Get Bunny Love (4 page)

No, he reassured himself. Nothing to worry about at all.

o0o

Later that night, Bunny spread out the Chanel for the next morning, her nerve endings quivering with excitement at the prospect of the new job. Fear for her apartment continued to simmer in her belly, even though Tilly had done her best to convince her otherwise.

She gathered a few of her beloved items from her work area, snuggling them safely into a small box. Glancing around her soothing apartment, she realized working in an office would be a horrible shock to her system. Especially spending each day within the gray confines of McNulty Events. Bunny plucked two more knickknacks from her desk, adding them to the growing collection.

She might be forced to join the ranks of corporate America, but she most certainly would not do so without her tricks for ensuring positive energy flow. She sank onto her heels, surveying her props and the lovely violet suit.

Suddenly her mind flashed on the image of Nathan McNulty’s smoldering gaze. Awareness rippled through her and she reached for one last item from her desk.

Icy hot breath mints.

After all, she’d hate to make a bad impression on her first day.

CHAPTER THREE

Strains of Barry Manilow filtered into Bunny’s dream. Nathan McNulty wore a brightly colored island print shirt and called Bunny to join him in a quick salsa. Desire pooled hot and heavy in all the right places. She willed her feet to go to him, but couldn’t.

The tune grew louder and she blinked her eyes open. Even awake, the song continued. She squinted at the digital clock. Five fifteen. A shiver of anticipation rippled through her.

She slipped from bed, the hardwood floor cold beneath her bare feet as she crossed cautiously toward the bedroom door. Maybe this was one of those dreams within a dream. The kind where you thought you were awake, but you really weren’t.

Bunny opened the door and peered toward the living room. She blinked. Even through her sleep-blurred vision the identity of the short woman dusting furniture as Manilow crooned
Copacabana
was unmistakable. Alexandra Love. Her mother.

Bunny clicked the door shut and thunked her forehead against the bright green wood. She gripped a chunk of her forearm between her thumb and index finger and pinched.
Ouch
. She cracked open the door, peering toward the living room once more.
Still there
. What was her mother doing in Philadelphia? Worse. In her apartment?

She stepped into the middle of the hall, slowly shuffling toward the frenzied activity in the living room. “Alexandra?” Heaven forbid she should call the woman by anything but her name. That had been a rule as long as Bunny could remember. Alexandra had age issues and, although she enjoyed her role as mother to Bunny and her sister, Vicki, she didn’t want the constant reminder the name,
Mother
, carried with it.

“Good morning, sweetheart.” Alexandra pulled her into a hug then held her at arm’s length. “Did I wake you?”

Bunny scowled. “You’re playing Barry Manilow at five o’clock in the morning. What do you think?”

Her mother frowned. “Stop making that face, dear. What if it freezes like that?”

Bunny tried to remember her breathing exercises. Surely there must be one for surprise parental appearances while you slept helplessly in the next room. “Where’s Dad?”

Bunny’s mother clucked her tongue and returned to her dusting. “I left him.”

Bunny’s heart fell to her toes. “Left him?”

“In Naples. A woman can only color code the canned goods for so many years before she snaps, dear. I figured I’d come here to find myself.” She gave Bunny a conspiratorial wink. “Just us girls.”

Oh, goody
. The surprise got better and better. Bunny held up a finger. “Be right back.”

She beat a path for the bathroom, slamming the door closed behind her. Okay. Maybe this was one of those really tenacious dreams within a dream where, no matter how hard you tried to wake up, you couldn’t. Bunny twisted on the cold water, waiting until the flow turned her fingers ice cold. She leaned over the sink and splashed her face until her teeth chattered. If she wasn’t awake now, she never would be.

She opened the door and squinted once more down the hall. Beads of water ran down her cheeks and dripped from her chin.
Drat
.
Still there
.

“How about some coffee, dear?” her mother chirped. “Or do you still drink that dreadful tea?”

Bunny swiped the moisture from her face with her bare hands, resigned to her fate. She padded down the hall, sinking her feet into the safe security of her bunny slippers before following her mother into the kitchen. “Tea,” she answered meekly as she watched her mother fill the kettle and set it on the stove. “Did you tell Daddy you were leaving?”

Alexandra jutted out her chin. “I left a note.”

“How did you get here?” Disbelief fluttered through Bunny’s stomach, a thread of hope still remaining that she’d wake up any minute.

“I drove all night.”

“In the Caddy?”

Her mother nodded then waggled a finger at Bunny. “I can’t believe you haven’t changed the locks since we gave you the apartment. There’s no telling what kind of lunatic might have a copy of that key, dear.”

No kidding
. “Aren’t you tired?”

“Convenience store coffee and gummy bears.” Her mother gave a quick shake of her expertly highlighted curls. “Amazingly energizing combination.”

“You don’t say,” Bunny grunted as she reached for her English breakfast tea. If nothing else, once her mother’s sugar levels crashed, she’d be asleep for hours, if not days. At least that was something to look forward to.

o0o

Two hours later, her mother was sound asleep in the second bedroom and Bunny was busy trying to squeeze her feet into a pair of chunky pumps. She gazed longingly at her bunny slippers, sitting deserted beneath her hand-painted desk.

“Sorry babies,” she whispered. “I’m afraid my days of working in bunny slippers are gone.”

Purse over shoulder, box of tricks tucked securely beneath her arm, and chin held high, she headed into the hall to press the elevator button. Her confidence turned to panic with one quick glance at her watch. Seven forty-five. How in the heck had that happened? She’d never make it on time.

One of the reasons she’d gone after the job at McNulty was the proximity of the office to her apartment—make that condo—though making the trek in fifteen minutes was pushing it.

The crisp autumn air greeted her with a chill as she stepped onto the sidewalk. She pulled the throat of her suit jacket tight around her neck, drew in a deep breath and coughed. City air. She smiled. Nothing quite like it.

When she went to sleep last night, her biggest concern had been her first day of work. Now, a fifty-five-year-old woman determined to find herself had taken over her apartment. Great. She shrugged. Why should life be boring? Wasn’t she the first to encourage people to embrace chaos?

Bunny checked her watch again. Ten minutes. She broke into a jog, elbowing her way through the crush of morning pedestrians. She pushed through the revolving doors and dashed into the reception area of McNulty Events at seven fifty-nine precisely.

A slim, thirty-something man stood waiting, glaring at her as she entered the space. He held his arms crossed and his lips pursed. “Miss Love, I presume?”

Bunny nodded.

He pointed to a huge wall clock and clucked his tongue. “You’re late. Let’s not make it a habit.”

“But I-” Bunny glanced at the clock and blinked. Five after eight. How could that be? “I don’t understand.”

“What? The concept of time?”

Hot embarrassment fired in her cheeks. She shook her head. “No,” she stated emphatically. “I assure you I understand the concept of time, but my watch must be slightly behind your clock.” She tipped her chin. “It won’t happen again.”

He arched one pale brow. “Very well. You’ve got a full schedule today. Mr. McNulty asked that I show you to your office.”

Bunny supported her box on one hip and followed the gentleman down a long narrow hallway. She hadn’t seen this section of the office yesterday, but it was gray, nonetheless. She shuddered but pasted on a smile. She could do this.
She could
. She had no choice.

Her guide stopped before the doorway to a gray cubicle, gesturing inside. “Your office.”

“Gray,” Bunny murmured out loud before she could stop herself.

“Pewter.” The gentleman swung his arm in a grand gesture. “Your desk, filing cabinet, and workstation.”

Bunny winced. She hadn’t realized office chairs and resin desks were available in gray. Now she knew they were. Sadly. “Thank you.” She set her box of personal belongings on the desk then turned to the gentleman, extending her hand. “I’m afraid we got off to a rocky start. Beatrice Love. Pleasure to meet you.”

He gave her hand a firm pump. A slight smile toyed with his severe features. “Bert Parks. No jokes, please.”

Bunny grinned. “Listen, you’re talking to someone nicknamed Bunny. I’d never make a joke about your name.”

A full smile flickered across his lips, but he quickly straightened his features as if catching himself. He nodded toward Bunny’s desk. “May I ask what you’ve got in the box?”

“Sure.” She plucked an item from inside, proudly holding up a bright yellow slinky adorned with a large smiley face. “For when I’m lacking creativity.”

She next pulled a small basketball net from the box, fastening the hoop to the rim of her gray trash can. “For those moments requiring brainstorming.” She smiled. “Or for trashing bad ideas.”

Bert’s eyes grew wide. A smirk tugged at one corner of his thin lips.

Bunny forged ahead. “This is my favorite.” She pulled out a stuffed hamster sporting a karate costume. “If you squeeze his paw he dances and sings
Kung Fu Fighting
.” She shook her head. “Really quite fun, but I think it would be a bit loud for first thing in the morning.”

“Undoubtedly.” He slowly shook his head, his expression pained. “Is there more?”

“Oh, yes. There’s-”

“Get rid of it,” he snapped.

Bunny’s heart caught. “Get rid of what? The hamster?”

“All of it.” Bert shook his head, pressing his lips together. “Mr. McNulty discourages frivolity in the office. We’re here to work.” He waved a hand at her box. “I’d suggest you hide that. I’ll let him know you’ve arrived.”

Bunny watched as he made his way down the hall. She returned each item to the box, sliding the apparently offensive collection far beneath the gray desk. She sank into her gray chair, fumbling in her purse.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back. Even the rules were gray. She cradled her Wonder Woman Pez dispenser in the palm of her hand, letting loose an exasperated breath. She frowned at the plastic superhero and whispered, “Looks like we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

o0o

Bert laughed quietly, shaking his head as he made his way toward Nate’s office. “Nathan McNulty, what have you done?” he whispered to himself. “Hired a live wire, that’s for sure.”

“Is she here?” Nate stood as Bert stepped into his office.

“She’s here, all right.”

“Settled in?” Nate’s brows arched.

“Completely.” Bert stifled a snicker. He
had
been a little hard on her, but it had been so much fun.

Nate narrowed his eyes. “How did she seem?”

“Enthusiastic,” Bert quipped.

“Enthusiastic is good.” Nate’s brown gaze grew hopeful.

“Well then, Miss Love is
very
good.”

A surprised look flickered across Nate’s face, but he quickly recovered. “Did you give her specifics on the Cup?”

“No.” Bert crossed his arms and leaned against a large bookcase. “I thought I’d leave that to you.”

“I have a good feeling about Miss Love.” Nate paused next to Bert as he crossed to the door. “I think it’s good to bring a fresh perspective into the firm.”

Bert pictured Bunny Love’s bright blue eyes, lively smile, and box of surprises. Definitely a fresh perspective. “Has she shared her nickname with you?”

Nate’s dark brows met in a puzzled peak. “Nickname?”

“Apparently they call her Bunny.”

“Bunny?” Nate took a step backward. “Well, that’s...very country club.” He nodded confidently. “
Very
country club.”

Bert watched Nate step into the hall, headed straight toward Bunny Love’s cubicle. He rubbed his chin, grinning. Watching these two work together would be more entertaining than ringside seats for the World Wrestling Federation.

He propped one elbow on the doorjamb, hung his head and laughed. He had known Nate for most of his life. Over the years, his friend had become so determined to live up to McNulty family expectations he’d grown half dead.

Bert had known Bunny for five minutes, yet he was fairly certain of one thing. If anyone could bring Nate McNulty back to life, it just might be Bunny Love.

o0o

Nate paused for a moment, taking in the sight of Beatrice Love. The woman sat slumped in her chair talking silently to a small red object in the palm of her hand. That couldn’t be good.

Anxiety flickered in his chest and he momentarily wondered if his rash hiring of Miss Love had been a mistake. He stepped into the cubicle, clearing his throat.

Beatrice’s head snapped in his direction. She tossed whatever she’d been holding beneath her desk, and sprang to her feet.

“Mr. McNulty.” She closed the space between them, offering her hand. “Good morning, sir. Pleasure to see you again.”

Her stunning presence affected Nate more than it had the previous afternoon. A classic pale purple suit accentuated her slight, yet curvy, figure. A double row of buttons gleamed alluringly down the front of the jacket. She’d styled her reddish hair smooth today, tucking the strands neatly behind her ears. All she needed was a pair of tortoise-shell reading glasses to complete the whole sexy librarian look.

He gave her hand a quick shake, drinking in the bright blue depths of her eyes.
Something remarkable exists there
, he thought suddenly.
Energy. Vitality. Life
. A pool of warmth spread through his midsection, forcing him to inhale a deep, steadying breath.