When I Fall In Love

“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.