Loe raamatut: «When I Fall In Love»
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
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.
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