Get Bunny Love (10 page)

He turned to find her gathering her notepad and pen from her desk. The hem of her skirt inched up her leg, exposing a generous slice of creamy thigh. He swallowed.

When he forced his gaze back to her face, his eyes locked with hers. A soft pink blossomed in her cheeks and she smiled.

“I’ll be right there.”

“Fine.” Nate turned and sped from the cubicle.

As soon as this meeting was over, he’d have to give some serious thought to establishing a formal dress code.

o0o

Bunny sat riveted by the power struggle between Nate and his brother, Jeremy. Judging by the smirk on Bert’s lips, he found the give-and-take more than entertaining.

Jeremy appeared to be everything Nate was not. Relaxed. Open to new ideas.
Human
. She mentally chastised herself. That wasn’t fair. Nate was human. At least he displayed human tendencies every now and then, like when she’d caught him checking out her legs back at her cubicle.

At this particular moment, they all watched his brother sketch a Web site flowchart on the recessed presentation panel.

“Bunny?” Jeremy’s voice broke through her thoughts. “What do you think of the site plan?”

This was her chance, she realized. She had designed countless sites for clients and had mastered the use of color and layout to maximize impact. “I think it’s excellent,” she replied confidently. “I wonder if I could make a few suggestions?” She jumped to her feet, gathering an assortment of markers in her grip. “May I?”

“Well, I-” Nate’s words were interrupted by Jeremy.

“Be my guest.” Jeremy stepped aside.

Bunny tossed Nate a victorious grin as she set about sketching a design idea for the site. She used a variety of bright colors and shapes to frame a sample Web page, drawing in banners and buttons with quick sketches of various dog breeds.

“There.” She took a step back to admire her work. “See anything you like?”

o0o

Yes
, Nate thought. He most definitely saw something he liked and it wasn’t the image on the board. Relief washed through him as Bunny took another step backward. All that sketching had turned his thermostat up a notch—or ten. He slipped out of his suit jacket.

What in the hell was wrong with him? He was about to become engaged to Melanie, for crying out loud. And Melanie was far more suitable for a McNulty than Miss Bunny Love. But Melanie had
never
made his blood boil.

Bunny’s brilliant eyes narrowed on him. “Are you all right? You look feverish.”

“I think he’s just a bit warm,” Bert muttered. “He’s had a recent tendency toward hot flashes.”

Nate shot Bert a threatening glare. Bert lowered his face, but his quaking shoulders belied his amusement.

Bunny’s eyebrows arched. “You’re not ill, are you?”

“No,” Nate replied, tossing his jacket over the chair back. “I believe your vision could work, Bunny...er...Beatrice.”

He warmed at the smile that spread across her face. Her idea was quite good, actually. There was something to be said for positive chi after all, not that he’d admit that to her.

“Bunny,” Jeremy interrupted their exchange. “Perhaps you and I could meet later to dig into the site design.”

“Not necessary,” Nate interjected.

Bert leaned a fist against his mouth to hide his obvious amusement.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Jeremy spoke slowly. “Do you have plans for lunch today?”

Anger began to simmer in Nate’s belly as he watched his brother’s gaze absorb Bunny’s presence. “She’s having lunch with me,” Nate snarled. “And Aunt Martha,” he quickly added. “For the record, Miss Love has the entire Worthington Cup to organize, not merely the Web site.”

Bert’s fingers were now pressed to his lips. “If we’re through here, I’m going to slip out,” he said, stepping toward the door. “Interesting concepts,” he added as he fled.

Nate could have sworn he heard a tight burst of laughter once the conference room doors clicked shut.

“Well,” Jeremy said. “Perhaps another time, Bunny.” He gathered his notes, turning his attention to Nate. “In the meantime, I’ll work up sketches, cost estimates, and a production timeline for you, baby brother.”

Nate flinched. “Thanks.”

Jeremy shook Bunny’s hand, holding it just a moment too long. “I look forward to working closely with you.”

Not too closely
, Nate thought possessively, silently urging his brother to leave. He and Bunny stood in uncomfortable silence for several long seconds once they were alone.

Nate broke the ice. “Nice ideas.”

“Yes, your brother seems quite good at what he does.”

“I meant
your
ideas, Bunny.”

The familiar blush fired in her pale cheeks. “Thanks.” She returned the markers to the board and closed the cabinet doors. “I’d better get some work done before our lunch.”

Nate nodded, watching the colorful ruffles flutter about her knees as she stepped across the room. He glanced at his watch. If he worked quickly, he could draft that dress code before lunch.

o0o

Bunny had been back at her desk for several minutes when she decided she couldn’t take it for another moment. Her feet throbbed with pain. She kicked off the sling-backs and glanced over her shoulder to the entrance of her cubicle. Clear.

Reaching beneath her desk, she tugged her box of goodies from its hiding place. She’d stashed the slippers safely inside earlier this morning. In one deft move she plucked them from the box and slid them onto her sore feet.

Bunny wiggled her toes, letting the soft, plush cushion of the fur caress her tired arches and insteps. She leaned back against her chair and stretched out her legs. Ecstasy. If there were a dress code at McNulty Events,
these
should be number one on the list of required items.

Bunny inhaled a cleansing breath as she pulled out her notes from the meeting.

“Let’s go.” Nate’s voice boomed from behind her. “I’ve called down for a cab.”

Bunny jumped so hard she slammed her knee on the underside of her desk. “Sh-” She muffled her swear as she glanced at her watch. “You’re twenty minutes early.”

“Punctuality is key in this business. Let’s go.”

She shuffled her feet further under the desk, twisting to meet Nate’s impatient gaze. “I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

“Nonsense. Whatever you’re doing can wait.”

Bunny smiled brightly as she fumbled to kick one slipper off with the other. Try as she might, she couldn’t wiggle her feet free.

Nate’s eyebrows drew together. “Problem?”

She quickly shook her head. “I’ll meet you. I need to go to the ladies’ room.”

His lips pressed into a thin line and he nodded toward her feet. “What are you doing? Stand up and let’s get going. You’re wasting time.”

A shiver of dread whispered through Bunny. So much for maintaining a low profile with her box of tricks. She took a deep breath, straightened and stepped toward Nate.

His features pinched into a pained expression and he pointed toward her feet. “Want to explain those?”

“My feet hurt. I didn’t think anyone would mind if I slipped these on for a moment.” Lord, she was babbling. “No one saw me. I promise.”

“I saw you, Miss Love.” He frowned. “What the hell are they supposed to be? Some sort of rodent?”

Bunny gazed down at the worn pink ears and the faded black noses. “Bunny slippers,” she whispered.

Nate’s eyelid twitched and he pressed a finger to hold it steady. “I don’t think I heard you properly.”

She cleared her throat. “Bunny slippers.”

His chest heaved and he visibly worked to steady himself. “I was afraid that’s what you said.” He waved one hand toward the hall. “I’m going to step out there to wait for you. You have precisely twenty seconds to meet me there wearing proper footwear. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Nate disappeared through the opening. Bunny dove for her shoes, tossing the slippers into the box and shoving it beneath the desk. Grabbing her notebook, she dashed for the hall.

Nate stood leaning against the wall, eyes closed, hair rumpled into an unruly mess. His eyelids fluttered open as she neared. “Ready?”

Bunny pointed toward his head. “You might want to fix your hair.”

“And you might want to permanently lose those slippers.”

Bunny followed Nate’s perfect back down the gray hall, anxiety swirling in the pit of her stomach. She knew
she
wasn’t perfect, but at least she didn’t try to hide it.

Nate McNulty might appear to be a tidy package, but the rumpled hair and the twitch gave him away. Although he tried his hardest to present a smooth, unflappable image, he couldn’t fool Bunny. No way. Beneath that cold, collected exterior lurked some serious positive energy—undeniable and stifled.

An idea tickled the back of her brain and she smiled devilishly to herself. What
would
it take to set his energy free?

He stood several steps ahead, glaring at her. A furrow formed between his dark brows, his mocha eyes smoldering with impatience. “We’re late, Beatrice.”

She hurried to catch up, doing her best to ignore the wave of heat his eyes sent through her body.
Yes
. All signs pointed to a major stash of cosmic energy pent up inside Nate McNulty.

But did Bunny have the skills to set him free? She’d never know unless she tried. And she’d never been one to back down from a challenge.

After all, helping Nate discover his energy was the least she could do for the man who had helped save her apartment.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Nate held open the heavy glass door. Bunny brushed past, inhaling as much of his warm scent as she could without appearing obvious. Tantalizing smells from the interior of the restaurant quickly overrode her senses. Spices. Herbs. Cappuccino. Her nose struggled to sort one aroma from another.

An extremely polished woman waved from a far table.

“There she is,” Nate muttered.

He pressed his palm against the small of Bunny’s back, sending a ripple of awareness up her spine.

“For God’s sake,” he whispered, “act like an expert in event planning.”

“But I-”

“Just do it.” His curt tone silenced her.

The striking woman stood and extended a hand to Bunny as they neared. Her close-cropped auburn waves expertly framed her flawless face. Bunny had heard the phrase
dripping with diamonds
, but until this particular moment, hadn’t fully understood what it meant. She did now. Every available inch Martha McNulty had to offer was jeweled.

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, Miss Love.” She gave Bunny’s hand a firm shake and gestured to the open seat next to her. “Nate tells me we’re lucky to have found you.”

Bunny tamped down her amusement. She wondered if he’d say that now that he’d seen her in action. “Thank you, Mrs. McNulty. I’m thrilled to be part of such an exemplary firm.”

“Please, call me Martha.”

“Thank you, Martha.”

“I’m curious about one thing.” The elder woman sipped a glass of sparkling water. “I’ve been in this business a long time.” She gave Bunny a scrutinizing look. “Your name is not familiar to me. Why is that?”

“Well I-”

“Miss Love is a well-kept secret,” Nate interrupted. “She employs a more holistic approach to planning than we’ve explored previously.” He nodded confidently at his aunt. “I have no doubt she’ll have a positive effect at McNulty.”

Bunny watched the woman’s eyes narrow. “Holistic?”

“Positive chi,” Nate replied. “Isn’t that right, Bunny...Beatrice?”

“Bunny?” Martha’s eyes popped from narrow to wide.

“Family name,” Nate answered.

Any anger Bunny harbored for Nate since yesterday’s lecture evaporated at the sight of him touting positive chi. She watched sympathetically as his face flushed. “Warm in here?” He cast a hopeful glance at Bunny.

“Terribly.” She nodded. “Not good at all for your chakras.”

Anxiety flickered through his rich brown gaze and his eyelid twitched.

“Chakras?” he and his aunt asked simultaneously.

“Spiritual energy centers.” Bunny tapped his arm. “Perhaps you should slip off your jacket. I’d hate to see you become any more blocked than you already are.”

Martha made a tsking noise with her tongue. “A gentleman always wears his jacket at meals. Never mind your discomfort.”

She turned her attention to Bunny. “I’m a bit confused as to what any of this has to do with event planning.” Scorn tinged her words.

“Without positive energy,” Bunny explained, “creativity is stifled. By utilizing different tools, we can increase the flow of chi, thereby improving the effectiveness of our planning efforts at McNulty. This is possible through color, through feng shui, through-”

“And how will this chi impact the bottom line?”

“Happier clients. Repeat clients. Bigger bottom line.” Bunny straightened, meeting Martha’s question head on.

“Hmph.” Martha scrutinized Nate. “You agree, obviously.”

His Adam’s apple worked in his throat. He raised one hand toward his head, but caught himself at the last moment. He quickly lowered his arm. “Completely.”

Martha tapped a well-manicured nail to her chin. “I knew a John Love in school. Married some horridly chipper cheerleader. Can’t remember her name.”

“Alexandra,” Bunny answered softly.

Martha snapped her fingers. “Alexandra Conroy. Always spouting off poetry.”

Poetry
? Alexandra? Maybe her mother’s greeting card adventure hadn’t come out of left field after all.

“Are you related?” Martha’s words dripped with superiority.

“My parents.” Bunny traced the lip of her plate with her finger.

“We’ve developed a cutting-edge program for the Cup,” Nate interjected.

Bunny shot him a weak smile, grateful for his effort to divert the conversation from her chipper, cheerleading mother.

“Such as?” Martha’s words were curt, completely refocused on the task at hand.

Bunny decided she did not want to get on the wrong side of this woman. “We’ve added an interactive Web site and expanded the preview night cocktail party.”