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
“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
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