The Rent-A-Man Blues
Megan had perfected her invention. And she had a prospective business partner in Japan who was willing to build the factory to produce it. Now he was coming to America to negotiate the contracts. But she had always used only her initials when corresponding with him, so he didn't know she was a female. Her interpreter said he was old school, and would never deal with a woman on an equal basis. He would lose face if he did. She needed a husband to front for her. She'd had one, once, but he had died in the war. All she REALLY needed was a man to PRETEND to be her husband, until the deal was made. Her late husband's brother was the logical choice. He knew her and about the invention. He had tried to help her financially before this, but she didn't want what she thought of as charity. So he charged her a dollar a day, as her "rental husband." It was a good plan, but nobody expected years of pent up interest and desire to burst into flames of passion as they played their roles. And that was only the beginning of their problems. Megan wasn't the only female involved in this crazy scheme, and the others thought he was a hunk, too. And, since he wasn't actually married to Megan, there was no reason they couldn't seek some of his attention too. In the end, the scheme worked, but what resulted was less than a conventional arrangement between the women and the man they rented.