Get Bunny Love (11 page)

“To the public?” Martha’s features pinched.

“No.” Nate cleared his throat. “To the contestants.”

Martha took a dramatic sip of her water, returned the glass to the table, and crossed her arms in her lap. “Surely you aren’t referring to the dogs?”

“Revolutionary, isn’t it?” Bunny chirped.

Nate shot her a warning look, and she snapped her mouth shut.

“Dogs drink from toilets.” Martha’s expression grew pained. She let out an exasperated breath. “Why on earth would they require a cocktail party?”

“Kitty Worthington loves the idea.” Nate’s lips curved into a hopeful smile.

“She would. She’s a dog person, Nathan.”

Martha waved to get the waiter’s attention. “I’ve got a massage at two,” she announced. “You’ve got to keep on top of them here.”

Bunny nodded. The control issue most definitely was an innate McNulty trait.

“Dogs and cocktails.” Martha spoke the words slowly as if she were trying them on for size. “Well, if nothing else, it should guarantee coverage in the society pages.” Her eyes narrowed, carefully studying Bunny. “Which firm were you with prior to joining McNulty?”

“I was self-employed.” Bunny’s voice tightened.

“Why join a firm? Weren’t you successful?”

The woman shot straight from the hip. That much was certain. “You obviously appreciate honesty.”

Martha rocked back in her seat, arching one perfectly plucked brow. “Yes, I do.”

“I’ve been forced to take a mortgage on my apartment, now a condo, and my previous freelance income wasn’t sufficient.”

Bunny watched the woman’s eyes grow wide and realized she’d provided far too much insight into her personal life.

Martha gave Bunny a measured look.

Bunny’s heart worked in her throat. She opened her mouth to speak, but Martha waved her jeweled hand dismissively. “So what if you did this for the money. That’s a perfectly acceptable reason and one for which you need not apologize. I find your candor refreshing.”

Relief washed through Bunny. “Thank you.”

The remainder of their lunch passed uneventfully. Bunny successfully held her own against Martha’s no-nonsense manner, and the topic of her parents never resurfaced.

o0o

Martha McNulty didn’t care for the way Nathan’s gaze followed each expressive flip of Miss Love’s hands. Not that the girl wasn’t without charm. Far from it, but she would never do for a McNulty. My God, she had to arrange financing to afford a
condominium
. What kind of upbringing had she had?

This was Alexandra Conroy’s daughter, after all. She was obviously as energetic as her mother had been. Hell, her mother had been a lunatic—like a cheerleader on speed. Rumor was she’d calmed down after marriage, but the apple couldn’t fall far from the tree.

Martha carefully measured Miss Love’s bright expression. Not far at all, apparently. Be that as it may, as long as any inherited familial energy was channeled into planning The Worthington Cup and away from Nathan, they’d get along fine.

Nathan was to marry Melanie Brittingham, and their marriage would seal his position in Philadelphia society. Their union would be the perfect blending of two of the region’s finest families.

Security. Martha had sacrificed her own dreams to raise Nate, and she wasn’t about to watch some free-spirited, ruffle-wearing young woman distract him from the plans she’d made.

Melanie’s father had already offered Nate a position in the family’s firm. All that stood in the way was her nephew’s loyalty to his father’s event planning business and an engagement ring. She was capable of handling both.

Perhaps her promise to Nate regarding The Worthington Cup had been premature. She should have sold the firm when she had the chance. Of course, Miller’s offer still stood.

A bright smile illuminated Nathan’s face in response to Miss Love’s laugh.

Dread tickled Martha’s insides. This situation needed handling quickly. She would not sit back and watch history repeat itself. Nathan’s mother had been his father’s undoing. She had no intention of letting the boy make the same mistake.

“Aunt Martha?”

She pulled her attention from her scheming.

“Jeremy agreed to handle the interactive site for us.”

“Did he?” Martha asked.

Interest flickered across Bunny’s pert features.

Suddenly, Martha’s brain wrapped around a potential solution to at least part of the problem. “He never ceases to amaze me,” she quipped.

o0o

Nate sat back against the uncomfortable chair. What did they mold these seats from? Rocks? And now he had to listen to his aunt’s standard chorus of “Jeremy the Wonder Boy”. Wonder boy, his ass.

“Bunny would be a charming companion for Jeremy at the Autumn Harvest dinner dance, don’t you agree Nathan?”

Nate shook himself from his mental rant. “Who? What?” Anxiety wound its way through his gut.

Aunt Martha sneered. “You know, Nathan, Miss Love might be correct. Perhaps your chakras need cleaning, as well as your ears.”

Heat flared under the collar of his shirt and he longed to toss a glass of ice water down his neck.

“I asked you who your brother is taking to this week’s dinner dance.”

Nathan shook his head. “I have no idea. I’m not privy to his social calendar.”

“I thought Bunny might enjoy the event.” Martha peered at Bunny who sat like a wide-eyed doe caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck.

Nate stared. This wasn’t happening.

“What about Jeremy, Nate?” Aunt Martha asked. “He broke it off with that Suzy creature, didn’t he?”

“He didn’t mention a thing about it when he was at the office this morning.” Nate swallowed hard, reaching for his water glass before realizing he’d already drained it.

“I’ll ask him,” his aunt said cheerfully. She stood from the table, tucking her purse beneath her arm. “It’s settled then. I’ll see you this weekend, Bunny.”

Nathan’s eye twitched and he pressed a finger to his lid. Bunny. Jeremy. Dinner dance. Not good. Not good at all.

o0o

“You and your aunt seem very close.” Bunny glanced out the window as the cab pulled into traffic.

“She raised me,” Nate answered.

Bunny refocused her attention on Nate, noticing the muscle of his jaw working in his cheek.

“Jeremy and I lost our parents when we were very young. Aunt Martha took us in. She did her best to raise us in proper McNulty family tradition.”

Bunny’s heart twisted. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He smiled tightly. “I’ve had a great life.”

Her curiosity got the best of her. “Why did you present me as you did?”

“What do you mean?”

Bunny rolled her eyes. “Please. Why did you talk about positive chi when you obviously don’t believe in it.”

“If she believes you’re bringing something fresh to the firm, there’s a chance she won’t sell.”

“I see.” Bunny clasped her hands together to steady them. “She wants to sell the firm?”
So much for job security
.

“I intend to stop her.” Nate’s intent stare sent hot skewers of electricity straight to Bunny’s toes. “You’ve got raw talent, Bunny. I believe we can make the Cup better than any event this region’s seen. If we do that, even Aunt Martha will agree to hold on to the company.”

“Why didn’t you hire a more experienced planner?”

His expression softened. “You want the truth?”

She braced herself. “Yes.”

“Because there wasn’t time, and you struck me as someone who could learn quickly. And you will.”

Bunny tried to tell herself his matter-of-fact statement didn’t hurt. But it did.

“I’m sorry my aunt was a little rough on your mother.”

She shrugged. “No harm done.”

“Did you follow in the family footsteps?” Nate’s voice took on a lighter, teasing tone, sending warmth swirling to Bunny’s center.

“Cheerleading?”

He nodded, his expression expectant.

“No.” Bunny shook her head. “My job was to stand on the sideline.” She stared out the window, cringing at the old memories. “When they threw me the ball, I had thirty seconds to dry it off and throw it back.”

She glanced back to meet Nate’s gaze, unsure of whether she saw sympathy or amusement in the dark brown depths.

“You don’t have to attend the dinner dance, by the way.” He glanced away from her. “My aunt was being polite.”

Bunny’s heart hit the pit of her stomach. “You don’t want me there?”

“I assumed you wouldn’t want to go.” Nate’s voice tightened.

“Do you really think I’m that far beneath you?” Her sudden words surprised even herself.

Nate’s head snapped to attention, his mocha eyes riveted to hers. “I never said that.”

“But you think it.” Bunny forced a slight smile. “It’s on your face whenever you look at me. You hired me because you had no other choice. I accept that.”

“Bunny.” He reached out to touch her hand, but pulled back as quickly as he had extended his fingers. “Most people in my social circle aren’t like you at all.”

“What?” She forced a soft laugh. “Eccentric, like Kitty Worthington?”

His gaze softened and Bunny felt the pull of attraction all the way to her toes. Lord help her, she was falling for a suit who could never be hers.

Nate shook his head. “You’re unique.” He smiled. “Isn’t that what you want me to recognize? Your unique self?”

Heat flared in her cheeks.
If only
. She hadn’t yet met a man who’d recognized her unique self. Those she’d dated had only wanted to squash her creative ideas. Not that she wouldn’t mind testing Nate’s sincerity. “I did say that.”

“I’ll do my best to respect your individuality, if you do your best to respect the rules of the firm. Give us all some time to accept your positive chi. Deal?”

“Know what I think?” Nervous excitement rippled through her. She knew she should keep her mouth shut, but that had never been one of her strengths.

Nate shook his head. “No, what?”

“I think your cosmic energy would shock you.”

The cab pulled in front of the entrance to the Loews Hotel. “We’re at your stop.” Nate reached out to squeeze her hand.

Awareness radiated from his touch through every one of Bunny’s nerve endings. His eyes widened and she wondered if he sensed the undeniable chemistry between them.

“I must say one thing in my defense.” His dark brows bunched together.

“What’s that?”

“McNultys do not have blocked chakras.”

Genuine laughter spilled from Bunny’s lips. “You have no idea of what a chakra is, do you?”

“None.” A deep red blush fired in Nate’s cheeks.

Desire seeped to the tips of Bunny’s fingers. She knew this man was off-limits, but she couldn’t deny the depth of feeling evoked by something so simple as his smile.

“Go,” Nate urged. “You’ll be late.”

Bunny stepped out of the cab, leaning back toward Nate. “If you ever want those chakras unblocked, just let me know.”

o0o

Nathan ripped off his jacket before the cab pulled back into traffic. Heat poured from his body. He could think of several things Bunny Love could unblock, but they weren’t called chakras.

He leaned against the vinyl seat and squeezed his eyes shut. Bunny’s brilliant blue gaze burned into his brain. Try as he might, Nate couldn’t deny his body’s reaction to Bunny. Bert had noticed. And Aunt Martha had noticed. Nate had spotted the concern right through her phony blue contact lenses.

He wasn’t a fool. He knew Martha’s attempt to set up Bunny with Jeremy was a means to an end. Well, she didn’t have to worry. Nate was a man of his word, and he’d given his word to Melanie Brittingham.

Melanie
. He let out a frustrated breath. Their relationship was anything but steamy and passionate, but he’d never hurt her.

He patted his sizzling forehead and focused on slowing his pulse.

Bunny Love.

He supposed letting his mind wander to the “what ifs” was harmless. After all, Bunny might be able to unblock his chakras, but his was a life filled with expectations, and McNultys delivered on their expectations.

Whether they were happy doing so, or not.

CHAPTER NINE

Bunny stared at the art deco style of the Loews Hotel lobby, having just finished a walk-through with the hotel conference coordinator. So this was how the other half lived.

Rich, male laughter tickled her ear. She turned in time to see Armand Miller usher a slim, well-dressed woman into a waiting cab.

He straightened, a bright smile spreading wide across his face as he spotted her. He stepped briskly back into the lobby. “Beatrice. Have you just finished an appointment?”

She nodded.

“Marvelous.” He took her hand, tucking it into the crook of his arm. “I could kill for a bit of espresso. How about you?”

She was completely out of her league. Her years of working from home hadn’t done a thing to hone her social skills. But something nagged at her about Armand. He was too...polished.
Really
. What person was this smooth? He probably practiced his moves in a mirror, but then, they
were
spectacular moves.

“That sounds lovely,” she managed to answer.

“Splendid.”

They settled at a window table in the hotel bar. Bunny shoved down her feelings of inadequacy, focusing instead on exuding an air of sophistication. Armand’s smile never ceased—a true study in practiced perfection.

The waitress slipped their espresso cups onto the table. Armand swirled the black liquid in his tiny cup and crooked a brow.

“Perhaps you’d honor me by accompanying me to dinner sometime?”

All thoughts switched from the man’s arrogance to the topic at hand. Why would a man like Armand invite her to dinner?

“Me?” Her voice squeaked and she cringed.

Armand leaned across the table, gazing deeply into her eyes. She fought to keep herself from drowning in the depths of his bottomless stare.

And then reality struck. Her current employer and the source of the paychecks necessary to secure financing on her condo loathed Armand Miller. She believed
despised
was the actual word Nathan had used.