Get Bunny Love (31 page)

“No.” Bert steered Kitty into position, gesturing to Nate. “Nate feels this will restore the Cup’s festive tone. You know how the media is. They’ll see this and forget all about last night’s...er...activities.”

“Dreadful,” Kitty murmured. “It’s a wonder Chablis wasn’t trampled by that Saint Bernard.”

Nate bit back a laugh. Would have served the little fleabag right.

“Ready now, on three.” Bert pointed to Nate. “One...two...and three.”

Nate stepped onto the stage. Flashes illuminated as he crossed to the podium. A deafening silence fell over the crowd of reporters. A lone person snickered.

What in the hell was he doing? Bert was right. This was insane. He fought the urge to turn and run, forcing himself to walk to the podium. He gripped the microphone, pausing for a beat to calm his thumping pulse. He breathed in for a slow count of four, then out. The tension in his muscles eased, his clarity of purpose returned. Looking like a total idiot was a small price to pay if he could woo Bunny back into his life.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman of the press. Today we celebrate our region’s oldest dog show. You’re in for a treat. Shall we begin?”

o0o

Bunny careened down the sidewalk, skates humming. “Coming through,” she bellowed as a woman backed away from a sidewalk vendor. Too late. Bunny caught the woman’s elbow, sending a soft pretzel flying out of her hands.

“Sorry.” Normally she’d slow down to apologize and pay, but these were desperate times. If she didn’t reach the Convention Center pronto, last night’s fiasco would look like amateur hour compared to what might happen today.

Bunny took the turn down Twelfth Street holding her breath. The lunchtime crush of pedestrians assailed her from every direction.

“Lady, watch it!”

“Whoa!”

“Yo!”

Philadelphians might not be the most articulate bunch, but they got their points across. She slammed with a thud into the heavy glass doors of the Convention Center. The security guard looked up from her station, scowling, as Bunny skated in.

“No way, honey. Not in here.” The guard waved her hands, clamoring around the side of her desk.

Bunny slowed, but kept skating. “It’s an emergency. I may already be too late to avert disaster.” Her words rushed out in a multisyllabic slur.

The guard frowned, hurrying to match Bunny’s stride. “Did you say disaster?”

“Yes.”

“Well, no disaster is worth those skates leaving marks on this marble floor.” The guard reached for Bunny’s arm, but missed.

“What would you call one thousand out of control dogs and their pissed-off owners all run amuck in your Convention Center? On your watch.” Bunny’s heart rapped against her ribs. This had to work. There was no time to stop. Not now.

“On
my
watch?” The guard slowed from a full-out run to a trot.

“Yes,” Bunny answered over her shoulder.

“I’d call that a disaster.” The guard’s eyes widened, fear washing across her features. “Honey, you’d better skate like the wind.”

“Thank you!” Bunny pushed as hard as she could, knowing she still had the length of two football fields to cover before she reached the arena. She could only hope Nate hadn’t done anything stupid, like start the event early.

o0o

Nate realized this was the most stupid thing he’d ever done. Damn it to hell. Bunny wasn’t even here to see him. All this for nothing. He wanted to prove himself capable of creative thought. Capable of not caring about the opinions of others. And she wasn’t here. Of course, he
had
fired her.

He stood to the side as Kitty fielded typical press questions about agility trials, dog breeds, and the show’s history. A local PBS reporter stood and introduced himself. “I want to know what the guy in the...suit...was thinking when he got dressed this morning?”

Nate snapped to attention. Kitty watched him expectantly.

“Me, too,” a second reporter barked out.

“Same,” a third yelled.

Soon the shouts of reporters rang out over top of one another. Kitty tapped the microphone, calling for quiet. “Nate? Perhaps you’d like to address this issue.”

Nate swallowed. Why
had
he dressed like this? He stepped toward the microphone, jumbled thoughts battling for position in his brain. What had he been
thinking
?

He’d thought about Bunny, hoping a crazy stunt would win her heart. He’d thought wearing this suit would prove what she meant to him. He’d hoped she’d realize how each chaotic thing she’d done had slowly brought him back to life—out of robot mode—as she and Jeremy both called it.

Suddenly, he knew exactly how to answer the reporter’s question. He’d tell the truth.

o0o

Bunny skidded to a stop in the hallway just outside the arena. Reporters’ voices boomed from inside. What the heck? Things sounded a bit out of control. What if she was too late?

“Nate?” Kitty said. “Perhaps you’d like to address this issue.”

What issue? Dogs. Agility. Obedience. The day’s events were nothing new.

“Actually, I’m glad you asked.” Nate spoke slowly, though Bunny could barely decipher his muffled words. Wasn’t he holding the microphone close enough? “You asked what I was thinking when I got dressed this morning. I was thinking about a woman named Bunny Love.”

Bunny’s breath caught. She tugged one skate off then the other. She pulled the backpack from her shoulder, all the while concentrating on Nate’s muffled words.

“I fired her last night.”

Bunny winced.

“Because an event she’d planned got a little out of hand.”

“That’s an understatement,” someone called out. Laughter rippled from inside the room.

Okay. She rolled her eyes. She deserved that.

Bunny slipped her shoes from the backpack and stuck her feet into the pumps. She pulled open the door, sneaking into the backstage area. Bert stood facing the stage, unaware of her arrival.

“Can we open the curtain, please?” Nate called out.

o0o

Nate held the rest of his thoughts as the large purple staging curtain slid open, revealing hundreds of dogs and their owners, waiting patiently for the agility and obedience trials to begin.

Cameras clicked and videos whirred. Nate beamed at the order with which the arena had been arranged. Bunny had pulled it off. Everything was perfect. Controlled. Organized. He’d been a fool to doubt Bunny’s ability.

He gestured to the large area. “There before you are the finest each breed has to offer. Today they will dazzle you with their skills, strength and brains.” He refocused on the media representatives gathered before him. “Bunny Love organized today’s proceedings. Let’s recognize her now.”

Nate clapped his hands, smiling as those in the media area and the main arena did the same. “If you found last night’s Whine and Dine exciting, wait until you see what’s in store for you today.”

Applause rang out for a second time.

“If you’d indulge me, I’d like your help in sending a personal message to Miss Love.”

The room fell silent. Nate’s heart beat so loudly he was sure every microphone in the room transmitted its thumping. He opened his mouth to speak then snapped it shut.

“Nate,” Kitty whispered. “Are you all right?”

He met her puzzled gaze then closed his eyes. He pictured Bunny’s face, her vivid turquoise eyes and her creamy cheeks. He thought of her wild tangle of hair and smiled.

“Nate.” Kitty’s whisper grew louder.

He opened his eyes to meet the crowd’s expectant stare. Bolstered by the vision of Bunny, he began again. “I was wrong to fire Bunny over what happened last night. She’s taught me that sometimes a little chaos is what everyone needs.” He laughed. “Believe me. She’s shaken things up in my life. She’s taught me that embracing crazy is the sanest thing a person can do.”

He held his arms in the air and turned in a tight circle. “That’s why I stand before you dressed as a Schnauzer. To ask her to forgive me for not standing up for creative chaos.”

o0o

Bunny could barely believe her ears.
Nate
?
A Schnauzer
?
For her
? She fought the urge to shriek for joy, pressing closer and closer to the opening.

Bert pumped his fist in the air.

“What’s going on?” Bunny whispered.

His eyes grew huge. “You made it. Did you hear him?”

Bunny watched as Nate shrugged, dressed as a huge furry Schnauzer. Laughter bubbled up from her belly.
Unbelievable
. Her Nate. Her heart pressed against her ribcage, threatening to burst from her chest. “Why a Schnauzer?”

Bert shook his head. “Said it was karma.”

Karma?
Nate
? She laughed out loud, savoring the warm joy seeping through her veins.

Sudden loud yapping pulled all eyes from Nate.
Yikes
. Reality check. She’d completely forgotten her mission. “Bert, I think Armand sabotaged the leads.”

“Who cares about leads?” Bert hoisted his hand toward her in a high five gesture.

She fought the urge to slap him. “Bert. Pay attention. Faulty leads. Dogs run amuck.
Again
. We can celebrate Nate’s transformation later.”

Bert did a slow head turn, the color draining from his face. He stepped onto the stage and pointed. “Those purple leads?”

Bunny followed his gaze—and gasped.

o0o

Nate willed his feet to move, but his body refused to cooperate. A gaggle of small dogs chased a furry object across the arena floor. Handlers followed, stumbling and tripping, not far behind. The dogs ran free, unencumbered by the leashes that hung limp from their handlers’ wrists.

The leashes.
Armand
. That double-crossing event planner from hell. Nate should have known as soon as Bunny told him Armand had offered advice. How could he have been so stupid?

Flashes fired like strobe lights, reporters and camera crews clamoring to immortalize the action. Nate pulled the microphone from its stand and ran to the edge of the stage. “Order. Can we have some order, please?”

He watched in horror as a second grouping of dogs broke free. They circled and nipped at the smaller dogs. It was like watching a dozen Lassies corralling sheep. Only these weren’t sheep. These were prize-winning, purebred pedigrees, and his firm was going to take the heat—and the fall. He slumped. It was no use yelling. The place had gone to the dogs—literally.

o0o

What was it Jimmy had said?
When in doubt, little lady, whistle
. Bunny stepped to the edge of the stage, pressing her fingers to her lips. She blew hard, whistling with all of her might. Ears perked, claws skittered, and heads snapped. “Heel!” she screamed for good measure.

Within moments, every dog but one was in the hands of his or her handler. A wayward Shetland sheepdog had decided to try his paws on the agility course. Judging by the look on his handler’s face, the Sheltie was headed for the doghouse.

Nate pulled off the fake Schnauzer head and stared at her, wide-eyed. His damp chestnut hair stood on end. The warmth inside the suit had turned his cheeks crimson. She thought she’d never seen a man—or dog—look so breathtaking. “Nice save.” He blew out a breath.

“That’s what we call controlled chaos in the feng shui biz.” She winked.

Nate closed his eyes and laughed. He raised his gaze to meet hers. Bunny’s heart stopped for a full second.
Whew
. The man’s eyes exuded serious heat.

“This isn’t at all what I had planned.” He shook his head, stepping toward her.

“It never is.” She shrugged.

His gaze raked over her from head to toe, then back, slowly. Bunny tingled in all the right places. Nothing like being appreciated by the man you loved. “This is a new look for you.” He pointed to Bunny’s pin-striped suit.

“When in Rome,” she quipped. “You like?”

“Mm.” He stepped even closer. The heat from his body seared the air between them. “I have to admit I like the just-tumbled-out-of-bed look better.”

A hot flush raced up Bunny’s neck. She walked toward him, closing the remaining space between them. “Speaking of new looks. Schnauzer?”

He pursed his lips. A devilish glint flashed in his eyes. Bunny’s pulse roared into overdrive. “I thought it might help me.” His furry shoulders rose for a moment then fell.

“Do what?”

“Convince you to forgive me.”

She shook her head. “I deserved to get fired.”

“No, you didn’t.”

He leaned close—so close Bunny could smell the musky scent of his shampoo.

“Last night was chaos.” Her words slowed, her thoughts overwhelmed by the seductive warmth radiating from Nate.

“Controlled chaos.” He grinned. “Don’t know where I’d be today without it.”

Bunny stood silent, not wanting to ruin the moment by saying something stupid.

“Thank you.” His brows arched, his handsome features easing into a brilliant smile.

“Thank
me
?” She’d brought this man nothing but mayhem, and he wanted to thank her?

Nate ran his thumb along her jaw, sending hot desire rippling through her.

“I thought I was fired,” she whispered.

“Foolish words spoken in the heat of the moment. Crime of passion.” He winked. “As they say.”

“Passion?”

“Yes. All these new emotions, they’re hard for the robot to process.” He ran his fingers into her hair, pulling the sleek strands from behind her ears. Bunny’s knees wobbled and she struggled to stay upright.

“The robot seems to be doing fine,” she murmured.

“He’s better now that you’re here.” Nate traced a finger along her jaw. “There is something you could help him with.”

She looked up at him, slowly shaking her head. “What?”

“Love.”

The word sent white-hot heat scorching to her heart.

“I love you.” Nate lowered his voice. “Think you’d be available to help me explore the possibilities of creative energy?”

“Be the yang to your yin?”

Nate wrapped one arm around her waist, squeezing her close. “Took the words out of my mouth.”

Bunny stretched on her tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on Nate’s lips.
Zing
. Straight to her core. She sighed deeply. “I love you, Nate.”