Get Bunny Love (28 page)

“What?” He dug deep, focusing on the firm.
Do it for McNulty
, his inner voice chanted. “Sleeping with the boss doesn’t make you immune from responsibility.”

Her mouth gaped open, hurt registering instantly on her face. He stiffened, moving a step backward to distance himself from the pain he’d inflicted.

Bunny’s turquoise eyes went huge. “How dare you?” She clasped her hands in front of her stomach. Her voice shook. Her shoulders trembled. “I’m sorry I believed you capable of caring about anyone or anything other than your precious company.”

Now was his chance. His chance to tell her how alive he felt for the first time since his parents died. He looked past Bunny to where Martha stood a few feet away, scowling, daggers shooting from her eyes into the back of Bunny’s tousled head.

It wouldn’t work. It would
never
work. There was no room in his orderly world for a life force as vital as Bunny’s. He’d tried a taste of her chaos and had gotten burned. Literally. Pain twisted in his chest. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

“I’m sorry you don’t feel anything at all.” Sadness washed across her features.

Something inside Nate broke. This was how things had to be. He couldn’t handle the way he felt—the way he needed her—whenever she was near.
Coward
.

“You’re a robot, Nate. A cold, unfeeling robot. Life is passing you by while you hide inside your gray cocoon.”

She held her chin high, pulling herself taller, straighter. She turned, walking away from him. Out of his life.
Stop her
, a voice deep inside him screamed.
Don’t let her go
!

Aunt Martha’s steel blue gaze sliced him clean through. Damn her. Damn Bunny. Damn them both for making him choose.

Bunny stopped, looking back over her shoulder. “I’m going to make sure the caterers have everything they need before I leave. I’ll stop by tomorrow morning to clean out my cubicle.”

“Office,” Nate mumbled, wondering how long the dull ache in his heart would last.

o0o

Bunny raced for the kitchen, nausea clawing at her throat. The strength she’d mustered for Nate’s benefit shattered, and she staggered, fumbling against the cold wall of the passageway.

Jeremy approached, carrying two beers. “Bunny.” He lightly touched his fingers to her shoulder. “I was coming to find you. You okay?”

She stared at him, unable to think or do anything more. How could she be okay? She’d lost it all. Her job. Her apartment.
Nate
.

How could she have been so wrong? He’d changed. Hadn’t he? She’d seen the emotions. Yet he’d fired her, coldly, heartlessly. She’d thought him different from every other man in her past. But he wasn’t. Her heart ached, twisting in her chest. It was better to find out now. Better to know before he’d sucked her life force dry. Her vision darkened and she slumped against the wall.

Jeremy’s arms locked strong and sure around her waist, beer sloshing from the glass bottles. “Whoa, what’s going on?”

She opened her eyes to meet his soft blue gaze. He squinted, lines of concern trailing to his temples. “Fired.”

Disbelief washed across his poster-boy features. “Nate fired you?”

She nodded.

Anger flashed through his gaze. “That idiot.”

Her throat tightened. She had to get outside. Now. “Take me home.”

Jeremy turned toward the main room, one arm securely tightened around her waist.

“No,” she choked out, sudden tears blurring her vision. “Not that way.”

He frowned then focused at something over her shoulder. “We can go out the back. It’s just as easy.”

Bunny nodded, biting hard into her lip to keep from crying.

“You need to do anything here before we leave?”

“Caterers have instructions,” she whispered. “It’s okay.”

But it wouldn’t be okay. It couldn’t. She squeezed her eyes shut as they headed down the hall toward the back door. She was fleeing like a coward. She should hold her head high and act as though she didn’t care. That would show him.

The evening’s fiasco
had
been her fault.
All her fault
. She’d tried to force her world onto his. And she’d failed. Miserably.

Maybe it was good the night ended as it did, forcing Nate’s true colors into the open. Instead of defending or forgiving her, he’d let her go. He’d chosen cold expectation over warm emotion. And he had looked as though firing her hadn’t fazed him in the least.

Her heart twisted, breaking deep inside her chest.

Jeremy shot her a worried look as he pushed open the heavy exit door. Bunny stepped into a dark alleyway, the night air cool against the moisture on her cheeks.

“This way.” Jeremy took her hand, leading her toward a city parking lot. She followed in a trance-like state, willing her feet to move. She needed to be away from Nate. Away from Martha. Away from everything having to do with McNulty Events.

She’d been a fool to think he’d choose loving her over his career. After all, she had no connections to offer. No status. No rich client base.
Nothing
. To Nate, she’d been the off-the-wall new hire bringing temporary excitement into his bland life. Nothing more.

As Jeremy opened the passenger door, she fought a sob, trying to ignore the hollow ache spreading through her bones. She sank into the leather seat, finally letting the tears fall. Who cared what Nate’s brother thought? Who cared what any of them thought? She wanted only to get home—where she could nurse her broken heart in private.

Tomorrow she’d figure out how to salvage what was left of her life.

o0o

Nate swallowed down the lump growing in his throat. My God. What had he just done?
And why
? For a company? A job? He’d let Bunny walk out of his life because of expectation. He didn’t deserve her. He never had.

“Well done.” Aunt Martha’s clipped tone stung. “For once you’ve done the McNulty name proud.”

“I’m not so sure,” he muttered.

She grabbed his arm, her fingers tensing into his skin. “Stop that damned muttering. Act like a man.”

Her steely gaze sent ice racing through his veins.
Act like a man
? He’d acted like anything but tonight. He’d acted like Aunt Martha’s puppet, marching to the tune of her damned rules and wants. “You want me to act like a man?”

Her gaze widened. “Please.”

“Then let go of my arm and get out of my way.”

The flush in her cheeks faded. “I don’t like your tone.”

“And I don’t like yours.” He shook her hand from his arm. “I’m tired of your rules. I am a man. Let me live my life.”

“With who? That flake?”

Nate’s fists clenched at his side, anger rolling in his gut. “That
flake
is the best thing that ever happened to me.” He plowed a hand through his hair. “And I just let you pressure me into chasing her out of my life.” He shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut. “What the hell is wrong with me?”

“Think of the firm. She’s ruined all you’ve worked for.”

His mind raced. Had she? “I never even gave her a second chance,” he stammered. “People make mistakes.”

“
Not
McNultys.”

“Damn it, Aunt Martha.” He leaned so close she backed away, fear flickering in her eyes. “Don’t you get tired of being a McNulty? I do. Jeremy did. Look at him.” He gestured wildly. “He lives to defy you, yet you hold him on a pedestal.” Nate slapped his chest. “I break my ass for you, doing whatever you want, and you give me nothing but shit.”

Her features puckered. “Don’t you swear at me.”

“Why not?” He paced in a large circle, his anger winding tighter and tighter inside him, coiling like a spring. “Because I’m a McNulty?”

Tears swam in her eyes, something Nate had only seen when his uncle died. “Jeremy’s nothing like your father. You are. I worry you’ll suffer the same fate.”

Nate came to a stop, pounding his fists against his chest, anguish overtaking his every sense. He pointed to the hallway through which Bunny had fled. “Why? Because I love her?”

His aunt gasped, staggering under the force of his words. “What about Melanie?”

“We don’t love each other. We never have. Do you hear me? I
love
Bunny.” He shoved both hands into his hair.

“You need to calm down, Nathan. This will all seem less important in the morning.”

“
No
.” The coiled spring inside him snapped. Adrenaline surged through his body, tingling to his extremities. He’d had it with the McNulty rules. “I’m going after her.” He turned, jogging away, toward the exit, before Aunt Martha could stop him.

“You’ll end up like your father,” she yelled.

Nate paused, a vision of his mother and father flashing across his mind. Happy. In love. He turned slowly back to face his aunt. She stood, hands clasped, pleading with him.

“I’d rather die happy than continue to live half-dead.”

She paled, taking a step backward.

“Did I hit a nerve?” Nate stared at her intently. “Maybe you’re tired of living half-dead, too.”

He spun away, racing after Bunny, hoping there’d be some way to undo all the senseless pain he’d just inflicted on the woman he loved.

o0o

Martha stood in place as though Nate’s words had poured concrete around her feet. His anguish had been palpable, causing her own insides to ache.

Was she tired of living half-dead?
Yes
. She’d lived half-dead since the day his father and mother had died. Since the day fate had extinguished their bright lights. She and Arthur had never recovered from the sudden, unbelievable loss.

Tears threatened and she blinked them back. McNultys did not cry. Damn it. Certainly not in public. She glanced around the now mostly empty room.

Was she tired of being a McNulty?
Yes
. The pressure had been even more unbearable since Arthur had died, willing the firm to her. The admission made her sag, as though all of the anger she’d bottled up inside had held her stiff and straight.

What if Nate did love Bunny? She had no right to interfere. She’d devoted her life to keeping him safe, but he was obviously unhappy.
Unfulfilled
. Perhaps she should have tried harder to teach him how to live.

A lone tear slipped down her cheek. She let it fall. She was tired of being a McNulty, but it was all she knew. It was all Nate had known, too, but look at him now. Passionate. Sure of his actions. Racing off to chase the dream of true love.

Martha sniffed back a sob. My God. Perhaps she’d been wrong about Bunny Love. The woman obviously had no skills as an event planner, but she might just be able to teach Nate what Martha never had. With her help, he might learn to embrace a life beyond status and control. A life lived with passion.

Maybe the time had come for Martha to step out of the way. The boy had made the best point of all. It was better to die happy than to live half-dead. And she should know.

o0o

Nate let the exit door slam shut, slapping his palm against the wall. “Damn it.”

“Problem, buddy?” A male voice sounded close and gruff. A burly, bearded man stared at him, rubbing his chin. “Looking for Bunny?”

Nate narrowed his gaze questioningly.

The man shrugged, extending a hand. “Jimmy Monroe.”

“Nate McNulty.” He let out an exasperated breath. “Did you happen to see her leave?”

Jimmy pressed his lips together, frowning. “With some blond guy. Kinda looked like that Brad Pitt fellow.”

Jeremy
. Nate groaned. When the hell hadn’t his brother been in the right place at the right time?

“You going after her?”

Nate considered the man incredulously.

As if reading his mind, Jimmy spoke. “I’m here showing my dog. Met Bunny yesterday. Her poodle pissed on my bike.” He shook his gray head. “She looked mighty sad on her way out tonight. You responsible for that?”

Nate nodded, squeezing his eyes shut for a beat.

“You should go after her. Come on. I’ll give you a ride.”

Nate met the stranger’s gaze. Who was this guy? “I’ve got my car, but thanks.”

“Bike’ll get you there a whole lot quicker.”

“Bike?” Nate’s pulse quickened.

“Harley.”

Nate didn’t hesitate. “You’re on.” As he watched, the man’s gaze locked on something then softened. Nate turned to follow his view. Melanie stood a few feet away, eyes shining with moisture.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” Her soft voice trembled. “I wanted...” She sucked in a jagged breath, obviously fighting fresh tears. “I wanted to say good-bye, Nate.”

Nate’s gut twisted. “Oh God, Mel-” Had she heard everything? About Bunny?

She shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. “It’s okay. Really.” A tear tumbled over her lower lid.

Nate closed the distance in one stride, pulling her into his arms. She tensed then eased against him.

“I never meant to hurt you,” Nate whispered against her soft hair. “Never.”

She pulled away, looking up at him through tear-filled blue eyes. “We weren’t getting married anyway, Nate.”

“I didn’t mean for you to find out like-”

“
No
.”

Melanie interrupted before Nate could finish his sentence, the ferocity of her tone startling him. He broke the embrace, taking a backward step.

“We were both unhappy.” She swiped at her moist cheeks. “This is all for the best. It’s fate.”

Nate struggled to find his voice. “Why did we both go along with the engagement if neither of us wanted it?”

“Because we were expected to.” A weak smile played at the corners of her mouth. “I’m tired of doing what they expect us to do. Aren’t you?”

He nodded.

She took a deep breath, straightening. New tears glistened in her eyes. “Go chase your dream.” She pushed against his chest. “Before it’s too late.”

“I’m sor-”

She pressed a finger to his lips, trapping the word inside. “Just go.”

Jimmy Monroe stood to one side, holding a helmet beneath his arm. He tipped his head sympathetically toward Melanie then looked at Nate. “Ready? Bike’s around back.”

Nate nodded.

He looked back as they hurried for the street exit. Melanie stood in the soft light of the hallway, her bright blue dress accentuating the beauty he hadn’t fully noticed before tonight.