“I can’t believe we have to fight this again,” Danielle replied.
India Graham nodded. She wore her natural hair in a tapered style that complemented her oval face. “How do you think I feel? I work for Environmental Protection. This is why I need to be in charge of permits. I’d shut these idiots down.”
India worked in the monitoring section of the DEP. A section that was slowly getting their resources cut as funding went to other projects. Even though DEP’s hesitancy to shut down Clear Water annoyed Danielle, she was thankful there were people who cared like India in the organization.
“Then you better go for a position in permitting when it comes up,” Danielle said.
India pointed at Danielle. “Oh, believe me, I am.”
Patricia Taylor, the leader of a group who focused specifically on Springfield Creek, sighed. Her curly dark hair was cut short around her plump face and her already tan skin was darker thanks to days working outside. “Depending on how this goes, we may all need to try to work for DEP.”
They all nodded. Clear Water had ties to the legislature, who in turn pressured DEP to get their permits approved. Another political battle that they all realized would never end.
“How about drinks later,” Danielle said. “Either to celebrate or to drown our sorrows?”
The frown on India’s face cleared. “Girl, you just say when and where and I’ll be there.”
Patricia and Mason agreed. They decided to meet later that day at their favorite bar before taking their seats. India in front with the rest of the DEP staff while she, Mason and Patricia sat on one of the middle rows. Danielle would tell Debra and their group would be set.
The head of the DEP’s permit division went to the podium and tapped the microphone. “Thank you for coming. We’ll start with a brief overview of the new permit conditions and then we’ll ask each person who signed up to speak to come forward. Starting with those in favor of the new permit followed by those against it.”
He started going over the main points of the permit. Danielle was already familiar with each one. She looked down at her notes to go over all of her arguments against the department approving the permit.
The man at the microphone stuttered. Danielle glanced up from her notes. The department director was staring at the back of the room, eyes wide. She and the rest of the people turned toward the rear of the auditorium.
“What the hell,” Mason muttered to her right.
Danielle’s heart fluttered when Jacobe’s gaze met hers. He grinned and strolled down the aisle between the rows of metal chairs in her direction, looking confident and casual in a brown button-up and dark pants that flattered his tall body.
The public hearing was more of a regulatory thing, with little possibility of the media showing up, so she hadn’t called him to be there on behalf of the River Watchers. Seeing him made her want to bounce with excitement. When he reached her row, he managed to look cool and suave doing the awkward side walk between the chairs to reach her.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered.
He sat next to her, all masculine heat and intoxicating cologne. He leaned in close and studied her with those hot chocolate eyes. “Looking for you.”
Mason lightly elbowed her. “You know him?”
“He’s volunteering with the River Watchers.”
Mason’s eyes widened. He turned to Patricia, and they both nodded their heads before looking at Danielle with an alright now respect in their eyes. Danielle sat a little taller. Having Jacobe on the River Waters’ side was pretty impressive.
The room was still silent as the rest of the occupants, including the director, who was supposed to be moving the hearing along, stared at them wide eyed.
“You’re disturbing the peace,” she said to Jacobe.
“This is a public hearing. I came to hear what’s going on.” He glanced at the department director and nodded. “Go ahead.”
The director blinked and cleared his throat. “Um...yes, so, as I was saying.” He shuffled through his papers and started droning on again.
Danielle glanced around at the sparse crowd now more interested in Jacobe being there than the status of the permit. “You’re distracting everyone from the issue,” she said so that only he could hear. Well aware Mason was leaning a little closer to eavesdrop.
“I’m curious about the issue, too,” he said just as quietly.
“Since when?”
“Since finding out you were here. Debra told me,” he said before she could ask.
“Why were you looking for me?”
Knowing that he’d sought her out sent little bubbles of happiness through her chest. “Debra mentioned a cleanup over the weekend. I had a question for you about that.”
“She can answer any questions you have.”
“Maybe I prefer talking to you.” He shifted to spread his long legs as much as he could, which wasn’t far into the aisle, and stretched his arms out over the backs of her chair. She became very aware of his arm pressed across the back of her shoulders, and of the curious gazes of her friends on her.
Danielle straightened her glasses and sat forward in the chair. “We’re not supposed to be flirting.”
Jacobe leaned closer. “I’m not flirting. I’m reaching out to my friend and colleague.”
“That’s all we are and are going to be,” she said, more for her benefit than his.
“That kiss said otherwise.”
“A kiss is just that—a kiss. Not a promise for more.”
“I understand and respect your decision.”
She nodded. He moved his hand over to run his fingers across her upper arm. The barrier of her sweater did nothing to stop the sparks that flew through her body from the soft touch. “That doesn’t stop me from thinking about a lot more kisses with you.”
Heat spread up her face. She swore she heard Patricia make an uh oh sound, but she didn’t turn to verify. Instead she swatted his hand away and perched closer to the edge of her seat. “Stop that.”
She adjusted her glasses and tried to focus on the front of the room. The director had asked for the proponents of the permit to speak. Danielle tried not to think about Jacobe thinking about kissing her again. She needed to pay attention to this. The residents affected by this fight deserved her full attention to bring their needs to light. Not for her to spend the entire meeting flirting with Jacobe.
Thankfully, Jacobe didn’t say any more and listened to the Clear Water representative speaking at the microphone. The proponents gave the usual argument. Expanding would allow them to handle the excess flow. They were planning massive upgrades to improve treatment. They even pulled out a report by an independent researcher they’d hired who’d said the stream could handle the excess flows they would be discharging—complete with the assurance that only a minimal amount of pollutants, well within the allowance of their permit, would enter the river.
Danielle snorted loud enough to garner some looks with those comments. Patricia and Mason echoed her disbelief. A little pollution from a lot of places added up, and she’d bet money their independent researcher was the same one who’d doctored the numbers in an attempt to show they’d met their permit levels before. Her leg shook with her efforts at restraint—biting her lip instead of calling the representative a liar with each one of his statements.
“And now the opponents,” the director said. He glanced at his paper, then looked straight at Danielle. “We’ll start with Danielle Stewart, executive director of the St. Johns River Watchers.”
Danielle jumped up. Jacobe stood to make it easier for her to slide past him. His body was a strong wall of warm muscle that she couldn’t prevent from brushing against as she moved past. Tingles ran through every nerve ending, tingles she forced herself to ignore as she walked to the podium to make her points.
Tingly feelings for Jacobe notwithstanding, she was able to make her argument against allowing the new permit. Her voice rose with her fervor. Fueled by her annoyance at Clear Water’s we-aren’t-hurting-anyone speech.
“We cannot allow them to pollute Springfield Creek.” Danielle slammed her hand on the podium. “Clear Water has failed to eliminate their exceedances for years, and now we’re supposed to believe they suddenly care. I’ve brought my own monitoring results that are backed up by the monitoring results made by DEP.” She glanced at India, who nodded. “Along with the volunteer monitoring of residents in Crescent Acres. Compare the numbers and you’ll find that Clear Water has lied to us again.”
She slapped the papers with her monitoring results on the podium. The end of her speech was met with agreements, head nods, and applause from the few people from Crescent Acres who’d attended. The Clear Water representative cringed. Danielle held her chin high and glared at the Clear Water representatives before marching back to her seat.
“You haven’t lost that spark,” Jacobe said when she was seated again.
“This is important. Other people should realize that.” She kept her voice low as the next opponent, a Crescent Acres resident, gave his own impassioned speech.
“You look so sweet and innocent. Then you get up there and rip out their spleens with a few words.” He leaned over. “That’s incredible sexy.” His lips brushed her ear.
Danielle’s nipples beaded. She shifted in her chair and tugged on the front of her pink cardigan. Admittedly, people underestimated her zeal and ability to win an argument. She considered that the ace in her pocket. Never a source of sex appeal.
“I don’t do it to be sexy.”
“Which makes you even sexier.” He turned toward the front and listened to the other arguments.
Danielle tried to do the same, but her gaze and attention kept floating back to Jacobe next to her. He watched each of the opponents intently and even nodded his head in agreement with a few of their points. His apparent interest added to his own sex appeal. Debra’s warning grew fainter.
“That’s the end of the list of people who signed up to speak for or against,” the DEP director said. “Thank you all for coming. The comments will be taken into consideration and also posted on the website. The last day for written comments is in four weeks.”
The hearing ended. Jacobe placed his hand on Danielle’s arm. “Can you send me some of the points you made? I’m thinking of sending in written comments.”
“Are you serious?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“You never care about these issues.”
“I live on the river a few miles down from this new industry. I had no idea they were dumping upstream from me. I’m going to look into what they’re asking for and then decide.”
“Oh...sure. I’ll send over what I said.”
Mason and Patricia hovered at the end of the aisle. The Clear Water proponents watched them with interest. They had to be curious about why Jacobe was there with her.
“Why didn’t they do this hearing in the afternoon when more people could come and hear what’s happening?”
Danielle shrugged. “That’s a question for the state.”
He nodded and looked at the department director at the front of the room. “I’ll ask them about that. Call me with the details of the cleanup this weekend. I think I’d like to do the one along Springfield Creek.” He stood and was so tall her neck strained to keep eye contact. She stood, too, but with flats on he towered over her.
He’d actually looked at the different locations for the cleanups? “You want Springfield Creek?”
“Yeah, it’ll get the most publicity if I’m there. I think that makes sense, don’t you?”
She’d planned to send him to Springfield Creek for that reason. She wondered if he wanted that location just to help his image or because of what he’d heard today. “I do.”
He reached up to brush his fingers across her cheek. “Good.” He glanced at her friends. “Introduce me to your friends before I go talk to the director.”
Surprisingly, she wanted to say no. Every one of them had seen Jacobe’s quick caress of her cheek. They wouldn’t say much in front of him, but she’d be grilled at drinks that tonight. “Sure.”
He followed her down the aisle to where India, Mason and Patricia stood. She gave quick introductions, which included where they worked. Jacobe smiled and effortlessly charmed her group.
“I really appreciate you all making those comments today,” Jacobe said after the conversation lulled. “It gave me a lot to think about. Keep up the good work.” He placed a hand on Danielle’s lower back. “I’m going to talk to the director now. I’ll speak with you soon.”
He grinned, then worked his way down the row toward the department director. The Clear Water representatives headed in that way, as well.
Mason placed a hand on her elbow. “How did you get Jacobe Jenkins to volunteer for the River Watchers?”
Danielle shrugged. She wasn’t going to admit that he was there because he needed the good publicity. “He just came in asking to help. I couldn’t say no.”
“You would have been crazy to say no,” Patricia said. “Your gala sales will go through the roof.”
Exactly what she needed with Liberty breathing down her neck. “I’m just happy to have him participate.”
The three kept gushing about how lucky she was to have Jacobe on her team as they walked toward the door. Danielle participated, but her mind kept wandering back to Jacobe. She tried not to think about the meaning behind his touches. He was a flirt. He probably did that without even thinking about it, not because he had any type of feelings for her. She glanced over her shoulder before walking out. Jacobe was watching her, he winked and lifted his chin. Danielle turned away, and pressed her lips together to keep from smiling.
* * *
Jacobe had a phone call with his agent, which made him thirty minutes late for the River Watchers cleanup. The call had been worth the extra time. Eric called to give an update on the preliminary talks he’d had with the management of the Phoenix team to gauge their thoughts on Jacobe after the five-game suspension. The talk had gone better than expected. Phoenix would still consider him for their all-star team as long as Jacobe didn’t have any more problems this season, which made today’s cleanup and the subsequent media attention that much more important.
Groups of people in orange vests were already spread out, picking up litter along the road and in the creek. Danielle stood with a few other volunteers next to a van in the parking lot for the neighborhood’s community center, which he guessed was the center of operations.
He’d thought she was sexy earlier that week in the pink sweater that clung to her breasts better than cotton candy on wet fingers. She managed to heat his blood just as much in the khaki pants and dark green shirt she wore today. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and instead of her cute gold glasses she wore a pair of simple black frames. She looked like she was ready to go into battle. Today’s battle might be against discarded plastic bottles and trash, but that didn’t diminish her fervor.
Jacobe parked in a free space in the parking lot and strolled over to Danielle. “I’m here.”
Debra and two of the interns who worked in Danielle’s office were the people he’d taken for volunteers when he’d first driven up.
Debra’s eyes lit up and she waved. “Jacobe. Great you made it.”
He hugged Debra and the two interns. When he turned to hug Danielle, she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a glower worthy of any five-star general. “You’re late.”
“I’m sorry. I was on the phone—”
“It’s fine.” She cut in, waving his words away with her hand. “At least you made it.”
“Was t
here any doubt?”
She cocked a brow, then looked down at the clipboard in her hand. Guess there had been doubt that he’d show up.
He glanced at Debra, who did give him a reassuring glance. “Thanks again for coming out to help.”
“I’m happy to,” he said. “Where do you want me?”
“Well.” Debra glanced at the watch on her wrist. “I’ve already broken everyone up into teams and they’re out. I’m going with the interns. How about you partner up with Danielle?”
He was more than down with that suggestion. Danielle glared at Debra. Had him being late put her in such a foul mood? She probably thought he was just as inconsiderate of her time now as he had been back in college. True, he was mainly out here to try to improve his image, but after the hearing earlier that week, he did want to know more about the people living around the area. Based on Danielle’s impassioned speech, there was a big potential for harm if Clear Water was allowed to discharge into the creek that went through the neighborhood. He wanted to see what was at stake firsthand.
“Sounds like a great plan to me,” Jacobe said.
“Fine,” Danielle bit out. She slapped the clipboard into Debra’s outstretched hand, then turned to grab trash bags and long trash grabbers out of the back of a Jeep. “Let’s go pick up at the bridge down there.” She pointed in a direction away from most of the volunteers.
“Why down there? You want to be alone with me,” he teased, and wiggled his brows.
She didn’t smile. “I don’t want to distract all the volunteers and take them away from what they’re doing by having you nearby. When we meet up back here in about an hour, then they can talk and beg you for an autograph to their heart’s content.”
“Whatever you think is best.”
She spun on her heel and marched toward the bridge. Jacobe looked at Debra, who shrugged. “She’s been in a mood all morning.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.” Debra looked away. Jacobe got the feeling that Debra knew what was bugging Danielle, but he respected that she didn’t eagerly divulge her friend’s secrets. He’d rather find out from Danielle herself.
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