“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 opt
ed 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.”
When I Fall in Love Page 2
