When I Fall in Love (5 page)

“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.

Chapter 5

T
ayler gestured to the empty chair across from her in answer to Greg's question. “No, help yourself.” However, a quick sweep of the room revealed plenty of empty chairs.

“You're the young lady staying out at Coleman House, right?”

“Yes, you stopped me and escorted me in the other day. You're Greg, right?”

“Greg Mason.” He extended his hand.

She accepted it. “Tayler Carter.” She had peeped Office Greg's rugged good looks when he had pulled her over. Now, she noticed his muscular physique, as well.

“It's nice to meet you, Tayler. I thought I recognized you. Is this your first time in Danville?”

“Yes, it is. I'm on vacation.”

“Where you from?”

“Chicago.”

“So, how do you like our little town?”

“I haven't seen much outside of the ride into town, and then to here this morning.”

“Then you'll have to let me give you the ten-cent tour.”

The waitress returned with two cups of coffee and their food. Tayler assumed Officer Greg was a regular, since the waitress knew what he wanted to eat.

“I'm surprised you're not eating at Coleman House. Rita's one of the best cooks in the county.”

Tayler blew on her piping-hot coffee. “So I've heard, but I'm not too keen on having to pick my own food every day.”

He nodded in agreement as he began eating.

Tayler sliced into her omelet as melted cheese oozed all over the plate. Then she bit into crunchy vegetables. She chewed them up enough to swallow, then chased it down with a little coffee that activated her gag reflex.

Greg laughed. “Yeah, the coffee's an acquired taste.”

She wrinkled her nose and pushed the cup away. “That's coffee?”

He laughed harder, and then leaned into the table. “Stop out at the Speedway gas station and you can get a better cup. But don't tell anybody I told you that.”

“Thanks,” she whispered, and gave him a coconspirator nod.

She played with the rest of her food while Greg finished his so fast she was sure he'd have indigestion later.

After breakfast he walked her out to her car. “I was serious about that tour. If you're not busy when I get off, I can come out and pick you up.”

He's persistent—how sweet.

“Maybe another time. I'm still trying to rest up from the drive down.”

“Well, if you change your mind—” he produced a business card “—give me a call.”

She took the card and glanced at it before shoving it into her purse. “Sure.”

Tayler found the Speedway gas station on her way back to the house and purchased a large cup of coffee. Greg was right—this was coffee.

When she pulled up to the house, Rita and Rollin stood on the front porch. She hesitated with her coffee cup in hand but decided to go ahead since this wouldn't be the only morning she went out for coffee.

As she walked up the steps, Rollin gazed down at her in a way that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

“I see you found some coffee.”

She held up the cup. “It's not Starbucks, but there's nothing like a shot of caffeine to get the juices flowing.”

“Then you're probably ready to do some running around. Why don't you change shoes and ride over to Houchen's with me?”

“Are you going to put me to work once we get there?”

He smiled. “Probably so.”

“Rollin, just make sure you get her back here for lunch,” Rita said. “I'm gonna start picking those beans Kevin brought in earlier.” Rita disappeared into the house.

“Exactly what is Houchen's?” Tayler asked.

“A hardware store. I ordered a new tiller.”

“And I have to change shoes for that?”

He glanced down at her sandals. “Not really. Come on.”

She followed him out to his monster truck. He had on jeans, his work boots and another black T-shirt. She'd bet he had no idea how that casual laid-back style made him look so sexy. He opened the door for her and tried to help her up, but she started falling backward. Before she could fall on her butt, Rollin caught her in his arms. He looked at the covered coffee cup in her hand, and let out a sigh of relief.

“Sorry about this,” Rollin said before placing his hand on her butt and heaving her up into the truck.

Tayler's eyes widened as she went sailing up into the seat. He closed her door, and she tried not to think about his hand on her butt as she placed her coffee in the cup holder.

Rollin jumped in and started the engine. After he pulled out onto the main road, he turned on the radio.

“How did you like your breakfast?” he asked.

“I didn't. But somehow I believe you already knew that.”

“I never said it was good. I just said it was a place to get breakfast.”

“A breakfast biscuit from anywhere would have tasted better.”

“No, you would have been better off with Rita's breakfast.”

“You're right. Officer Greg says she's the best cook in the county.”

“You ran into him at the diner?”

“He ran into me, actually.”

“Yeah, he eats most of his meals there.”

“He offered me a tour of the town this afternoon.”

Rollin turned and looked at her for a second before shaking his head. “Greg doesn't waste any time.”

“That's what I thought.”

“You turned him down?”

“I said maybe another time. He's a cop. I don't want to make him mad—he might find a way to write me a ticket for the other day.”

Rollin threw his head back and laughed. “Greg wouldn't do that even if he could. He's a pretty decent guy.”

They rode on in silence for a few minutes before Rollin spoiled the moment.

“So, Nicole said you had a breakdown or something at work. And this vacation is supposed to destress you, is that right?”

Tayler's head swiveled so fast she heard her neck crack.
What the hell.
“When did she tell you that?” Tayler knew Nicole couldn't keep anything to herself.

“When she said you wanted to stay for a month. I asked why so long.”

Tayler shook her head in disbelief. “It wasn't a breakdown. I snapped on somebody that I shouldn't have, that's all. And since I never take time off, this vacation is long overdue.”

“I hope you don't mind that she told me. I told her I was thinking about closing down.”

Tayler's eyes widened as a hand flew to her chest. “Don't tell me you're staying open because of me.”

He laughed as he pulled the truck into Houchen's parking lot. “Of course not. Whatever business decision I make won't take place right away.” He turned off the engine and opened the door to the truck. “Come on in. I might need you to help me carry the tiller.”

She glared at him and then waited for him to come around and help her out. As she followed him around the hardware store, she wondered what else Nicole had told him. What did he know about her that she wasn't aware of?

After Rollin picked up the tiller and had it loaded onto the bed of his truck, they headed back to the farm.

“I don't know the first thing about farming, but that tiller looks too small for all the large fields around here,” she said.

“Good observation. It's for the gardens out back. We use large cultivators for the fields.”

“Oh. Well, like I said, I don't know much about farms or gardens.”

“That's okay.” He glanced over at her hands. “You might get your hands dirty, but I'll teach you something before you leave here. After all, this is a working farm.”

“Wow, I'm really looking forward to that.” She tried to scale back the sarcasm in her statement.

He laughed. “We'll get back in time for lunch, but I need to drop this tiller off first. You don't mind, do you?”

“No. It's not like I have anything else to do.”

He turned onto another road that led to a large old barn.

“This is a back entrance to the farm,” he said.

Tayler was amazed at how much land the farm consisted of. Rollin backed his truck up to a big red barn. The doors slid open and Kevin walked out.

“Is that Ms. Carter?” Kevin asked as he walked up to the passenger side of the truck.

She stuck her head out the window. “Please, call me Tayler.” What was she, an old lady or something?

“She rode into town with me. Come on, Kev, help me get this thing out.”

“Missed you this morning,” Kevin said as he tapped her on the hand before turning back to the truck bed.

“She had breakfast at Donita's,” Rollin said with a smile.

Kevin looked back at Tayler. “Oh, no,” he laughed into his balled fist. “Bet you won't do that again.”

“Somebody should have warned me,” she said, as she opened the door and climbed out of the truck herself this time.

“I said you'd be disappointed,” Rollin added.

When Rollin and Kevin lifted the tiller off the back of the truck, Tayler couldn't help but notice the muscles in Rollin's arms. But she turned away before he caught her staring.

“Come on in, have a look around,” Rollin said, as Kevin walked ahead of him, pulling the tiller.

Tayler followed him inside, carefully watching her every step. Aside from the dirty floor, the inside of the barn was surprisingly neat. Everything was stacked up and organized. She'd expected to see some farm animals, but only neatly organized tools lined the walls.

Rollin looked back at her. “What's wrong? Scared you'll get your new sandals dirty?”

Kevin laughed as he pulled the tiller farther back into another part of the barn and disappeared.

“They're not new.” She brought her hand to her nose. “Is that manure I smell?”

“No, that's compost, and a bunch of other stuff. The only manure we use is green manure mix.”

Rollin led her to an area of the barn where long pieces of wood and boxes sat. “This here's my new greenhouse. It's in pieces now, but I should have it up in a couple of days.”

She stood next to him, noticing how proud he was of his new greenhouse. “What grows in there?” she asked.

“I'm starting a crop of greens, which are in high demand. Collard greens, turnip greens and some spinach. I'm not sure what else.”

“You're really into digging in the dirt, aren't you?”

He laughed. “I own a farm—that's what I do. Why are you so opposed to it?”

She crossed her arms. “I'm not. If that's your thing, that's cool. Somebody has to do it, right?”

He crossed his arms. “Right. You know, you remind me of this prissy girl I went to school with.”

Her jaw dropped. “Excuse me!”

“I don't mean it in a bad way. I'm just saying you're like a black Barbie doll.” He smiled as if he'd just complimented her.

“No, farmer Rollin, I'm not a Barbie. I'm a city girl, born and raised. I don't dig or crawl around in the dirt or go pickin' vegetables in eighty-degree weather.” She turned and headed for the barn door. “I'm out of here.” She mumbled to herself, “A Barbie doll!”

Before she could reach the barn door, Rollin caught up with her. “Hold up. I didn't mean to insult you.”

She stopped and turned around.

“I put my foot in my mouth. I'm sorry. Will you accept my apology?”

“Will you drive me back to the house?”

He drew in a deep breath and released it. “Yeah, come on. I'm ready to go.”

Tayler marched out of the barn, eager to get back to the house and away from this rude, obnoxious, good-looking man. So walked with her head up and didn't see the pile of wet compost until she stepped into it.

“Oh, my God!” she screamed and hopped around on one foot.

Rollin laughed as he caught up with her and supported her by the arm. “Are you okay?”

“No, I just stepped in something brown and stinky. It touched my toes. I've got to get this shoe off!” she yelled. She tried to take the shoe off while hopping around on one foot.

Still laughing, Rollin swept her up in his arms. “It's compost—nothing more than plant and food waste. You'll be okay.”

Tayler wrapped an arm around his neck to keep from falling. “What are you doing?”

He reached the truck and turned her so he could open the passenger side door. “I'm gonna take care of that for you. Sit right here.”

She slid her arm from his neck and held her feet out while he opened the back door and returned with a towel.

“I bet you can't get that mess off my shoe. It's ruined.”

He stepped one foot up on the footboard and laid the towel across his leg. He reached for her ankle and brought her foot to rest on his thigh. Tayler watched him maneuver the strap around her ankle until he released her foot from the shoe.

“You should have changed shoes like I suggested.”

“We were just going to the hardware store, remember?” She looked down at the brown stains on her expensive designer shoe and sighed.

Rollin wiped the shoe off and set it down before wrapping the towel around her toes.

He held her foot in the palm of his hand. A shiver ran through her body as he wiped her toes one at a time. It felt good, but a little too sensual at the same time. She bit her lip and pulled back when it tickled.

He looked up at her. “I think I got it all.”

She took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

He slowly let go of her foot and shook the towel out.

Tayler scooted back in the seat and turned around so he could close the door. Her heart raced a mile a minute.

Rollin jumped back in the driver's seat and started the engine. He pulled off and glanced at Tayler.

“You know, you're welcome to spend all your time sitting on the porch or up in your room. But part of the objective of staying on an organic farm is learning about the food you eat. You're staying a month, so let me teach you a little something about organic food while you're here.”