Get Bunny Love by Kathleen Long Page B

in response to Miss Love’s laugh.
    Dread tickled Martha’s insides. This situation needed handling quickly. She would not sit back and watch history repeat itself. Nathan’s mother had been his father’s undoing. She had no intention of letting the boy make the same mistake.
    “Aunt Martha?”
    She pulled her attention from her scheming.
    “Jeremy agreed to handle the interactive site for us.”
    “Did he?” Martha asked.
    Interest flickered across Bunny’s pert features.
    Suddenly, Martha’s brain wrapped around a potential solution to at least part of the problem. “He never ceases to amaze me,” she quipped.
    o0o
    Nate sat back against the uncomfortable chair. What did they mold these seats from? Rocks? And now he had to listen to his aunt’s standard chorus of “Jeremy the Wonder Boy”. Wonder boy, his ass.
    “Bunny would be a charming companion for Jeremy at the Autumn Harvest dinner dance, don’t you agree Nathan?”
    Nate shook himself from his mental rant. “Who? What?” Anxiety wound its way through his gut.
    Aunt Martha sneered. “You know, Nathan, Miss Love might be correct. Perhaps your chakras need cleaning, as well as your ears.”
    Heat flared under the collar of his shirt and he longed to toss a glass of ice water down his neck.
    “I asked you who your brother is taking to this week’s dinner dance.”
    Nathan shook his head. “I have no idea. I’m not privy to his social calendar.”
    “I thought Bunny might enjoy the event.” Martha peered at Bunny who sat like a wide-eyed doe caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck.
    Nate stared. This wasn’t happening.
    “What about Jeremy, Nate?” Aunt Martha asked. “He broke it off with that Suzy creature, didn’t he?”
    “He didn’t mention a thing about it when he was at the office this morning.” Nate swallowed hard, reaching for his water glass before realizing he’d already drained it.
    “I’ll ask him,” his aunt said cheerfully. She stood from the table, tucking her purse beneath her arm. “It’s settled then. I’ll see you this weekend, Bunny.”
    Nathan’s eye twitched and he pressed a finger to his lid. Bunny. Jeremy. Dinner dance. Not good. Not good at all.
    o0o
    “You and your aunt seem very close.” Bunny glanced out the window as the cab pulled into traffic.
    “She raised me,” Nate answered.
    Bunny refocused her attention on Nate, noticing the muscle of his jaw working in his cheek.
    “Jeremy and I lost our parents when we were very young. Aunt Martha took us in. She did her best to raise us in proper McNulty family tradition.”
    Bunny’s heart twisted. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be.” He smiled tightly. “I’ve had a great life.”
    Her curiosity got the best of her. “Why did you present me as you did?”
    “What do you mean?”
    Bunny rolled her eyes. “Please. Why did you talk about positive chi when you obviously don’t believe in it.”
    “If she believes you’re bringing something fresh to the firm, there’s a chance she won’t sell.”
    “I see.” Bunny clasped her hands together to steady them. “She wants to sell the firm?” So much for job security .
    “I intend to stop her.” Nate’s intent stare sent hot skewers of electricity straight to Bunny’s toes. “You’ve got raw talent, Bunny. I believe we can make the Cup better than any event this region’s seen. If we do that, even Aunt Martha will agree to hold on to the company.”
    “Why didn’t you hire a more experienced planner?”
    His expression softened. “You want the truth?”
    She braced herself. “Yes.”
    “Because there wasn’t time, and you struck me as someone who could learn quickly. And you will.”
    Bunny tried to tell herself his matter-of-fact statement didn’t hurt. But it did.
    “I’m sorry my aunt was a little rough on your mother.”
    She shrugged. “No harm done.”
    “Did you follow in the family footsteps?” Nate’s voice took on a lighter, teasing tone, sending warmth