Get Bunny Love (12 page)

“Aren’t you and Mr. McNulty rivals? I’d hate to do anything to jeopardize my job, as much as I’d love to have dinner.”

“Oh, Beatrice.” Armand clucked his tongue. “It’s refreshing to find someone so loyal to her employer, but you needn’t worry. Nathan McNulty and I have a healthy spirit of competition that goes back to our high school days. I hardly think what you do on your personal time is any business of his. Do you?”

“You’re right.” And he was right. It was an excellent point. “I’m sure Mr. McNulty would understand.”

“Well, there’s truly no reason to tell him.” Armand drank down his espresso and reclined against his stool back. “Tell me, he doesn’t require you to call him Mr. McNulty, does he?” His voice was light and teasing.

Bunny shook her head.

Armand slowly tipped his perfect male head to one side. Bunny’s gaze followed the movement of the rugged chin, the sharp angles of his cheeks, the full lower lip, the...

“Well that’s good. I’d always imagined his employees had to salute good old Nate when they passed him in the hall.”

Bunny laughed politely, but guilt nagged at her belly. Nate was a good man—albeit a bit stifled. “No, sir,” she answered softly. “No saluting.”

Armand leaned forward, pulling Bunny’s fingers to his mouth. He pressed his lips to the top of her hand. “Beatrice. You are the most delightful creature I’ve met in a long time. But, please, I can think of far more endearing terms for you to call me than sir.”

A hot blush fired in Bunny’s cheeks. She glanced at the table to hide her embarrassment. It wasn’t every day a man of Armand Miller’s caliber kissed her hand. Well, okay. It was never. He was no match for Nate McNulty, but darned if he wouldn’t do in a pinch. And Nate was spoken for. Right?

“Promise me you’ll call me Armand.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “At least until we get to know each other better. Then you can call me whatever you want.”

The waitress brought their bill. Armand tossed a platinum credit card onto the small leather folder, scrutinizing Bunny. She did her best not to wiggle beneath his piercing gaze.

“Perhaps you’re free for dinner this evening?”

Nate’s warm, brown eyes flashed through Bunny’s mind and she hesitated.
Why
? The man was as good as engaged. More importantly, he’d never give Bunny a second thought.

“I have information that will help you with The Worthington Cup. Would you like that?”

“Very much so.” Bunny smiled. Dinner with a handsome man
and
job advice? “Sounds perfect.”

Armand signed his credit card slip then sat back, his lips twisting into a crooked, sexy smile. “You and I, Miss Beatrice Love, have a date.”

o0o

Nate glared at the bottom of his coffee mug. This afternoon’s pot hadn’t provided the pick-me-up he craved. He ran a hand over his exhausted face, but straightened when a knock sounded at his office door. “Come in.”

Jeremy’s blond head appeared in the opening. His layered cut would look unkempt on most men, but on Jeremy it was the perfect statement of his casually elegant style.

“You’re becoming a regular here,” Nate said suspiciously. “To what do I owe this unexpected surprise?”

“I didn’t come to see you.” Jeremy jerked his thumb toward the row of cubicles. “Bunny in?”

Anxiety flickered in Nate’s gut. “Why?”

Jeremy’s deep blue eyes narrowed to slits. “Since when do you feel justified in questioning my actions?”

“Since your ‘actions’ involve my event coordinator—who happens to be working on a very tight deadline.”

Jeremy crossed the office and sank into one of the rich leather chairs opposite Nate’s desk. He raked a hand through his blond mane, each piece slipping effortlessly back into place. Jealousy flicked to life in Nate’s belly at the sight of the familiar move. It was insane to be jealous over hair, but he was.

“Aunt Martha thought I should stop by.”

Warning bells chimed in Nate’s brain.

“She thought I should ask Bunny to the Autumn Harvest dinner dance.” He leaned forward eagerly. “Hell, I’d love to get to know her better, so, I figured, why not?”

Nate reflected on his earlier conversation with Bunny and the ache that had flashed through her eyes when she thought he didn’t want her at the dance.

“Why not?” Nate shrugged, his voice tight, but steady.

Jeremy rocked back against the chair. “Did you see the way she filled out that dress this morning?”

Nate sucked in a deep breath and counted to ten. “Melanie and I will be there. We’ll get a table together.”

Jeremy unfurled himself from the chair in one smooth, sleek motion. “Great.” He beamed. “Tell Bunny I stopped by. I’ll give her a call later.”

Nate trained his focus on a financial report. “Will do.”

“Hey, Nate?”

He looked up to meet his brother’s bright gaze. “Death by ruffles.” He winked. “Heck of a way for a man to go.”

Nate watched his brother close the door, then flipped open the report. He did his best to focus on the columns of numbers, but try as he might, he couldn’t shake the image of Bunny’s hand beneath his—or the way she filled out her ruffles.

o0o

Later that afternoon, Nate stood just outside Bunny’s cubicle and watched her work. Her head tipped down toward the notepad she scribbled on. He admired the soft curve of her neck, chastising himself for the desire simmering in his gut.

He tapped on the edge of the cubicle door. “How did the walk-through go?”

She spun to face him and his heart caught in his throat. Her eyes were brilliant. Soft wisps of reddish-brown hair feathered her cheeks, flushed with color.

“It went well, I think. They’re ready for the dogs. Lots of cleaners, plastic runners. You name it.” A grin spread across her face and soft smile lines crinkled the corners of her eyes. His stomach tightened. “I took the checklist you gave me and didn’t forget a thing.”

“Perfect.” He sank into the extra chair in her office, dragging a hand through his hair. “This is extremely important to the firm. You know that, correct?”

She tipped her head to one side, her expression growing intent. “I understood the first several times you told me.”

“Right.” He glanced briefly at his shoes then met her stare. “My brother stopped by to see you while you were out.”

Her gaze widened, and Nate’s heart caught. Damn it. He shouldn’t care that she brightened at the news.

“Really?”

He nodded. “Seems Aunt Martha’s already spoken to him about this weekend.” Nate stood, moving toward the cubicle’s door. “He’ll call you later.” He tapped on the metal edge of the partition. “Listen. Kitty wants an update on our plans. I thought we’d head out to her estate in the morning. I can pick you up at your apartment.”

“Sure.” Surprise washed across Bunny’s pert features. “I can meet you here if it’s easier.”

Nate shook his head. “I’ll pick you up. Make sure you leave me the address before you head home.”

“Will do.”

He hesitated as she turned back to her desk. “The slippers are fine as long as you confine them to your work space.”

She turned to face him, her upturned eyes huge saucers of blue beneath her long lashes. Fresh fire colored her cheeks. “Thank you.”

“Anything else I should know about? Other surprises?”

A sheepish grin spread across her face. “A boxful actually.”

Nate winced. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“They’re all wonderful tools for freeing creative energy.” She straightened defensively.

“I’m sure.” He leaned against the wall. “Just make sure they stay within these four walls.”

“These four gray walls,” Bunny teased.

“These four pewter walls.”

She smiled, sending warmth straight to his center. “I’ll see you in the morning. Nine o’clock.”

“Just wait until you see my apartment,” she quipped. “Its energy will knock your socks off.”

Her vivid blue gaze met his and his stomach gave another twist. A
serious
twist. That couldn’t be good.

A sudden vision of Bunny in lounging pajamas and bunny slippers flashed into his mind. She’d be curled up on a lovingly beat-up sofa and he’d be feeding her grapes, or sipping on wine, or nibbling on her ear lobe.
Good grief
. What on earth was wrong with him?

“How about you, Nate?”

“What about me?” he sputtered.

“Don’t you want a bit of life in your office?” Her features brightened, as if issuing a dare.

“I have pictures.” His voice tightened, and he mentally berated himself. What did it matter what this woman thought?

“Yes. Each frame exactly two inches from the next.” She shook her head, clucking her tongue. “Blocked chakras.”

“Order.” Nate cleared his throat then stepped into the hall. He needed a tumbler of scotch or a splash of cold water on his face. One of the two.
Or both
.

Nibbling on her ear lobe. Absurd. As if she’d ever let him.
Or would she
?

He shook the vision out of his brain. Control, McNulty. It’s all about control.

o0o

Bunny knocked on the open door to Nate’s office. His chair sat empty and he was nowhere in sight. Just as well. She quickly crossed the room to his desk, positioning the slip of paper with her apartment address and number in the middle of his blotter. His
empty
blotter.

She reached into her briefcase, lovingly stroking the three Chinese coins she’d bound together by a red thread. Energy. Luck. Prosperity.

She shot a quick glance toward the hall then opened the top desk drawer and pulled the coins from her bag. Working quickly, she tucked them into the far back corner and slid the drawer shut. With any luck, the coins would create positive chi.

She pondered the stark, gray space, glancing from one wall to the next. Lord knew the office needed an energy shift. It was no wonder the guy was stifled. She turned to scrutinize the symmetrical grouping of frames.

This time she recognized the faces. Nate. Jeremy. Melanie. Martha. The only smile was on a very small photo of a young Nate. What looked to be a motorcycle helmet sat tucked into the crook of his arm.
Nate on a motorcycle
? Bunny stifled a snort. That would be the day.

An unfamiliar man had his arm draped around Nate’s shoulders, the resemblance between the two uncanny. Nate’s father. Bunny’s heart twisted.

She let out a deep breath and briefly considered another attempt at rearrangement, then shook her head. One thing at a time. Otherwise poor Nate wouldn’t know what had hit him.

o0o

Nate gazed out his office window onto the street below, watching Bunny’s slight figure bob in and out of the horde of pedestrians as she headed home for the evening.

Bert had mentioned her date with Miller. First Jeremy. Now Armand. Seemed Miss Love’s ruffles had turned more than one male head since her arrival on the event planning scene.

Armand Miller
. Nate had grown accustomed to Aunt Martha falling for the snake’s phony persona, but Bunny?

His eyelid twitched and he flattened his palm against the window, his gaze darting from one street corner to the other before he realized she’d slipped out of sight.

Bunny Love and her naive beliefs were like nothing and no one he’d ever known, and that scared him. He had no control over his body’s reactions or his emotions when she was near. That terrified him.

He sank into his leather chair and pulled open a drawer, reaching for his calculator. His fingers brushed against something foreign, something cold. He pulled out the strange object, turning it over in his hand.

Three coins sat tied together by a red thread.

“What the-”

Bunny
. Bunny and her feng shui.

Nate bounced the coins in his palm for several long seconds.
Cosmic life force
. She had a cosmic life force, all right, but it would never help him save McNulty Events. And right now, that was all he had time to deal with.

He refused to let his aunt throw away everything his father and uncle had worked to build. He’d keep the company in the family if it was the last thing he did.

Nate slid his leather-wrapped trash can from beneath the desk and let the coins slip between his fingers. They landed with a clank at the bottom of the can. He didn’t need Bunny Love or her New Age mentality. He needed control. Nothing more, nothing less. After all, it hadn’t failed him yet.

o0o

Martha McNulty sat in the lounge of the Union League, watching Armand Miller greet the other patrons as he prowled into the plush space. She took a sip of her cocktail, waiting for his gaze to find her across the crowded room. Their eyes locked and the practiced smile spread across his flawless face.

“Martha, darling. You look ravishing as always.” Armand brushed his lips against the back of Martha’s offered hand.

“Armand, as delightful as I find your usual adulation, let’s cut to the chase. Shall we?”

She gestured to a chair, laughing internally at the startled expression in Armand’s typically cool eyes.

He sank into the chair, crossing his legs elegantly. “At your service.”

“Did you do as I suggested?” Her pulse quickened.

Armand nodded. “I was at the Loews when you called. I managed to bump into Miss Love in the lobby.”

“And?” Irritation flickered through her. Armand of all people should know she had no patience for slow storytelling.

He leaned forward. “And she and I will be dining together this evening.”

A slow smile spread across Martha’s face.
Perfect
. If Armand could pull this off, she’d hand him McNulty Events on a silver platter, regardless of her promise to Nate. Guilt teased at her but she shook it off. Her actions were for Nate’s own good. For his future. She lowered her voice. “You understand my request?”

His dark eyes narrowed, slight crow’s feet appearing at their edges. “I’m not sure why you want this event to fail. You’re talking sabotage, correct?”

Martha flinched. “Such an ugly word, Armand. I’m not seeking a catastrophic event. I’m looking for something that will cast doubt on Miss Love’s abilities without discrediting Nathan.” After all, her ultimate goal was to assure his security, not ruin him professionally.