Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
S avannah opened her mouth to protest again, but then shut it. How could she argue that? He was asking her to do what she wanted future guests to do. Kind of.
There would be no gumbo made by a private chef and no specialty shampoo in the bathroom but…
"So you're asking if Savannah would be willing to spend some time down on the bayou herself?" Knox asked.
"Yes. I feel like she needs to know a little bit more about the environment that she's hoping to build in. She wants to attract people to this area, but I don't really think she knows what she’s talking about,” Theo answered.
Savannah gasped and shot up from her seat. "I have spent plenty of time down here in Autre! I've been here overnight many times."
He turned to look at her again, this time turning his entire body. Which was very distracting. Then he leaned back against the podium and crossed his arms. That caused his biceps to bunch. She forced her eyes to his.
His nonchalance irritated her.
"Sure,” he said. “At the bed and breakfast in town. Which is a very lovely establishment. Also quite a ways away from all the gators. I’m talking about on the bayou. In a cabin. I don't think you have the first idea what that's like."
She didn’t. He was right about that.
Savannah narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. "There's no way I can spend a whole week."
"A weekend then. I don't think it will take you that long to understand that what you're proposing is a bad idea. You can't take rich folks from the city, and put them down the middle of the bayou, no matter how many fancy towels you provide. Why not just let them stay at the bed-and-breakfast in Autre? Or at the hotel down off the highway? They’re closer to conveniences and comforts. It's just a whole different thing than being out actually on the bayou.”
"I think you're underestimating people," she told him. "Obviously, it's not for everyone. But people who want to come down here and have a taste of this wonderful, unique culture and environment will enjoy it very much. You should want people to come and learn about this part of world. The more time they spend down here, the better they’ll understand it, and the more protective of it they’ll be. It will make them want to preserve it.”
He gave her a look that said you’re-totally-full-of-shit. "What weekend will you be staying with us?"
"You're saying if I stay one weekend in a cabin on the bayou, then you'll support this plan?"
His eyes narrowed. "If you, Savannah Lee, City Girl, can last one weekend all by yourself, and not get into trouble, then I'll admit that maybe I'm wrong."
She looked up at the city council. They were all very interested in this exchange. And dammit, she could tell they thought it was a good idea. She was very good at reading people. It was what made her so good at her job in sales and marketing.
They all thought this was a reasonable compromise.
And fuck, it kind of was. He had a point, after all. The bayou itself was beautiful. From an airboat, when she was fully slathered in sunscreen, bug spray, in a big floppy hat, huge sunglasses, and with maybe a couple hurricanes in her system. She had a great time on the swamp boat tours she’d been on. But that had been in the middle of the day, with her friends, and she'd been driven around by hot bayou boys like Josh Landry, and Cian O'Grady. Okay Cian wasn’t from the bayou, but he was still hot, charming, funny, and had laughed and flirted and made sure everyone had a great time.
But the idea of staying overnight in a cabin on the bayou? With alligator swimming right outside? And a boat the only way to and from? Yeah, that had never even occurred to her.
But she wanted this project to go.
Steve thought she was great.
She wanted him to think she was invaluable.
Building luxury cabins on the bayou was not her ultimate prize, but it would get her closer to her ultimate prize. Steve wanted to expand. Go to more states. North. West. Deserts, mountains, beaches, lakes. She really wanted to be one of his top managers when he started spreading out. Then she could pick to go wherever she wanted to. See the country. Go to all the places she'd never been.
She looked from the front table back to Theo.
Everyone was just waiting for her answer.
She blew out a breath. "Fine. I'll stay overnight in a cabin one night to see what it’s about."
Surprise flickered through his eyes, then a slow smile stretched his mouth.
Dammit. He was hot when he was growly and quiet.
But he was freaking cute when he smiled.
"Okay then. I’ll set it up."
"You're picking the cabin?"
"’Course. Nobody better. I know exactly what you need."
She should not take that in any way other than how he said it. And actually, she should be suspicious. If he was trying to prove that she was not cut out for the bayou, God knew what kind of cabin he was going to put her in. Still a little part of her took that as a very dirty offer.
It was probably the stupid accent. She really hated the southern Louisiana accent.
Savannah planted her hands on her hips. "The cabin better have plumbing— indoor plumbing— ” she said, wanting all of this to be said, and agreed to, in front of witnesses. “Electricity, not be overridden with bugs or rodents, be up off the water so that alligators can’t climb up and join me in bed.” A thought occurred to her. “It has to have a bed," she added.
He was outright grinning now. And damn, her mind hated that, but her panties said, hello, handsome .
Yeah, way beyond cute.
"Of course. The cabin will have every comfort that mine has."
"Are you kidding? You could probably survive the apocalypse. You’re practically some kind of survivalist. No way." Her gaze flickered to Kennedy. Kennedy Landry-Baxter had grown up down here on the bayou. Her brothers ran the swamp boat tour company, and she knew for a fact that Kennedy's grandfather had a fishing cabin down on the bayou. Kennedy was a tomboy through and through, but she was still a girl, and she didn’t drive swamp boat tours or hang out in the fishing cabin. As far as Savannah knew.
"I realize this is a test,” Savannah said to Kennedy. “I also realize that this will not be my usual Four Seasons. But will you please approve any cabin that he picks for me? I'm not looking to build rustic cabins. These will be nice. So the place I have spent the weekend should at least have all the usual creature comforts."
Kennedy nodded and gave her smile. "I agree. Yes, I'll make sure it's got my stamp of approval."
Well… hell. She was stuck now.
Savannah looked at Theo again. "I assume this weekend is okay? I need to get this in the works."
He lifted a shoulder. "I'm here all the time, City Girl.”
She narrowed her eyes. "I guess I'll see you Friday night then."
He gave her a grin, then turned back to the city council. "So we can talk again after this weekend. I think that Miss Lee and I will come to an understanding."
Kennedy nodded and looked at the rest of city council. "I'm okay tabling this. Everyone else?"
“Uh—” Savannah interjected. "Can we reconvene a special meeting next week? Again, my boss is very interested in getting this project going."
“You'll be ready to talk again in a week?" Kennedy asked.
"I'll stay in the cabin this weekend and I'll have the plan put together by next week. Whatever details you need, just email me."
Kennedy arched a brow, then looked at Theo. "Will you have your decision by next week?”
"I think I'll have all my questions answered this weekend," Theo said with a nod.
"Okay. I don’t have anything going on next Thursday,” Kennedy said. “How about you guys?"
The rest of the city council agreed that they could meet again a week from tonight.
Savannah pulled the Louis Vuitton leather bag onto her shoulder and turned toward the door. She had just stepped out onto the sidewalk when she felt him behind her.
She didn't know if it was just because he was so big, or if it was his body heat, or if her body somehow sensed the increased testosterone in the area, but she knew it was Theo right behind her.
She sighed. "You don't need to walk me to my car."
"I need your number."
She stopped and turned. "My number?"
"I’ll text you the details. The address where to meet me."
"Why do I need to meet you?"
"Listen, I know you're feeling all sassy and full of yourself with this idea about staying on the bayou, but I don't think you can drive an air boat yet, can you?"
How dare he be so good looking. "You’re going to give me a ride?"
"Someone’s gotta, City Girl. That’s how you get to the cabin.”
Dammit. Everything the guy said sounded dirty to her. That was not okay.
She cocked a brow. "Can I hire someone else?"
"No."
“You’re not the only one around here who knows how to drive airboats.”
“Nope. But I’m the only one taking you to that cabin.”
"You're the only one who knows where it is?” she asked, her stupid heart beating a little faster. “I feel like I should let everyone in my life know that if I suddenly disappear, you should be the first suspect." Her heart wasn’t racing because she was worried.
"Oh, I'm not gonna kill you. It’s going to be too fucking entertaining to see you try to make it through a whole weekend in a bayou cabin."
"I would really prefer someone else take me out there."
"Well, I’m the one who has to make sure that you get out there and stay out there. You have to prove it to me, remember?"
She crossed her arms and tipped her head studying him. "You like that, don't you? That you have something to hold over me? That I have to do just what you're telling me?"
It was probably just her horny imagination, but for a second she thought that maybe there was some heat flickering in his eyes. "Yeah, I do like the idea of you doing what I tell you."
Okay, so maybe it wasn't her imagination. Her pulse was thumping faster, but she worked very hard not to let on. "Well, getting bossed around isn’t really my style, so enjoy it while you can."
"I intend to."
Had he just leaned in? Surely not. But her body could've sworn that he got a little closer and the air around them got a little hotter.
"526…" She paused. “Are you going to at least write this down?”
He blinked, as if he was thinking other thoughts for a moment there too. Then he nodded, pulled his phone out.
She rattled the rest of her number off, and he entered the digits without her needing to repeat them.
"I'll text you a list of things you should bring along too," he said, pocketing his phone again.
"Don't worry, I'll remember my pajamas and toothbrush."
"Yeah, you might need a few essentials. Towels, bedding. Food."
She shook her head. "That should all be provided. If this experience is to show me what my idea would be like, then there have to be at least the basics.”
One corner of his mouth curled up. "Okay, City Girl. I can’t promise you the luxury experience you’re used to, but I can definitely supply your basic needs.”
Heat rushed through her chest to her belly and then lower into her pussy.
But she was not going to deny how her imagination took that statement. No, sex with Theo wouldn’t be luxurious. There would be no expensive wine, rose petals on silk sheets, or heated massage oil. But it would be more than basic. He was a down and dirty, rough, and graphic type who wouldn’t make love to her. He’d fuck her. But it would be the best sex of her life.
She cleared her throat, very afraid that her cheeks were showing all of the heat the rest of her body was feeling.
"Never mind, I don't trust you,” she told him, her voice husky. Dammit. But she didn’t trust him. And it wasn’t about toothbrushes. She didn’t trust him to not make her an addict to his type of fucking. She’d never want to go back to how the guys in suits liked to wine and dine her.
She liked dressing up in amazing dresses and heels, being taken out on the town, ridiculously high thread count sheets, room service, massages. She loved a man in a suit. She loved the smell of expensive leather, and scotch, and cologne.
She was pretty sure she did, anyway.
She was having a hard time recalling any of those scents at the moment and damn, Theo’s denim was making her panties just as wet as any Armani suit ever had.
Probably more so.
“Tell me what I need to bring,” she snapped.
He smiled knowingly, which made her grit her teeth. It was bad enough to be attracted to the guy, but she absolutely did not want him to know that she was attracted.
"I think the list of things you need is probably pretty long," he said. "But I’ve got you covered for a night or two.”
Ugh, it was going to be a long weekend.
She was definitely going to need to pack her vibrator.
Or find a quick fun hook-up before she came “camping” on the bayou.
But she was very frustrated to find that she wasn’t that interested in calling any of her usual friends with benefits.
Then again, surely, she wasn't going to see Theo much. He was going to put her in some isolated cabin on the bayou and leave her. She didn't even know if the Wi-Fi was good down there. Or the cell service. She’d pack some books. And hell, maybe catch up on her sleep. Maybe she'd actually try making that sourdough bread recipe that her sister had been telling her about.
Yeah, she’d kick back. Relax. Just like she would be offering the people she wanted to stay in her cabins. Commune with nature. Unplug. This might be really good for her.
She gave him a smile. “Is there a bathtub?"
"Yeah. A big old clawfoot."
"Excellent. I'll be sure to bring along all of my spa products." She took a deep breath. "This will be great. Just spend the whole weekend relaxing. Exfoliating. Doing yoga. Sunbathing naked.”
He coughed. It made her grin. Okay, well if she was going to be all worked up and think everything he said was dirty, at least maybe they’d be in the same boat. So to speak.
"You? Relax?" he asked.
She narrowed her eyes. "What do you know about me and my ability to relax?"
"You’ve been coming down here for years with Becca now, and you go hard all the time. Whether it's a sweet little Christmas party at Ellie's, drinking and dancing at a crawfish boil, hanging out on a swamp boat tour, or brunch after Sunday church, you do everything large and loud."
She was staring at him. She had been in Autre for all of those different occasions. But he'd noticed her?
She’d noticed him. Theo Taggart was a hard guy not to notice. But they'd hardly talked. They'd never spent any time alone together. He'd certainly never tried to get her alone, asked her to dance, bought her a drink. He’d definitely never asked her out. Was Theo interested? Or did he just pay attention to everyone like that?
"I like to have a good time," she said. It was true that when she came to Autre it was always to have a good time with her friends. The little town was a lot of fun, and it seemed like there was always something going on. Though, to be fair, when she came to visit her friends, it was usually for some kind of occasion or holiday.
Still, it was a little unsettling… No, that wasn't the right word… interesting that Theo had noticed her behavior.
"Yeah. I know. So we'll see how you do by yourself down in a little bayou cabin."
"You really think I'm going to fail, don’t you?"
"I really do."
"And then you can use that as a reason to keep these cabins from going up?"
He nodded again. "Yeah."
Well, she appreciated the honesty. "This is really important for my job."
"And keeping you and a bunch of rich tourists away from my bayou is really important for mine."
"Your boss will be upset if these cabins go up?"
"I don’t know how my boss feels about it. Doesn't matter. I will be upset."
"You’re really that protective of this bayou, the animals, and everything around there?"
Again, he nodded. "Yeah."
He really was a man of few words sometimes.
"Well, I guess we'll see what happens this weekend."
He nodded slowly, and his eyes dropped to her mouth. "Guess we will."
She took a deep breath. Then, without a word, she turned on her heel and walked to her car, unable to think of a single other thing to say or do with Theo Taggart.
At least at the moment.
At least anything that was appropriate.