When I Fall In Love. Bridget Anderson

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.