Get Bunny Love (17 page)

Nate blinked and straightened, releasing Bunny’s hand. “Actually, Bunny and I were discussing The Worthington Cup.” He gave her a long, wistful look.

Jeremy took Bunny’s arm, spinning her away from Nate. “Melanie’s looking a bit green around the gills.”

The breath rushed from Bunny’s lungs and she silently berated herself. An unmistakable thread of attraction pulled her and Nate closer and closer together, but they’d never share more than words. Nate cast one last look in her direction before he disappeared into the crowd of people near the tables.

Just like that, the thread snapped, and a chill replaced the contented glow that had momentarily infused Bunny’s veins.

o0o

Martha watched from a far corner of the banquet room as Jeremy whisked Bunny away from Nate. Thank goodness one nephew showed some common sense. She bristled at the longing look Nate cast toward Bunny as they parted. Shades of his father. Bad news all the way around.

She’d loved Nate’s father—and his mother. But the two had created an explosive combination. Their love had been legendary, but they’d gotten careless. Tears stung her eyes at the memory of the boys’ faces. Orphaned. Alone. Young.

She’d dropped her dreams and career aspirations to give them what they’d never had. Security. Safety. But now she was tired of being the glue that held the family together.

Once she sold the firm and Nate married Melanie, she’d be free to walk away. Nate would settle into a safe life with his bride and a secure job with his new father-in-law. He’d never want for anything.

She glared at Bunny, waltzing slowly in Jeremy’s arms. She was the factor that had to be controlled. Martha stiffened with grim determination. When Armand delivered on his promise to discredit Miss Love, Nate would do the right thing. He’d drop his immature infatuation faster than the little troublemaker could say positive chi.

Guilt flickered through her, but she slapped it away. Her plans would ensure Nate’s long-term happiness. And safety. His heart would heal. Eventually.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Nate dropped the morning paper onto Miss Peabody’s desk. “Is Kitty Worthington here yet?”

“She’s waiting for you in the conference room, sir. Bunny and Bert are in with her.”

“Very well.” He glanced at his watch. Five minutes late. How had
that
happened? He hadn’t deviated from his morning routine, had he? There had been no distractions. Oh, who was he kidding? He’d been distracted ever since he held Bunny in his arms Saturday night.

For the briefest moment he remembered the feel of her delicate curves beneath his fingers. And her scent—soft vanilla—sweet, warm, alluring.

He cleared his throat and straightened his tie. There was no time for fond memories. As much as he’d wanted to taste her ruby red lips on Saturday night, he had to snap out of it. He needed to focus on work, the Cup and regaining control.

He couldn’t afford distracting thoughts of Bunny Love. A chuckle slipped from his lips. No sir. He’d learned that lesson the hard way when he’d sampled her herbal tea. Just think what might happen if he tasted anything more.

“Feeling all right?” Concern tinged his secretary’s voice.

He nodded, heading for the conference room as laughter sounded from inside. Excellent. Nothing better than a happy client. Perhaps Bunny had left her mumbo jumbo at home. Clients expected decorum, plain and simple. He put on a wide smile and pulled open the door. “Good mor-”

What in the hell had happened
?

Soft chimes sounded in the background. Water trickled down the face of a stone sculpture, and a shocking shade of maroon covered the far conference room wall.

His eye twitched.
Damn it
. He pressed his finger to his lid and leveled a glare at Bunny. Her hopeful smile faded, anxiety flashing across her features. He had no doubt who was behind this atrocity, he could only wonder
why
.

“Still feeling the effect of the tea, Nathan?” Kitty sat at the head of the table, today’s safari suit some shade of brown. “Something wrong with your eye?”

He refocused on Bunny’s nervous face. “It’s not the tea.”

Bert cleared his throat and pulled out a chair—directly in front of a grouping of plants.
Plants
. “Have a seat, Nate. We were just going over the final plans with Kitty. Bunny’s done a superb job of pulling this together on such short notice. I left an agenda on your desk. Did you get it?”

“No, I haven’t been to my office yet this morning.”

Nate sank into the chair, never taking his eyes from Bunny’s pale gaze. “I wish to speak with you when we’re through.” Soft curves, or no soft curves, she’d gone too far.

She nodded, a nervous swallow working her throat. Nate felt some small satisfaction in watching her squirm. He’d tolerated enough of her whimsical influence on the firm and its employees. He glared at Bert, who barely concealed his smug amusement. It was time for decorum to return to McNulty Events.

“Now then.” Nate dug deep to muster his most charming tone. “Let’s review plans for the Cup. Shall we?”

o0o

Bunny wished the gray carpet would swallow her whole. She never dreamed Nate would be upset with the changes. Surprised? Yes. But angry? No. How could he not sense the improved energy in the room? The changes were genius. Sheer genius.

Color flushed his cheeks and that darn eyelid of his danced a jig. What was it that helped with spasms? She had just read an article in her herbalist guidebook.
No
. She caught herself. The poor guy had forgiven her on Saturday. She should have been happy with that. Of course, the conference room had already been changed by then. Damage done.

She stole a brief glance at the revamped space. It was lovely, actually. If Nate couldn’t appreciate the improved flow of chi, he was worse off than she thought.

“Bunny.” His voice had grown strained. “We’re waiting.”

She gave him a weak smile before she began. His glare only intensified. Anxiety simmered in the pit of her stomach. If he was upset with her now, just wait until he saw his office.

She ticked off the list of preparations underway for the Cup, meeting Nate’s gaze each time Kitty voiced her pleasure. His glare never softened. Not once. Not even for a moment.

Bunny shot a wary look at Bert whose only reply was a shrug. Great. So much for backup. The whole feng shui intervention had been his idea—he and Tilly. There was a match made in Heaven. Talk about yin and yang.

“Bunny?” Nate’s growl startled her attention back to the meeting. “Taking a creative pause?”

One of his dark brown brows arched so high it kissed his rumpled hairline. Warmth mingled with the butterflies in her stomach, and she opened her mouth to speak. Daggers shot from Nate’s gaze. She snapped her mouth shut.

“Can we turn off this blasted music?” Nate stood and began pacing the small space.

“I find it soothing.” Kitty leaned forward, releasing Chardonnay and Chablis from her lap.

Bunny shot Nate her best
so there
sneer just as the teacup poodles lunged for the potted plants. A small ficus tree hit the gray carpet, sending up a cloud of loose dirt and gravel.

Kitty clutched her chest. “We just came from the groomer.”

Chablis dragged a spider plant under the table while Chardonnay disappeared into a large ceramic pot. A chime sounded loudly from the recorded music and both poodles burst into hysterical yapping.

“Heel!” Kitty yelled in a futile attempt to stop the poodles’ rampage. “Heel!”

Bunny swallowed down the nausea clawing its way up her throat. Bert lowered his head in an attempt to either hide his laughter or imitate an ostrich. She wasn’t sure which. One thing was crystal clear, however. Nate McNulty was about to blow a gasket.

He stood still as a statue, staring at the frenzied destruction taking place. The poodles had knocked over all but one potted plant, and countless dirty paw prints covered the once pristine gray carpet. He pressed a finger to his eyelid as his jaw muscles worked feverishly. A large, angry-looking vein pulsed in his forehead.

Deciding retreat was her safest option, Bunny slid her notes into her leather folder and silently pushed her chair back from the table. She had taken one step toward the door when Nate’s voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

“Miss Love.”

Drat. Seconds from a clean getaway. Cold chills raced down her spine and her knees went weak. She hadn’t felt so scared since...well...since she’d poisoned him. She stood still, not daring to meet his gaze.

“You and I need to speak privately. Kitty, will you excuse us? And send me the groomer’s bill for removing the potting soil. Bert, you’ll see Kitty and the girls out.”

Bunny gasped when his palm gripped her shoulder and squeezed. “My office,” he snarled in her ear. “Now.”

She stepped into the hall and watched, horrified as he crooked his finger in her direction and stepped quickly away.

“Wait.” She had to keep him from seeing the redecorated office. “We should talk here.”

Nate stopped, pivoting sharply on one heel. White hot anger scorched from his mocha glare. And to think, it had been such a sensual gaze just Saturday night.

“This creative chaos has got to stop.” He took a step toward her, shoving a hand through his hair and releasing a frustrated breath. “How long have you been here? A week?”

Bunny nodded, swallowing down what little saliva she had left.

“Well,” Nate growled. “It seems like a lifetime, and feels like a lifetime sentence.” He jabbed a finger in the air. “We’re going to have a refresher on just who is, and isn’t, in charge here at McNulty Events.” He leaned close, lowering his voice. “Here’s a clue. It isn’t you. Let’s go.”

He turned and sped for his office. His hand hit the doorknob and he paused, nodding toward his secretary. “Hold my calls.”

Miss Peabody lowered her gaze to her desktop, avoiding all eye contact with Nate or Bunny. “Yes, sir.”

Nate turned to Bunny, keeping a firm grip on the doorknob behind him. “Move it, Love.”

“No!” Bunny cried out. Dear God in Heaven. He was going to kill her if she didn’t stop him from seeing his office before she could put things back as they’d been.

“No?” Incredulity flashed across his already strained features. “You’re telling me no?”

Miss Peabody opened a desk drawer and bent below the top of her desk—completely out of sight. The woman wasn’t stupid. She’d be out of the line of fire when objects started flying.

“Let me make something perfectly clear.” Nate’s voice had grown eerily calm. “If Kitty Worthington wasn’t such a big fan of yours, you’d be fired. Right here. Right now.” He opened his office door. Bunny’s heart leaped to her throat.

“Nate. Stop.”

“No.” He shook his head. “I won’t stop. I’ve tolerated all of the positive chi I’m going to tolerate.” He took a step backward into his office.

Bunny shot a panicked look at the rearranged furniture, the plants, the paint. Her nerves threatened to choke her. “Nate. I’m begging you.”

“No.” Anger boomed in his voice. “Begging won’t help. I am the boss, not you.” He continued his backward progress, eyes fixed on Bunny, frustration etched across his features. “This has gone on long enough.”

The coffee table she and Bert had added to his office sat mere inches behind his feet. One more step and he was toast.
She
was toast.

“And another thing,” he barked out.

“Stop!”

Too late. His calf hit the edge of the coffee table and he tumbled backward, onto the gray carpet.

o0o

Now what
? Could this day get any worse? Could this week get any worse? Nate stared up into Bunny’s terrified turquoise gaze. Hell. Could his
life
get any worse?

“I tried to warn you.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.

Nate glanced around his office. At least he
thought
it was his office. Candles burned on the bookshelf. Some sort of tapestry hung on the far wall—the wall that had been blessedly gray and empty last he checked. And what the hell had he tripped over? He frowned at the alien coffee table.

“
What
did you do?” he snarled.

Bunny dropped to her knees, pressing a palm to his shoulder. His body defied his anger by shooting heat straight to his groin. Great. Why should his lower back be the only body part afflicted by throbbing pain?

“I only meant to help.” She reached for his cheek. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to surprise you.”

“It worked.” He twisted his face away from her touch and winced as pain shot down his spine. “Sonofa-”

“You’re hurt.” Her pale gaze widened and moisture glistened in her eyes.

“Your detective skills are to be commended,” Nate quipped. “Your decorating skills are not.”

“I only wanted to improve the energy flow.”

Nate tried to pull himself to a sitting position, but pain racked the small of his back. “Remind me to put that on your tombstone after I kill you.”

Bunny scrambled behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, her body tight against his back. “I’ll help you.” Her soft, warm breasts pressed through his suit jacket.

He jerked away from her grasp. “Let go of me.”

Miss Peabody appeared in the doorway. Her eyes wide with what appeared to be a mix of shock and amusement. “Shall I call for assistance?”

“No,” Nate ground out. “Just make sure Kitty Worthington and her poodles have left the building and find Bert.
Now
.”

o0o

Bunny’s heart was doing its best to jackhammer out of her chest. At least she hadn’t killed him. But it had been close. Again. She wrapped her arms around his waist and tried once more to help him to his feet.

“I told you not to touch me,” he snapped.

He couldn’t mean that, she rationalized. It was the shock talking. “Let me help you. You need me. You do.”

Nate sank to the floor flat on his back. Even from that position, his fury was palpable.

She lowered herself on top of him, one arm on either side of his shoulders. A swallow worked in his throat.