Love creates its own rules

Ascending the corporate ladder has consumed most of Tayler Carter’s adult life. Now the savvy Atlanta VP and female-empowerment speaker is ready for a well-deserved retreat. A fabulous antebellum mansion turned B and B in rural Kentucky is the perfect change of pace. But her host is no unsophisticated farm boy. Rugged hunk Rollin Coleman is educating Tayler in the wonders of natural food and down-home passion.

Transforming his family’s struggling homestead into an organic cooperative is starting to pay off for Rollin. But without the right woman, it’s a lonely existence. Until he introduces his alluring new guest to the pleasures of the countryside. And once his small-town community embraces her, can Rollin count on Tayler to leave her fast-paced world behind and together create a place they can both call home?

“I can’t keep my hands off you,” he said, his voice close to a whisper.

She looked down at their intertwined fingers and watched him raise her hand to his mouth and kiss it. Her stomach fluttered. He stepped closer and kissed her forehead. Tayler placed her head against his hard chest as he wrapped his arms around her. I’m so weak for this man. She begged for strength.

“Rollin, we can’t do this again.”

“Can’t do what? We can’t dance?” he asked in a soft, controlled voice. His body swayed with the music and she found herself following his lead. He shifted and his thigh pressed between her legs, and her thigh did the same. They slow danced in the middle of the library.

He ignited a fire inside Tayler that intensified when he reached down and placed his hand under her chin, bringing her face up to meet his. He kissed her lips ever so gently and Tayler closed her eyes. Her head told her to pull away from his embrace before it was too late, but her body had a mind of its own and wanted nothing more than to revel in his embrace.

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoy reading When I Fall in Love as much as I enjoyed writing it. Coleman House came to me while riding through the country in Kentucky and seeing this massive house that reminded me of Tara from Gone with the Wind. My curiosity about who lived there took over. My own experience at a B and B fueled the rest. I have too many ideas for just one book, so watch out for book number two!

To find out about future releases and learn more about me and my past releases, you can sign up for my newsletter on my website at www.bridgetanderson.net. I love to connect with readers, so follow me on Twitter, @banders319, or Facebook.com/banders319. I appreciate all reviews. Please leave one on your retailer’s site or on Goodreads to help other readers discover my novels.

Thank you,

Bridget Anderson

When I Fall in Love
Bridget Anderson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

BRIDGET ANDERSON is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. She currently resides in North Metro Atlanta with her husband and their big dog who she swears is part human. She’s published seven novels and two novellas. Her romance suspense novel, Rendezvous, was adapted into a made-for-television movie. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Georgia Romance Writers and The Authors Guild.

Bridget writes provocative romance stories about smart women and the men they love. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel. She’s fallen in love with Paris, France, and can’t wait to get back to Ghana, West Africa.

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This one’s for my critique partner, Shirley Harrison, who helped me discover NaNoWriMo and get my writing legs back.

Also, for my family and friends who constantly ask, “When’s the next novel?”

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Copyright

Chapter 1

“Okay, I exited the expressway thirty minutes ago and I’m still not seeing anything but trees, fields and fields of grass, and a bunch of cows. So, where in the hell is this place?” With both hands on the steering wheel, Tayler Carter yelled at her girlfriend Nicole through her car’s speakers using the Bluetooth feature.

“What exit did you take?”

“The Blue Belt Grassway, highway, or something like that, and I’ve only seen three cars in the last half hour. What is this, the road to nowhere?” The scenic drive was making Tayler’s bottom numb.

“Girl, I told you your GPS was going to go out on that road. Where are the directions I emailed you?”

Tayler shrugged and rolled her eyes, thankful Nicole couldn’t see her. She reached over for a piece of paper in the driver’s seat. “I’ve got my Mapquest directions.”

“Mapquest! I told you to use the directions I sent you. There’s a new road that isn’t on Mapquest. Maybe your GPS will pick up in a little while. Try it again.”

“Dammit.” Tayler let out a heavy sigh and eased her foot up off the gas pedal.

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk you in.”

“No, that’s not it,” she said, glancing in the rearview mirror. “I finally see another car on this freakin’ road and it’s a police car flashing his lights at me. How did I get so damn lucky?”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you the police are pretty heavy down there.”

“How come I have a feeling there’s a lot you’ve forgotten to tell me?”

“How fast were you going?”

“Let’s just say I doubt he’ll be satisfied with a warning.”

“Want me to hang on the line while you pull over?”

“No, I’ve got this. I’ll call you back later.”

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, white picket fences with large homes that sat back off the main road finally came into view. But only to be replaced seconds later by smaller houses with swings or rocking chairs on the front porches. As Tayler drove through what must have been downtown Danville, Kentucky, several people either waved or stared as she passed. They all seemed to have the one thing she didn’t have—family. She drove by the post office, several small churches and a few local stores as she followed her police escort, and then they swung a right, heading away from town. Soon they were back to white picket fences and another two-lane road.

She was accustomed to traveling alone, but had to admit to a touch of fear as her police escort carried her farther away from the town. The road had lots of twists and turns before opening up to lush fields of green farmland that took her breath away. The police car turned off the main road onto another country road.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw a large white sign with black letters reading Coleman House Bed-and-Breakfast.

Here at last.

The officer slowed and let her pull her BMW to a stop beside him. She lowered her window. In his dark shades he sort of reminded her of actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

“Just keep on this road,” he said in his local dialect. “The farm’s a couple yards down the way.”

“Thank you. I appreciate this.”

“No problem. Be sure and tell Rollin Greg said hello.”

She waved. “I’ll be sure to do that.”

The police car turned around and spun back out onto the road. She continued down a long oak tree–lined path, which yielded to another sign—Coleman Organic Farm. So I really am in the country, on a farm and all, she thought. She turned off the air conditioner and lowered the windows. She wanted to smell the country. Did it really smell like cows and pigs, or grass and fresh air? In her thirty-six years she’d never been to the country. She preferred the city with all its modern conveniences. This vacation was going to be an experience she knew she’d never forget.

The road curved and the oak trees ended. Ahead of her sat a miniature version of Tara, the mansion from Gone With the Wind, one of her favorite romantic movies. The house had the same four white columns on the porch and gave off a grand appearance. A warm, fuzzy feeling consumed her and put a smile on her face. She pulled her car into one of the parking spaces in front and looked up at the house as if a footman would be exiting any minute to help her with her luggage.

Laughing to herself, she opened the car door and stepped out, stretching out her arms. After a seven-hour drive, she was ready for a good meal and a soft bed. Her Jimmy Choo platform heels might have been perfect for helping her five-three frame reach the gas pedal, but they quickly sank into the gravel driveway, risking scuffs. She reached back into the car and pulled a tube of peppermint lip gloss from her purse and applied some before licking her lips. She adjusted her sunglasses and closed the car door. Pulling her suitcase from the trunk and rolling it through the gravel to the blacktop leading to the house was no easy task. She stopped to take in the view once more. The place was magnificent. In the distance she saw a man sitting on a tractor in the middle of the field. Just like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting, she thought.

The front door swung open as she moved her suitcase up the handicapped ramp.

“Welcome to Coleman House Bed and Breakfast. You must be Tayler Carter.”

Surprised to be greeted by an older man in a pair of overalls holding a large pitcher of something, Tayler stopped and removed her sunglasses.

“Yes, I am.”

“Come on in. She’s been expecting you.”

She? Tayler had thought Nicole’s cousin was a man. She pulled her suitcase across the front porch past two large white rocking chairs.

The man juggled the pitcher in his hand and reached for her suitcase. “Let me get that for you. Would you like a glass of lemonade?”

“No thank you.”

She stepped inside, expecting a grand foyer like the one at Tara.

“You can just step over to the counter there.” He nodded to a small area to the right of the staircase. “My wife will get you all settled in. I’ll be right back.”

He left her suitcase at the foot of the stairs and disappeared down the hall.

Was that Rollin, she wondered.

Tayler did a 360, taking in the custom drapes, the wide spiral staircase and the antique furniture scattered about. The house had an intimate look and feel to it.

“Well, you must be Tayler.”

A middle-aged woman walked up to Tayler, wiping her hands off on a kitchen towel, and then extended her hand.

“I’m at a disadvantage here. Seems like everybody knows me.” Tayler accepted the woman’s hand.

“I’m Rita, the housekeeper, and that lug back there is my husband, Wallace. He’ll be up directly to take your suitcase to your room. Nicole told us to expect you. I’m supposed to check you in.” She walked behind the registration desk and looked around as though she wasn’t quite sure what to do.

“It’s nice to meet you, Rita.”

“Yes, ma’am, we’ll just get you to sign the book here. And I don’t rightly know where the receipt book is, so why don’t I let Rollin handle that.” She handed Tayler a pen.

Tayler smiled. They actually had guest sign in, like something out of an old movie. How quaint—or antiquated, she wasn’t sure which. The minute she finished signing the book, Wallace returned and scooped up her suitcase.

“You’re in the first room up there on the left.” Rita pointed up the stairs. “It faces the fields and you’ll get good sunlight in the morning. Did you have much trouble finding the place?” she asked as she came from behind the counter and motioned for Tayler to follow her husband up the stairs.

“A little, but I was fortunate enough to get a police escort.”

“Really, from who? Tim?”

“No, he said his name was Greg.” Tayler held onto the banister as her heels sank into the plush carpet on the stairs. Everything was polished to a high gloss shine and smelled like fresh lemons.

“Oh, yeah, that’s Greg Mason. He’s a nice enough fella. He went to high school with Rollin.”

“Here you go, ladies. I’ll be out back if you need me.” Wallace set her suitcase inside the door and backed out.

“In here is your bathroom.” Rita gave Tayler a quick tour of her room and then the rest of the second floor. There were three other bedrooms, two of which were occupied. After the tour, she instructed Tayler to return to the lobby after she’d freshened up and Rollin would complete her check-in.

Tayler dropped her purse on the bed and looked around the room with all its ruffles and flowers. If she’d had her own room growing up she would have wanted something with ruffles. But now that style was too country for her taste. But country or not, it would be her home for the next two months.

* * *

Rollin switched off the tractor and climbed down. He walked across the yard to the barn, thinking about the pair of legs that had just climbed out of a sports car and walked into his house. She had to be his cousin Nicole’s friend from Chicago.

“So, how the fields lookin’ this afternoon?”

Rollin turned around to find his uncle Wallace walking into the barn with both hands in the pockets of his overalls.

“Everything’s cool. What’s up? You ready to stop working on them broke-down cars and join me?”

Wallace laughed and greeted his nephew with a handshake and a hug.

Every time Wallace dropped by, Rollin messed with him about being a mechanic instead of joining him on the farm. Wallace had never wanted to own a farm like Rollin’s father, Rollin Joe Sr. Instead, Wallace, a wizard with cars, had opened his first auto body shop fifteen years ago.

“Boy, you know I don’t know nothin’ ’bout no farming. I’ll stick to cars, if you don’t mind. Hey, you got a guest up at the house, and Rita don’t know how to check her in. She told her you’d be up directly, to help.”

“Yeah, I’m on my way up.” He knocked the dust off his jeans and pulled his T-shirt over his head. He quickly grabbed another T-shirt from a peg and pulled it on. “I don’t know why I agreed to let Nicole’s friend stay so long. I’m thinking about closing down the B and B.”

“You did it because Nicole’s family and this woman is a good friend of hers. Besides, I don’t think you’ll be regretting anything once you get up to the house.”

Rollin glanced back at the lopsided grin on his uncle’s face and shook his head. Wallace was what he called an old player, one who’d finally settled down with his third wife.

* * *

After freshening up a bit, Tayler grabbed her purse and headed downstairs. The second floor was still quiet and she wondered where the other guests were. On her descent she heard a deep male voice that sent a slight shiver down her spine. The velvety-smooth voice grew louder as she came closer to the first floor. The front door stood wide-open and standing in its midst was a fine, tall piece of sculptured art. The man had on nice-fitting jeans, work boots and a black T-shirt that hugged every muscular inch of his upper body.

He turned from the door and his gaze slowly traveled up the stairs, almost knocking Tayler on her butt. She gripped the banister to keep from tumbling down face-first. A pair of beautiful almond-shaped brown eyes stared up at her.

Oh, my God. Is that Rollin?

Chapter 2

The man’s lips moved, but Tayler didn’t hear a word coming out of his mouth. He licked his lips before the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile, enticing her with those dimples. A well-groomed mustache and sexy goatee completed his manly look. She took another step and almost fell, but willed her feet to get her down the rest of the steps without embarrassing her.

He walked over and met her at the foot of the stairs. “You must be Tayler. I’m Rollin Coleman Jr.” He extended his hand.

She accepted his firm handshake. “Tayler Carter. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Just step over here and I’ll get you all checked in.” He walked over behind the counter.

Tayler followed him, taking full advantage of the view. Why in the hell is this man working on a farm instead of modeling underwear in a magazine somewhere?

He pulled her name up on the computer. “So, Nicole said you wanted to stay a month. Is that right?”

“A month or two, I had told her. She said to let you know once I arrived.” As he worked the computer keys her eyes traveled up his arms, stopping at his biceps, which were speaking to her in a language she wanted to learn.

He arched a brow. “A month or two?”

“Yes. Is that gonna be a problem?”

He took a deep breath and shook his head. “Probably not. This late in August, most of the summer crowd has gone. You must have one hell of a job to get that much vacation time.”

“Yeah.” She didn’t want to talk about her leave or why she wanted to stay two months.

“So, how do you want to pay for this, a week at a time or a month at a time?”

“How about a month?” She handed over her credit card.

“That’ll work. Who knows, a month might be all you can take,” he said with a sour look on his face.

Tayler furrowed her brows. What the hell did he mean by that?

While he finished the transaction, she turned around to admire more of the beautiful foyer and its great crown moldings.

“This is a beautiful house. It reminds me of Tara—”

“From Gone with the Wind,” they said in unison. She smiled, but he sort of frowned, as if he hated that she had said that.

“Yeah, we get that a lot,” Rollin said. “My parents built the place, but I don’t know if they were fans or not.” He walked from behind the counter. “Come on, I’ve got time for a quick tour.”

He started on the first floor and walked her through the dining room, where he said meals would be served. He then led her through the living room/library, where walls of books resided and afternoon tea would be served. There was also a small recreation room, with a billiard table and other forms of entertainment like board games and cards.

His private quarters, off-limits to guests, were beyond the staircase across from the kitchen.

She waited until they were outside overlooking the meditation garden to ask about the other guests.

“I don’t see any other guests lingering around.”

“They’re in town at a family reunion.”

“How many people are there?”

“Two couples, one from Missouri and another from Georgia.”

Everyone was coupled up, she noticed, which made her feel out of place. “And then there’s me,” she said jokingly.

He glanced over at her. “And then there’s you,” he said before walking back toward the house.

Tayler stood there with her hands on her hips, speechless. She was merely trying to be funny, but his tone had been sharp. Rollin Coleman was rude. She caught up with him at the front door, which wasn’t easy to do in heels.

“Excuse me, but do you have a problem with me being here?”

He stopped and turned around. “No, I don’t. Why do you ask?”

“Because I’m getting some really bad vibes from you, and you haven’t been exactly hospitable during this little tour.”

He stopped and took a deep breath, giving Tayler an admiring glance before exhaling. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I haven’t been very gracious, have I? Long day. Why don’t we start over?” He cleared his throat. “Thank you for choosing Coleman House Bed-and-Breakfast. I’m Rollin Coleman Jr.”

He held his hand out and displayed the most captivating smile, with adorable dimples. His smile brightened up his face and seemed so warm and genuine. Not only is he built like a Greek statue, but look at those perfect white teeth. She quickly excused his previous bad behavior and accepted his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Rollin. I’m Tayler Carter.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, Ms. Carter. I hope you had a pleasant drive down?”

“I did. Thank you very much.” She wanted to laugh at his exaggerated greeting. “By the way, Officer Greg said to tell you hello.”

“What did you do? Get a speeding ticket?”

“No, he had mercy on this out-of-towner and escorted me here instead.”

“Mighty nice of him. Well, let’s go back inside. You’ll need to change shoes for the rest of the tour.”

Tayler looked down at the platform heels that gave her five-three frame a boost. “Why? They’re very comfortable, considering I’ve been sitting on my ass for the last seven hours.” Her feet were tired, but she didn’t see the need to tell him that.

“You drove all the way down here in those?” he asked with a dubious look on his face.

She shrugged. “Yes, I did.” Heels were a part of her casual attire, but he didn’t need to know that.

The front door opened and Rita stuck her head out.

“Rollin, excuse me, but Corra called and said she needs you over at her house. It’s an emergency.”

He shook his head. “Wonder what she’s broken now. Rita, if you don’t mind, would you show Ms. Carter around the property?”

“Sure,” Rita said as she stepped outside.

“Oh, please, call me Tayler.”

Rollin smiled. “Tayler. Got it. Well, I’m sorry I have to leave, but let Rita know if you need anything. I’ll see you ladies tonight at dinner.”

Rita held the door open for Tayler. “Honey, let’s change yo’ shoes before we go anywhere.”

After Tayler changed into a pair of black sneakers, Rita walked her through the flower gardens and past the hammocks and chaise lounge chairs. Rita pointed out the entrance to a nature trail should Tayler find herself up for a scenic stroll.

“All of this is so impressive. You must love living here,” Tayler said.

“Oh, I don’t live here.”

“I’m sorry, I thought you and Wallace were like the innkeepers.”

Rita laughed and took a rubber band from her wrist and pulled her hair into a ponytail. “No, honey, Rollin is Wallace’s nephew. We live over in Garrard County. It’s just about thirty minutes away.”

“So, you don’t regularly work here?”

“I do. I’ve been the housekeeper for almost a year now. The farm employs ten people, and then there’s Corra when she comes around. But Rollin runs the B and B mostly by himself now.”

“Really! He doesn’t look like an innkeeper, or B and B operator, and he has all this land to take care of as well. That’s amazing.” Tayler turned around and glanced across the fields, where several people worked in the distance.

“Honey, you haven’t seen anything yet. Come on, let’s make our way back up to the house. I need to get dinner started and you should take a nap.”

Tayler matched strides with Rita as they headed back to the house. “That’s something I plan to do a lot of while I’m here. Napping and resting. And that garden back there looks like the perfect spot.”

“Yes, it’s very relaxing after a hard day’s work.”

Tayler sighed, thinking about lounging in the hammock with a tall glass of lemonade and her favorite self-help book. Nicole was right—this vacation would be good for her. She’d return home relaxed and ready to tackle the world again.

* * *

Around dinnertime, Tayler heard the other guests as they walked up and down the hall. She’d had a shower and a good nap and felt refreshed and alive. Some of the stress and tension from maneuvering Chicago’s highways and trains on a daily basis had already started to leave her body. Dressed in a pale yellow and white sundress that she’d purchased at Bloomingdale’s just for this trip, she went downstairs to join the others.

The couples at the table introduced themselves and entertained Tayler with tales from their family reunion. Rita served some of the best fried chicken Tayler had ever put in her mouth, and she couldn’t stop complimenting her on everything. After dinner the other guests prepared to attend a dance, which one of the men didn’t seem too eager about.

“I’m going because that’s why we came down here. But I’m just saying, a Danville dance is nothing like going to a club in Atlanta.”

“Forrest,” his wife said, busting him out, “when was the last time you stepped inside a club, anyway? You go down to the Crows Nest for a drink once every six months, but I wouldn’t call that clubbing. Don’t lie to these people.”

“Barbara, I’m not lying and you know it. Plus, I didn’t say I went clubbing, I just said they don’t compare. Folks around here do things at a much slower pace.”

“Don’t y’all listen to Forrest. This man is in bed by nine thirty every night. He hasn’t seen the inside of a nightclub since we got married fifteen years ago. He’ll be down there tonight dancing his butt off.”

Everyone at the table laughed.

“Tayler, you’re welcome to join us, if you want,” Barbara said.

“Thank you, but I think I’m going to get some work done and hit the sack early.”

“Smart woman,” Forrest said. “We all need to be ready in the morning.”

The kitchen door swung open and Rollin, dressed in jeans and a casual button-down shirt, walked into the room.

“Rollin, we were just about to ask Rita where you were.”

“Good evening, everybody. How was your dinner?” he asked as Rita began to clear the table.

Forrest reared back in his seat. “That was the best meal I believe I’ve ever had. I’m gonna have to loosen my belt up before my stomach explodes.”

Everyone at the table chuckled.

“Mrs. Rita, my compliments to the chef,” Forrest continued.

“Well, thank you.”

“Tomorrow morning I’ll be thankful for this meal,” Forrest said in a loud playful voice, and everyone at the table broke out into laughter again.

There was an inside joke there, Tayler knew, but she hadn’t been let in on it. She had that odd-man-out feeling again and wanted to return to her room and her laptop.

“Tayler, how long will you be staying?” Barbara asked.

“For a month, possibly two.”

Eyebrows rose and surprised looks came from around the table. “That’s a nice long time. Rita might put you to work in the kitchen,” Forrest said with a chuckle.

Rita laughed while she and Rollin picked up the glasses from the table.

“Rollin, who you got coming in after we check out?” Forrest asked.

“Nobody right now. We’ll have a few vacancies.”

Tayler didn’t know if it was her imagination or not, but everyone at the table seemed to turn and stare at her with smiles on their faces. It took a few minutes before Rollin’s statement registered. After they left, she would be the only guest, alone with Rollin.

“Anybody ready for some hot apple pie with ice cream?” Rita asked.

Every hand at the table went up except Tayler’s. Suddenly, she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

* * *

“Nicole, you didn’t tell me I would be here with him alone. The guests are checking out in a few days and nobody else is checking in. Girl, I can’t stay here with this man by myself.” Tayler paced the floor of her bedroom holding her cell phone to her ear.

“Tayler, what are you worried about? It’s a B and B—somebody is always checking in and out. Besides, you know I wouldn’t have suggested you go down there if Rollin wasn’t cool. He’s a businessman, for Christ’s sake. What do you think the man’s gonna do, jump your bones once everyone leaves? And that house is the bomb, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s beautiful, but what if nobody checks in? I’d feel more comfortable in a hotel.”

“What? Are you crazy? That’s the perfect place to relax and get your head together. No stress, no pressure. Just smell the roses, if you know what I mean. And Rollin is as fine a gentleman as you’ll ever meet.”

“I don’t know about that,” Tayler said, almost under her breath. He was fine as hell, but she hadn’t met that gentleman yet.

“Girl, unpack your bags and chill. You deserve to enjoy yourself. Sit on the front porch and read a book or something. Does Rita still make pitchers of lemonade every afternoon?”

“Yes, she does.” That was one of the personal touches Tayler liked about the house. When they came in from the tour earlier, Rita had placed two pitchers in the library. One was full of lemonade, and another full of water with orange slices.

Tayler let out a loud sigh as she pulled back the comforter and sat down. “I suppose somebody else could check in. I guess it won’t be so bad.”

“Of course not,” Nicole said. “Now tell me what you think of Rollin. He’s single, you know.”

Tayler knew to keep her thoughts about Rollin to herself. Nicole couldn’t keep her mouth shut about anything. Tayler wanted to say, “He’s fine as a glass of Bordeaux but rude as hell,” but instead she said, “He seems like a nice man.”

“He is, and I just know you two will hit it off.”

“Nicole, I came here to rest, not get hooked up with your cousin—you do know that, don’t you?”

“Ah, girl, yeah, I’m just messing with you. Besides, what would you do with a farmer?”

Tayler thought of a few things she could do with one farmer in particular.

Chapter 3

Knock, knock.

Tayler pulled the covers over her head. She had to be dreaming about a crazy person knocking on the door.

Knock, knock.

What the hell? She rolled over from one side to the other. Was she dreaming or was the place suddenly under construction?

“Tayler, it’s time for breakfast.” Knock, knock. “Are you up?”

Was somebody calling her name? Was that Rollin? She threw the covers back and pushed her eye mask up into her bonnet.

“Tayler, breakfast in fifteen minutes—come on down. The truck leaves at seven a.m., and you don’t want to miss it.”

What the hell!

Tayler sat up and reached for her robe. She wasn’t hungry, and she wasn’t going to breakfast.

She wrapped herself in her robe and went to open the door. She cracked the door and glanced up into Rollin’s scowling face.

“Good morning. I see you’re not up yet. Well, you might want to grab a shower and come on down. Breakfast will be served in the dining room and we’re heading out at seven o’clock on the nose.”

“I’m sorry, but heading out where?”

“The vegetable garden first, then we’ll swing by—”

“Hold up. I’ll skip the garden tour this morning, if you don’t mind. I’m on vacation. What time is it, anyway?” She looked behind her and didn’t see one peek of light coming through the blinds. It was still dark out.

“It’s five thirty a.m., and unless you don’t plan to eat today, you need to be on the truck before seven a.m.”

“What truck?”

“Didn’t Nicole tell you that this is a working farm? We go out each morning to pick food for lunch and dinner.”

“Wait a minute.” She shook her head. “This is what kind of a farm?”

Rollin shook his head. “Get dressed and come on down. I’ll explain it to you. Looks like Nicole forgot to tell you a few things.”

He walked down the hall and left Tayler standing in the doorway watching his back. Once he disappeared down the steps, she closed the door and threw herself against it.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

She staggered into the shower then made it downstairs well before seven. Everyone was still at the table eating when she walked into the room.

“Grab a plate, honey. You’ve got fifteen minutes before the truck leaves,” Rita informed Tayler.

The smell of bacon, pancakes and hot biscuits left Tayler speechless and looking around the room for a plate. She wasn’t hungry and had intended to negotiate her way back into bed.

“Here’s a plate.”

Tayler turned at the sound of Rollin’s voice. He stood next to the buffet offering her a square blue-and-white plate.

“I suggest you eat something. Going out on the truck to pick your own food is part of the charm of staying on a working farm.”

He glanced down at Tayler’s sneaker-clad feet. “Once you get out there, just follow Kevin’s instructions and you’ll be fine.”

After accepting the plate, Tayler glanced at her watch. “So, I now have about ten minutes to eat something and grab a cup of coffee.”

“Hot coffee’s down there.” Rollin pointed to the end of the server table.

Tayler set her plate down and opted for a hot cup of coffee instead. A white carafe and a couple of cups sat around waiting for someone to try them. She poured herself a cup of what looked like liquid mud. Desperate for caffeine, she decided against her better judgment, and took a sip.

She almost dropped her cup, “What the hell is this?”

Rollin walked over to her. “It’s called coffee. It’s organic. A dark roast decaf. I whip it up for guests daily.”

She sat her cup down on the server and pressed her fingers against her lips. “Thank you but I’ll pass on the...coffee.”

Every morning she stopped at Starbucks for a cup of blond-roast coffee. How was she supposed to function without her coffee?

“Herbal tea is better for you anyway,” Rollin said. “If you haven’t tried it before Rita will show you our impressive collection.”

Tayler cleared her throat. This fool expects me to go out and pick food at seven o’clock in the morning without a cup of coffee. He must be off his rocker. “Do you know anywhere I can get a good cup of coffee?”

Rollin shook his head and laughed. “Try a cup of tea, or some orange juice. You’ve only got a little more than five minutes now.” He walked away.

There was no way she could wolf down breakfast in five minutes, so she grabbed a piece of toast and poured herself a glass of orange juice. Before she could finish, everyone was ready to go.

As much as she wanted to protest and drive into town for a cup of coffee, she conformed and walked out to the truck with everyone else. She was going to kick Nicole’s ass for this one.

“First time?”

Tayler whipped her head around and looked into the blue eyes of a young boy who looked as if he was still in high school. His white skin, kissed by the sun, was almost as bronzed as hers.

He held out his hand. “I’m Kevin. Need some help up?”

“You’re seriously taking us out on this rusted-out truck with no seats in the back?”

“Yep, unless you’d rather walk. It’s about five miles back up the road.”

She held out her hand. “Kevin, I’m Tayler, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

He grasped her hand and elbow to help her up onto the truck. “I’ll be lookin’ forward to it.”

The ride out was bumpy and rough. Tayler couldn’t even enjoy the view, her butt hurt so badly. She held on for dear life and tried to avoid getting her new sneakers dirty.

Kevin led them through the fields and Tayler picked whatever she saw everybody else picking. She wasn’t into this getting-back-to-nature stuff. The only thing she wanted to get back to was the house so she could get on her cell and cuss Nicole out.

“Barbara, think you’ve got enough green beans? Why not move on down and get some cucumbers. I like them in my salad.”

“Forrest, get your own cucumbers. We’re trying to show Tayler here how to pick beans. I may not have lived in the county for a while now, but I’m still a country girl.”

Tayler compared the small amount of beans in her basket to the overflowing amount in Barbara’s. She had to admit she needed the help.

“Honey, the truck’s not gonna be out here all day, so you need to pick faster. Here, let me show you how. Sit that basket down. You need both hands.”

Tayler did as she was told, and in no time at all, her basket was overflowing as well.

“Thank you. This is the first time I’ve ever picked anything.”

“Fun, isn’t it?”

Tayler glanced down at her dusty sneakers and dirty manicured nails. Hell, no, this isn’t fun. “I guess, yeah.”

Barbara laughed. “Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it. Before you leave you’ll be a pro at picking beans and anything else you want to eat. Once we leave, I guess Rita or Kevin will ride out with you every day.”

Tayler stopped in her tracks. “You have to do this every day?”

“Sure, that’s what staying on an organic farm is all about. Everything’s fresh right from the garden. Wait until dinner tonight—you’ll see what I mean then.”

Barbara picked up her basket and started walking away.

“What if I’m not able to make it out here every morning?” Tayler asked. “Surely Rita will prepare something anyway.”

“Maybe, but why wouldn’t you want to?” Barbara stopped and turned to face Tayler. “That’s what people stay here for, the holistic experience. Isn’t that why you’re here?”

Holistic, as in back to nature, organic, oh, hell! Tayler gave a slow nod of her head. “Sure, it’s just some mornings I might be working, and I wondered how they’d handle that, you know. Let’s say I miss the truck or something.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure Rollin won’t let you starve,” Barbara responded with a laugh.

“He just might,” Tayler mumbled, remembering how rude he’d been to her.

“Honey, as pretty as you are, I wouldn’t be surprised if Rollin doesn’t offer to pick your food for you. I don’t know him that well, but I saw the way he looked at you this morning.”

“What do you mean? How did he look at me?” Tayler asked, apprehensive about the answer.

“Let’s just say I noticed him noticing you. That’s all. Come on, let’s go pick some blackberries—Rita promised me a cobbler after dinner.”

After a brief stop back at the truck for a bottle of water and a new basket, Tayler tried to talk Barbara into letting her wait by the truck, but she wouldn’t hear of it.

“If you’re going to be out here after we leave, you need to learn a thing or two,” she insisted. “Come on, city girl.”

With the sleeve of her shirt, Tayler wiped the sweat from her brow and followed Barbara along a path that lead to blackberry bushes. Hot, tired and ready for a bath, Tayler could barely muster up the energy to pick berries.

“Okay, honey, dig in. But be careful, they have thorns. And remember, the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice,” she said with a laugh. “Oh, I love that saying.”

Tayler chuckled and shook her head.

“No, seriously, though, the blacker and plumper the berry, the better. The red or purple ones aren’t ripe yet, so leave them. And don’t be afraid to get under there and find them berries. They’re tough—you can’t hurt anything.”

But my hands, Tayler thought. Then, she realized the sooner they had enough berries, the sooner they would be out of there, so she held back the thorns with one hand and plucked off berries with the other.

A few minutes later, she moved down farther in search of more plump blackberries. She was starting to get the hang of it and had only been pricked by thorns twice. She crouched down when she saw a bunch of blackberries close to the ground. Careful this time, she pulled the thorns back with one hand and reached in with the other.

Suddenly, a long black snake slithered from the open path, headed in her direction.

“Ahh!” She screamed, jumped to her feet and ran as if her life depended upon it.

Before she could catch her breath, she ran into a brick wall named Rollin.

“Hey, what’s going on?” he asked as he reached out and caught Tayler by the arm.

“A snake!” She flung her arms and looked back over her shoulder. “A snake attacked me back there. It crawled out from under the bushes and came right at me.” She shook her hands before brushing down her pant legs.

“Did it bite you?” he asked.

All she could do was shake her head.

“How big was it?” he asked, holding her now with one arm around her shoulders to steady her.

She took a deep breath. “I don’t know, it wasn’t too big, but it was a snake nonetheless. Yuck, I hate snakes.” She swatted at the crawling sensation going up her arm.

“What color was it?”

Now everything on her body itched, and Tayler pulled away long enough to shake her pant legs and notice the smirk on Rollin’s face. “I think it was black, or...what’s so funny? Are you laughing at me?”

“No, of course not,” he said as he pointed behind her. “Is that it?”

Without looking behind her, Tayler jumped and ran behind Rollin, and then glanced at the ground. She didn’t see anything.

The roar of laughter caught her attention and she looked up at everyone in the truck bed having a good laugh at her expense.

Rollin chuckled and held his hands up, palms out. “I’m sorry, that was mean. I shouldn’t have done it.”

Barbara called out, trying not to laugh, “Tayler, we’re sorry, but it was only a small garden snake. It won’t hurt you.”

With her arms crossed, Tayler glared at Barbara and the crew. “It was a snake, that’s all I know, and I don’t do snakes.”

“Occasionally, a little snake crawls under the bushes looking for a nice warm bed. Come show me where you saw it.” Rollin touched Tayler’s elbow, edging her back down the path.

Arms crossed, she stood rooted to her spot. “I’m not going back down there. I told you, I don’t do snakes.”

Kevin walked up. “Is she okay?” he asked Rollin.

“Yeah, she’ll be fine.”

“It was probably a garden snake, like Mrs. Barbara said,” Kevin offered. “They’re virtually harmless, and they do their best to avoid people. I don’t see too many of them out here.”

Kevin and Rollin walked down the path in the direction of the snake. They poked around under bushes, but it didn’t look as if either spotted the snake. Rollin picked up her basket of blackberries. She wondered what she was going to eat every day, since she wasn’t about to come back out here to pick anything.

Back at the truck, Tayler sat on the edge of the bed, trying to get her hands to stop shaking. A snake! A damned snake! If anyone had told her they had snakes here, she would have stayed in Chicago.

Rollin and Kevin made their way back to the truck, laughing with each other. No doubt she was the topic of conversation.

“Glad I could make your day, fellas,” she said.

Rollin looked from Kevin back to her. “I’m sorry, we weren’t talking about you. Here’s your blackberries.” He set the basket next to her.

“Thank you.”

“I’m sorry your first morning turned out to be such a dramatic one. Guests usually don’t encounter snakes this soon.”

“So it usually takes a few days before snakes show up?” she asked sarcastically.

“Oh, they’re out here every day. You startled that one, that’s all. Next time, make some noise and it’ll slither away.”

“Next time! Oh, I don’t plan on coming back out here. I’ll eat all my meals in town if I have to.”

Rollin nodded. “That’ll get pretty expensive.”

“I can afford it.”

“Maybe you can.” He stretched his arms over his head. “Guess I was right when I said you might not last a month. I can spot a quitter from miles away.”

He touched a nerve and she straightened up. “I’m not a quitter. I just don’t play with snakes.”

He shrugged. “Just stay out of the blackberry bushes, then everything will be okay. What do you say?”

She looked at his outstretched hand, waiting for her to accept it, then looked away. She wasn’t making any promises.

“What do you have to lose? You’ll eat some good food and might even make a new friend.”

She raised a brow at him. “You want to be my new friend?”

“I wasn’t thinking about me, but Rita. She’ll be disappointed if she can’t cook for you. After these guys leave she won’t have guest to cook for.”

He still hadn’t persuaded her.

“Say yes, and I’ll do my best to keep the snakes away.”

He smiled and those big dimples mesmerized her. It took a few seconds to turn from his gaze and pull herself together.

“Okay, but no more blackberries.” She accepted his hand.

Chapter 4

The next morning, no one rode to the fields because, luckily, they’d picked enough food the day before.

Tayler took advantage of the free time and ventured out to the porch after breakfast with her laptop. Minutes later, Forrest joined her.

“This feels wonderful, doesn’t it?”

Tayler turned to Forrest, who sat in one of the big white rocking chairs across the porch from her.

“Yes, it does. We have a nice breeze.” She smiled and turned back to her laptop.

“You don’t get this in the city.” He took a deep breath. “Just smell that air. No car exhaust or garbage. Just clean country air, the way God intended it to be.”

Tayler cut her eyes at Forrest. What’s so damned special about the air?

“What’s that you’re working on? I thought you said you were on vacation.”

“I am, but I’m still trying to keep up with work—you know how it is. It’s hard to take a vacation when you have so many responsibilities.”

He crossed his legs in her direction. “So what do you do?”

She took a deep breath and thought of a way to explain what she did so he’d understand. “I oversee a team that installs data communications lines all around the world.”

Forrest whistled. “Sounds like a lot of work. Too bad they can’t manage without you.”

“Oh, they can. I just like to keep tabs on everything.”

“So you’re somewhat of a micromanager?”

“No, not really.” She hated that phrase. “I just like to be available if I’m needed.”

“We used to have backups for vacations and such.”

“I have a backup.”

“Incompetent, though, huh?”

“He doesn’t handle things the way I do, but he’s very competent.”

Forrest laughed.

She smiled but didn’t get the joke. “What’s so funny?”

The front door opened as Forrest stood up and pointed at her laptop. “You need to look up ‘micromanager,’” he said as he walked over to hold the door for his wife.

Tayler crossed her arms and gave him a knowing smile. She understood.

Barbara walked over to Tayler. “Well, Tayler, it was nice meeting you, but we’re gonna have to get on the road.” Tayler moved her laptop aside and stood up to hug the older woman goodbye. Within minutes, everyone else came out to say goodbye. Rita and Tayler stood on the porch waving as both cars pulled off. The moment reminded Tayler of a scene from an old movie.

“Well, young lady, what have you got planned for today?” Rita asked.

Tayler sat back down and picked up her laptop. “I was going to get some work done, but I’ve changed my mind. I think I’ll just enjoy the breeze.”

“That sounds nice. You enjoy yourself, now. I’m gonna go up and start cleaning those rooms. Lunch is at noon.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

Tayler thought about what Forrest had said and closed her laptop. She wasn’t a micromanager.

A few minutes later, she heard a vehicle barreling up the driveway. A big black truck that resembled a monster with tinted windows pulled in next to her BMW. She’d seen the truck parked around back before but wasn’t sure who it belonged to. It kicked dust all over her precious jewel.

The door opened, and Rollin stepped out. Tayler rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath, “I should have known.”

He walked up onto the porch. “Enjoying yourself?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m just relaxing.” She followed his gaze to her laptop. “And trying to stay away from work.”

“Yeah, Nicole said you were here to get away from work. She said you needed to get some rest,” he said.

She glanced over her shoulder as he now stood at the door. “And I plan to get plenty of that, as long as I don’t have to adhere to six a.m. wake-up calls every morning.”

“You must plan on losing at lot of weight, then.”

She set her laptop aside and turned around in her seat. “So, let’s talk about that. Do you really expect me to go out there all by myself and pick vegetables every morning?”

He left the entrance front door and walked over to stand against the railing opposite of her. “Sure, I do. This is a working organic farm. People come from all over for the opportunity to pick their own food and have Rita prepare it for them. Almost everything we make here is fresh and from scratch. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out and introduce you to the hens.”

Tayler laughed. “You talk about hens like they’re people.”

His lips pressed together in a slight grimace. “No, but I think a proper introduction should be made before you stick your hand under her ass to pick up the eggs.”

Eyes wide, Tayler pointed to herself. “Oh, no, my hands won’t be going under anything’s ass. Besides, I don’t have to eat eggs. Pancakes are fine with me.”

He chuckled. “You need an egg for pancakes.”

“Then I’ll have a bagel.”

He shook his head. “No bagels, nor doughnuts, before you ask.”

She brought her palm to her forehead and massaged it for a moment. “Seriously, though, how do I get a good meal without playing farmer Jane? And what about the elderly? Surely to God, you don’t make them ride out on that old rusted truck.”

“They appreciate it the most. But if you want to eat somewhere else, there’s always Donita’s Diner in town.”

“And how do I get there?”

“Take the main road back into town and you’ll see it on your right. The green-and-white sign kind of jumps out at you.”

“Thank you. I think I’ll try it.”

He walked back to the front door. “Suit yourself, but I think you’ll be disappointed.”

“As long as I don’t have to pick the food myself, I’ll enjoy it.”

Rollin went inside and Tayler opened her computer back up. She hadn’t been able to catch Nicole by phone, so she sent her another email. She was going to wring that chick’s neck.

A few minutes later, Rita poked her head out the door and announced that lemonade would be served in the library.

“Rita, you didn’t have to go to any trouble for me.”

“Honey, it’s no trouble at all. Besides, around here folks is dropping by all the time. Come on in and help yourself.”

Tayler went inside for her afternoon treat. First, she ran upstairs and grabbed her book. The minute she opened the door to head back outside with her goods, two children came barreling through the door, screaming as they shot past her.

She spun around and almost dropped her glass.

“I smell cookies, I smell cookies,” they screamed.

Kids. Please don’t tell me they’ve come to stay. She could hear her peace coming to an end.

Juggling her lemonade, cookies and book, she continued out onto the porch to retain her seat.

“You must be Tayler,” a woman who didn’t look a day over twenty asked as she came up the steps.

“How did I give myself away?”

“Rollin said you were the only guest.”

“Oh, that made it easy.”

“Hi, I’m Corra, his sister.” She held out her hand.

Tayler juggled a hand free. “Hold on, let me set some of this down.” She placed everything on the table next to her laptop and shook the woman’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Corra. Do the little ones belong to you?”

“Yes, those are mine. They smelled Rita’s chocolate chip cookies the minute they stepped out of the car. I swear, it’s like they’re cookie bloodhounds.”

Tayler chuckled. “They are good.”

Corra placed a hand on her large hips. “I need cookies like I need a hole in my head, so I’ll take your word for it.”

Tayler returned to her seat.

“Are you enjoying your stay so far?”

“Yes, I am. This is a lovely place.”

Corra walked over and sat in the swing across from Tayler’s rocking chair. “I hope Rollin is being hospitable.”

“He is, and so is Rita. Everyone’s been very nice.”

“Well, that’s good. Rollin said you’re staying for a month, is that right?”

Tayler sipped her lemonade and nodded. “Yes, maybe longer. I’m not sure yet.”

“Wow, where do you work that you can take that much time off? I’ve been at Save-A-Lot for over three years and all I get is a lousy two weeks.”

“I work for MesaCom, a small telecommunications company. I needed to get out of the city, so I took some extra vacation time.”

“Oh, I see. Is that your laptop?” she asked, noticing it on the table next to Tayler.

“Yeah.”

“Are you pretty good with computers?”

“I think so.”

“Great. We’re having a fund-raiser for Roosevelt Elementary trying to put a computer in every classroom. You’d think the board would supply something so vital nowadays, but no, they’re too busy making sure their members get raises.”

“That’s definitely a worthy cause. Every child today should have a computer. If not, they’ll get left behind.”

“Girl, that’s what I’ve been saying. But you know trying to convince some of them board members of that is like trying to talk a turtle into running a marathon. The PTA’s taken it upon ourselves to raise the money. Maybe you can help since you’re going to be here for a month or longer?”

With raised brows, Tayler gave it some thought. “Uh, sure. Let me know what I can do.”

“Great.” Corra jumped up as her children came barreling back out the front door and dashed out into the yard.

“Jamie, Katie, where are you going?” she yelled after them.

“Looking for Uncle Rollin,” one of them called back as they rounded the house.

Corra turned back to Tayler. “Do you have any children?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Think long and hard before you do. They’ll test your nerves.”

Then Corra got up and disappeared inside the house.

Smiling, Tayler put her feet up and opened her book.

* * *

The next morning, bright and early, Tayler heard a light tapping on her bedroom door. “Oh, no,” she whispered and pulled the covers over her head.

“Tayler, honey. I fixed you some breakfast before you go out with Kevin this morning,” Rita said.

Tayler threw the covers back and grabbed her robe. Will these people ever let me sleep in? She flung the robe around her body and tied the sash before throwing the door open.

“Thank you, Rita, but I’m going to skip breakfast and the ride with Kevin this morning. I’ll eat in town later.”

Rita looked taken aback.

“I’m sorry. I told Rollin I wouldn’t be going picking, or whatever, this morning. He should have told you.”

“Yes, he should have. Well, if you change your mind, I’ll wrap a plate up for you and put it in the refrigerator.”

Three hours later, Tayler walked out of her room dressed in a pair of jeans, a new signature T-shirt and her favorite three-inch strappy sandals. Now she was ready for breakfast. She’d be damned if she was going to spend her vacation jumping up every morning to go pick something.

The house was quiet again, which was a little eerie to her. She descended the grand staircase with purse in hand and felt like a queen or princess or something. The railing was magnificently designed. She looked around downstairs and found a radio playing in the library, but no occupant.

She walked out to her car and noticed a tractor in the distance and wondered if that was Rollin hard at work. She opened the car door and tossed her purse inside. It was time to ride into Danville and see what was up.

Tayler had no idea where she was going, but she remembered Rollin telling her a diner was just inside town. She rolled her window down and then scanned radio stations trying to find something other than country music. She finally located a hip-hop station. Glancing at the clock, she figured Nicole should be at her desk by now and pulled out her cell phone.

“Good morning, Nicole Burns.”

“I figured I’d catch your ass at work, since you seem to be dodging my calls.”

“Tayler! Hey, girl, how’s it going?”

“Didn’t you get any of my voice messages or emails?”

Nicole laughed. “Girl, that riding-out-on-the-truck thing must be something new. I didn’t know about that.”

“So, not only am I the only guest here, but Rollin expects me to ride out every morning with this young guy I don’t know to pick my own damn food. Not to mention their coffee is the worst I’ve ever had. I’m going into town for a cup now.”

“Come on, Tayler, relax and get into it. Life in the country is different than life in Chicago.”

“I know that. But I booked myself into a B and B hoping to get a little rest. So far, I’ve been awakened before the break of dawn and forced to work without coffee. I rode in the bed of a dirty rusted-out truck. Oh, and a snake chased me through the fields. Does that sound like I’m relaxing to you?”

Nothing but laughter came from the other end of the phone, which pissed Tayler off.

“I’m glad you find this so freakin’ amusing.”

“I don’t mean to laugh at you, but you should hear yourself. You’ve been there two days and you sound like a spoiled brat. You’re in the country, Tayler. There are snakes and old trucks in the country. You’re out of your element, but that’s what you needed. You’ll survive without Starbucks for a little while.”

“What are you now, my therapist?”

“No, but I know what you need. I hope you haven’t been on that computer, either. Read a book, go for long walks and see if Rita will let you help her in the garden. Get back to nature for a minute.”

Now Tayler had to laugh. “You set me up, didn’t you? You knew all along this wasn’t going to be what I expected.”

“No, that’s not true.”

Tayler took a deep breath as she approached town. “Nicole, you owe me for this, that’s all I’m saying. If I even end up staying the month, you owe me dinner at Spiaggia’s when I get back.”

“Girl, you got it. Just try to relax and destress. I hate to cut you off, but I’ve gotta run to a meeting. Stay in touch.”

“Oh, I most certainly will.” Tayler hung up just as she saw a large tattered green-and-white sign come into view. Donita’s Diner. The sign was set close to the road, most likely so guests didn’t drive by too fast and miss the diner. She pulled into the lot and killed the engine. The outside had seen better days and could use a paint job. She hoped the inside would fare better.

The minute she opened the door, she knew she was in trouble. The heavy smells of grease and cigarette smoke hung in the air. A tired-looking middle-aged waitress greeted Tayler and led her across the sticky floor to a table. Tayler tried not to slip and fall. After the waitress recited the morning special, Tayler ordered a cup of coffee and a three-egg omelet.

“Is this seat taken?”

She looked up from the menu she’d kept to see Officer Greg holding the chair across from her, dressed in his snug-fitting uniform.

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