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It was really goingto be a problem being this attracted to Theo Taggart when they were about to become bitter enemies.
They weren’t this very moment. Not yet.
But Savannah was very aware of his big, brooding presence in the back row. She could practically feel his gaze on her back. Hisunfriendlygaze. HisI’m-going-to-ruin-everythinggaze.
She’d noticed him the moment he’d walked in the door.
He was hard to miss. At 6’5” of broad, solid muscle, dark hair, dark beard, and deep brown eyes, she would have noticed him in any room.
But, he was also a game warden working for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. And he was going to hate what she was in front of the Autre city council to present.
As soon as she was finished, he was going to open his big, stupid, sexy mouth and tell them all why her idea was terrible. Then they were going to agree with him since he was from here and everyone loved him, and he had expertise in an area that would actually make her idea sound terrible.
And then she’d hate him.
So it was very inconvenient that she really wanted to see him naked.
Too bad she hadn’t done that before tonight’s meeting.
Her boss, Steve McDonald, owned bed and breakfasts across Louisiana. He’d started with six of his own in northern Louisiana and then expanded his business by buying up established properties throughout the state.
Now he planned to build some new properties from the ground up and Savannah was trying to convince him to do it in unique locations with concepts that would bring visitors to stay for a whole experience. She wanted him to focus on more than just the accommodations.
The first of those locations and experiences was along the bayou just outside of Autre. And tonight she was here to convince the city council to grant the permits.
If they didn’t, her job was on the line.
“In conclusion, I think you’ll agree that this project will bring new people to the area, benefitting Autre directly with increased tourism dollars and the greater area with increased interest and activism in protecting the environment, particularly the bayou.”
She heard a snort from behind her. She could only assume it was Theo. There were only three other people sitting in the hard plastic chairs that had been arranged in front of the ten-foot-long foldable table behind which sat the Autre mayor and city council.
And Mrs. Breaux was here to complain about her neighbors not mowing their grass and Mr. Allen was here simply because he came to every Council meeting.
"Thanks, Savannah," Kennedy Landry-Baxter, the mayor, said with a smile. "We appreciate your presentation. I believe that there is someone else here who would like to…ask some questions and make some comments about your proposed project." She winced as she finished the sentence.
Savannah almost rolled her eyes, but she refrained. She was a damned professional, after all. She nodded. "Of course. I look forward to talking about this with anyone who has anything constructive to say."
She heard the creak of the plastic chair and imagined Theo unfolding his huge body from it. He came down the center aisle—honestly, why did they set up thirty chairs for these meetings?—and took his place at the podium.
Savannah took her seat in the front row, crossing her legs, trying to act calm and cool.
Until she realized that she was almost directly behind him. Where she had the perfect view of his back.
His broad shoulders, his muscular back, his lean hips, and his tight ass.
That was a mistake.
At least if she wanted to concentrate on what he was about to say.
But she couldn’t really be mad.
He was dressed in work boots, jeans, and a hunter green polo that she knew read Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on the left breast.
She supposed that was appropriate since he was probably here in an official capacity to some extent. Though she was also sure he personally disliked this idea too. But he was definitely dressed down next toherprofessional attire of three-inch black heels, her black pencil skirt, and her white silk blouse.
She crossed her arms and waited for him to begin. She also made herself stop studying his butt.
