When I Fall In Love. Bridget Anderson

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СКАЧАТЬ 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,” СКАЧАТЬ