When I Fall In Love

“I wasn’t thinking about me, but Rita. She’ll be disappointed if she can’t cook for you. After these guys leave she won’t have guest to cook for.”

He still hadn’t persuaded her.

“Say yes, and I’ll do my best to keep the snakes away.”

He smiled and those big dimples mesmerized her. It took a few seconds to turn from his gaze and pull herself together.

“Okay, but no more blackberries.” She accepted his hand.

Chapter 4 (#ulink_acb89f72-7612-5c75-b1c4-a810e8c7b3b3)

The next morning, no one rode to the fields because, luckily, they’d picked enough food the day before.

Tayler took advantage of the free time and ventured out to the porch after breakfast with her laptop. Minutes later, Forrest joined her.

“This feels wonderful, doesn’t it?”

Tayler turned to Forrest, who sat in one of the big white rocking chairs across the porch from her.

“Yes, it does. We have a nice breeze.” She smiled and turned back to her laptop.

“You don’t get this in the city.” He took a deep breath. “Just smell that air. No car exhaust or garbage. Just clean country air, the way God intended it to be.”

Tayler cut her eyes at Forrest. What’s so damned special about the air?

“What’s that you’re working on? I thought you said you were on vacation.”

“I am, but I’m still trying to keep up with work—you know how it is. It’s hard to take a vacation when you have so many responsibilities.”

He crossed his legs in her direction. “So what do you do?”

She took a deep breath and thought of a way to explain what she did so he’d understand. “I oversee a team that installs data communications lines all around the world.”

Forrest whistled. “Sounds like a lot of work. Too bad they can’t manage without you.”

“Oh, they can. I just like to keep tabs on everything.”

“So you’re somewhat of a micromanager?”

“No, not really.” She hated that phrase. “I just like to be available if I’m needed.”

“We used to have backups for vacations and such.”

“I have a backup.”

“Incompetent, though, huh?”

“He doesn’t handle things the way I do, but he’s very competent.”

Forrest laughed.

She smiled but didn’t get the joke. “What’s so funny?”

The front door opened as Forrest stood up and pointed at her laptop. “You need to look up ‘micromanager,’” he said as he walked over to hold the door for his wife.

Tayler crossed her arms and gave him a knowing smile. She understood.

Barbara walked over to Tayler. “Well, Tayler, it was nice meeting you, but we’re gonna have to get on the road.” Tayler moved her laptop aside and stood up to hug the older woman goodbye. Within minutes, everyone else came out to say goodbye. Rita and Tayler stood on the porch waving as both cars pulled off. The moment reminded Tayler of a scene from an old movie.

“Well, young lady, what have you got planned for today?” Rita asked.

Tayler sat back down and picked up her laptop. “I was going to get some work done, but I’ve changed my mind. I think I’ll just enjoy the breeze.”

“That sounds nice. You enjoy yourself, now. I’m gonna go up and start cleaning those rooms. Lunch is at noon.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

Tayler thought about what Forrest had said and closed her laptop. She wasn’t a micromanager.

A few minutes later, she heard a vehicle barreling up the driveway. A big black truck that resembled a monster with tinted windows pulled in next to her BMW. She’d seen the truck parked around back before but wasn’t sure who it belonged to. It kicked dust all over her precious jewel.

The door opened, and Rollin stepped out. Tayler rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath, “I should have known.”

He walked up onto the porch. “Enjoying yourself?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m just relaxing.” She followed his gaze to her laptop. “And trying to stay away from work.”

“Yeah, Nicole said you were here to get away from work. She said you needed to get some rest,” he said.

She glanced over her shoulder as he now stood at the door. “And I plan to get plenty of that, as long as I don’t have to adhere to six a.m. wake-up calls every morning.”

“You must plan on losing at lot of weight, then.”

She set her laptop aside and turned around in her seat. “So, let’s talk about that. Do you really expect me to go out there all by myself and pick vegetables every morning?”

He left the entrance front door and walked over to stand against the railing opposite of her. “Sure, I do. This is a working organic farm. People come from all over for the opportunity to pick their own food and have Rita prepare it for them. Almost everything we make here is fresh and from scratch. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out and introduce you to the hens.”

Tayler laughed. “You talk about hens like they’re people.”

His lips pressed together in a slight grimace. “No, but I think a proper introduction should be made before you stick your hand under her ass to pick up the eggs.”

Eyes wide, Tayler pointed to herself. “Oh, no, my hands won’t be going under anything’s ass. Besides, I don’t have to eat eggs. Pancakes are fine with me.”

He chuckled. “You need an egg for pancakes.”

“Then I’ll have a bagel.”

He shook his head. “No bagels, nor doughnuts, before you ask.”