn’t think Olivia would appreciate his describing exactly what kind of condition she was in.

“You talk to Charles, then. He’s right here cackling in my ear.”

Matt sighed. He looked down at the sleeping woman beside him, taking in the satisfied smile on her lips—the smile he’d put there and kept there throughout the wee hours of the morning.

“Yeah, Charles. What’s the problem?”

“Problem? No problem.” Charles’s gleeful tone brought home the possible repercussions of the situation more forcefully than Diane’s panic had.

Matt almost laughed. Here he was in the exact position he’d worked toward most of the week, and all he could think of was protecting Olivia... and keeping that smile on her lips. He heard Crankower’s weasely voice on the other end of the line and knew he couldn’t throw her to the wolves.

“Why don’t you just plug the cameras back in, Matt, and then wake the woman in bed beside you,” the weasel chortled. “I should have trusted you’d have some scheme up your sleeve.”

Matt cradled the phone against his shoulder and tried to rouse Olivia, but she rolled over onto her side and drew her legs up beneath her. His gaze swept down the elegant curve of her naked back.

“Sorry to disappoint you, Crankower. There is no scheme. Just too much to drink and maybe a touch of—this one was going to hurt—“food poisoning.”

Matt walked around the bed and crouched down to peer into Olivia’s face. She wore a dreamy expression, and she looked so peaceful he couldn’t bring himself to haul her out of bed.

“So is she planning to do her show or what?” “I’m not sure, Charles." Matt picked her dress up off the floor and tossed it on the bed. “I’ll go into her room and see what she’s decided. Hold on, okay?”

Feeling slightly foolish, he went over to her door and slammed it. With a groan, Olivia flipped over on her other side and pulled the covers up over her head. He stomped loudly across the bedroom floor for effect, then quietly tried to shake Olivia awake once more.

“Come on, Liv,” he whispered. “You can do it. Just get up so you can do your show.”

He could hear Olivia’s muffled voice through the bedding.

“Can’t.” She balled up tighter. “I’m so tired.”

Matt sat down on the side of the bed next to the mound of covers that was Olivia. “Charles? She’s not feeling well.” He ran a hand through his hair. “So, uh, we’ve decided to switch shows today.”

“You what?”

“Yeah. We thought it would be a good gimmick, you know, to give our listeners a dose of a different perspective.”

“You’re going to doLiv Live?"

“Yep. I just overslept, that’s all. I’m not used to getting up this early.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“What, you don’t think I can keep a bunch of women entertained?” Matt made a point of sounding offended.

Charles laughed aloud. Matt could almost see him rubbing his hands together in anticipation of the rating points. Of course, just whose points they’d be was an interesting question.

“Oh, no, Matt. If anyone can keep a group of women happy, it’s you. Just do me a favor, will you?”

“Sure, Charles.” “Don’t forget to plug the cameras back in. I don’t want

to miss a minute of this.”

???