by Elle James
“Y’all, this is Ariana Davis, a very good friend of mine,” Emma announced.
Arianna’s cheeks reddened as she turned toward the man in the khaki slacks. “This is my date, Jared Hill. Jared, this is Emma and Leslie…and Dillon.”
Emma took up a position beside her man. “This is Frank Johnson, but we call him Coop.” She waved toward Leslie. “The man with Leslie is Taggert Bronson, or Tag, to his friends.” She turned to Dillon.
He tilted his head toward Mel. “My date, Melanie Armstrong.”
Mel smiled. “Nice to meet you all.”
“Are you signed up for the three-legged race?” Emma asked. “It’s the only one I ever enter. I might even have a chance of winning this year with Coop as my partner.” She stood on her toes, looking toward a group of people gathering. “I think it’s time.”
Dillon’s gaze met Ariana’s. She looked as miserable as he felt. Or was that wishful thinking on his part? He didn’t want her to have fun with Jared. She should be with him. He still had to teach her how to fish and ride horses. And they had more pizza and apple pies to bake in his gourmet kitchen. And the hot tub hadn’t been used since the last time they’d made love in it. This dating their perfect matches wasn’t right. What made them so perfect, if they were miserable with them?
He turned to Mel to tell her he was done and wanted to leave. But he was too late. She grabbed his arm. “Come on, they’re lining up. We have to get our gunny sack.”
Dillon found himself being dragged toward the three-legged racecourse following Emma, Coop, Leslie and Tag.
A quick glance back assured him Ariana and Jared were coming, too.
When the race was over, he’d break it to Mel that he was leaving. If he could get Ariana alone, he’d tell her he was sorry he’d come with another woman and that he thought BODS had had it right the first time. He wanted her back.
A woman stood by the starting line, handing out burlap sacks to the couples participating in the race.
Mel took one and found a place for them on the starting line beside Coop and Emma. She dropped the sack on the ground and stuck her foot into it. “Come on, they’re about to start.”
Dillon put his foot into the bag beside Mel’s and pulled the bag up to his knee.
“You have to put your arm around me,” Mel said, dragging his arm around her waist. “We’ll lead off with our outside feet.”
He nodded, his attention on Ariana and Jared as they got into position and Jared wrapped his arm around her waist.
Dillon’s fists clenched. He wanted to storm over to Jared and demand he take his hands off his girl.
The problem was…Ariana wasn’t his girl. He’d never spoken to her of commitment. He’d assumed it was too soon. In his heart, he knew it wasn’t too soon for him. But Ariana had been through the death of her first husband. Did she need more time to consider a long-term relationship? With him?
The referee raised the whistle to his lips. “On your marks…get set…” and he blew the whistle long and loud.
The couples took off.
Dillon tried to lead off with the foot in the bag and almost tripped them both.
Mel helped him regain his balance, and then they took off after the others, regaining ground they’d lost in his clumsy start.
They passed several couples, caught up and passed Coop, Emma, Leslie and Tag.
Ahead of them Jared and Ariana were racing like a well-oiled machine, their legs moving in perfect unison.
Anger burned low in Dillon’s belly. That should be him in the race with Ariana. He never should’ve let Emma talk him into bringing another woman to the fundraiser. He should’ve called Ariana and asked her to go with him before she’d agreed to go out with Jared.
With his arm around Mel, he pushed hard, determined to catch up to Jared and Ariana. Why it was so important, he didn’t know. Just that he had to.
Ariana tripped and would have fallen, except Jared’s arm tightened around her. He lifted her up and practically carried her across the finish line, coming in first.
Dillon and Mel were right behind them, finishing second. As they slowed, Dillon’s foot got tangled in the burlap sack, and he pitched forward, taking Mel down with him. They landed on their knees.
Mel came up laughing, barely breathing hard.
Jared turned back to help, extending a hand to Mel. “Good job,” Jared said. “You two run any races around here?”
“Yes,” Mel said, releasing his hand. “I’m signed up for the Iron Man Marathon next month.” She gave him a chin lift. “You?”
“I’m signed up for a marathon next weekend and the Iron Man next month as well.” Jared’s eyes narrowed. “Were you at the race in Galveston last month?”
She nodded. “I was.”
“I thought you looked familiar.” He held out his hand, again. “Nice to meet you, Melanie. We should compare schedules some time.”
“We should,” she said. Then she looked around to where Dillon stood. “Is there something to drink around here?”
“There’s a lemonade stand and a beer stand,” Dillon said. “Choose your poison.”
“I stay away from alcohol when I’m training for an Iron Man competition,” Mel said. “Lemonade for me.”
“Same,” Jared said. His glance went to Dillon. “Let’s get the ladies something to drink.”
Dillon would rather tell Mel he was heading home, but he didn’t want to do it in front of Ariana and Jared. “Fine.”
The last thing he wanted was to make small talk with Ariana’s date.
“So, are you a runner?” Jared asked Ariana.
She shook her head. “No. And I’d like a beer.”
Chapter 13
Ariana stood awkwardly, watching the men disappear into the crowd. When she lost sight of Dillon, she couldn’t help but study Melanie, Dillon’s date.
The woman was everything a man could want in a life partner. She was tall, slender, athletic and gorgeous.
“He’s cute, isn’t he?” Melanie said, turning to face her.
“Yes, he is,” Ariana said.
“I’ll bet he runs every day of the week,” Melanie said.
Ariana frowned. “I don’t think so. He works long hours on construction sites. He has to be on his feet all day.”
Melanie grinned. “I was talking about Jared. Although, Dillon’s cute, too.”
“Oh,” Ariana said, feeling awkward and juvenile next to the tall woman.
“How long have you known Jared?”
“I met him today,” Ariana answered.
“So, you aren’t a runner?” Melanie asked.
“No. I prefer a low-impact exercise.”
Melanie nodded. “I wonder what Jared does for a living.”
“He’s a corporate accountant,” Ariana said, her gaze on the spot where she’d last seen Dillon before he disappeared.
“That’s interesting.” Melanie smiled. “I’m in corporate accounting, too. I’m the Chief Financial Officer of a small corporation.”
Ariana stopped short of saying, Are you fucking kidding me?
Beautiful, tall, athletic and a CFO? She was perfect. Everything a man like Dillon could possibly want in a woman.
“Are you another one of Leslie’s BODS clients?” Melanie asked.
Ariana swallowed a sob rising up her throat. “Leslie’s my friend.”
“But you say you just met Jared. Was that through BODS?” Melanie persisted.
“Yes. But it was a mistake. I’m not ready to date again.” The sob lodged hard in her throat. “I can’t do this.”
“What’s wrong?” Melanie asked, her brow creased with concern. “Did I say something to offend you?”
Dillon and Jared emerged from the crowd, each carrying lemonade and beer.
“Ariana, there you are,” a voice said from behind her. She turned to find Dillon’s brothers closing in on her.
When she turned back to Dillon, her pulse rate shot up and the lump in her throat made her feel like she couldn�
��t breathe.
“Ariana?” Dillon approached, a frown pulling his eyebrows together. “Are you all right?”
“I don’t know what I said,” Melanie said. “We were talking, and then she got upset.”
Dillon shoved the lemonade into Melanie’s hand, tossed his beer in the trash and reached for Ariana.
She backed away. “I can’t.”
“Can’t what?” Dillon asked. “Talk to me.”
“I can’t stand by and pretend to be okay when I’m dying inside.” She waved a hand toward Melanie. “Look at her. She’s perfect. BODS checked off every box on your preference list with her. She’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful,” he countered.
“She’s a corporate executive.”
“You own a business,” Dillon said.
“She’s outdoorsy.”
“That doesn’t have to mean everything.” Dillon stepped toward her.
Ariana backed away.
“She’s tall.”
He gave her a gentle smile. “I’ve discovered a fascination with short women.”
“I can’t compete. BODS got it right this time.” She turned to Jared. “I’m sorry. I can’t pretend anymore. I’m not right for you. You deserve someone who will love you and all the miles you run. That person isn’t me. I’m a yoga instructor, not a runner. I have to go,” she said, the sobs rising up her throat. Ariana spun on her heels and bolted for the parking lot. She couldn’t stay a moment longer when her heart was breaking into a million pieces.
“Stop her!” Dillon called out.
Colton, Brand and Ace stepped into her path, blocking her escape. When she tried to go around them, they moved, blocking her from leaving.
Dillon caught up to her, gripped her arms and turned her to face him.
Emma, Coop, Leslie and Tag joined them.
“What’s wrong,” Emma asked.
“I need to leave,” Ariana said, her voice catching on a sob.
“Why?” Leslie asked.
“It didn’t work. BODS didn’t work,” Ariana said, tears streaming down her face. She was embarrassed and past caring. “Jared isn’t the one for me.”
“Why do you say that?” Emma said. “Isn’t he everything you listed that you wanted in a match?”
“He is, but that was then,” Ariana whispered. “I don’t want that anymore.” She looked up into Dillon’s eyes. “I want what I can’t have.”
“And what is that?” Leslie asked her in a gentle voice.
“It doesn’t matter.” Ariana shook her head. “I’m not the right match for him.”
“For me?” Dillon’s hands squeezed her shoulders. “You’re wrong, Ari. So wrong.”
“But BODS found your perfect match. Melanie is everything.”
Melanie shook her head. “Not if he doesn’t want me.”
“Ariana, BODS got it right the first time. We were matched for a reason,” Dillon said. Then turning to Melanie, he said, “Mel, I’m sorry, but I’ve already found the one for me. It might have been a computer glitch, but Ariana is the perfect match for me. I don’t care what BODS says now. It had it right the first time.”
Ariana rested her hands on his chest. “But I’m not right for you.”
“The hell you aren’t.” He pulled her into his arms and held her close against his body. “You fit me perfectly.”
“I can never be taller,” she said, sniffing.
“We’re the same height where it counts,” he said, pressing his lips against her ear and whispering, “in bed.”
“We don’t have anything in common,” she said.
“You love homemade pizza and apple pie. So do I,” he said.
“We don’t have anything in common that counts,” she countered.
“Pizza and apple pie count. The desire to have four or more children counts. Loving cooking together counts. Being willing to learn to fish counts.” He cupped her face in his palms and brushed her cheeks with his thumbs. “Leslie’s system did its job. It made me look at my life and prioritize what was most important.”
Ariana looked up into his eyes, her own filled with tears. “And what is that?”
He brushed her lips with his. “Love.”
Her heart constricted with the force of her feelings for him. “Isn’t it too soon to fall in love?” she asked on a ragged breath.
“Not if you know it’s right.”
Hope blossomed in her chest. “And do you know?”
He nodded. “I know. I knew shortly after I bumped into you in the hallway. I’m pretty sure I love you, Ariana, and I would really hate it if you went off with Jared when he will never love you as much as I will.”
“I’m not going off with Jared,” Ariana said, her chest swelling with the love she felt for this man. “I’d rather be with you. I didn’t want to give BODS another chance.”
He crushed her in his arms and held her close.
“Okay, I have a confession to make,” Emma said aloud, breaking into the tender moment between Ariana and Dillon.
Dillon loosened his hold on Ariana, if only a little. She stayed by his side, almost afraid he’d change his mind.
“What are you confessing, Emma?” Dillon asked. “Hurry and spill. I have some kissing to do.”
“BODS was right all along,” Emma said.
Ariana looked around Dillon to his sister. “What did you say?”
“BODS had it right the first time.” Leslie stepped forward. “After we restored it and got the new server up and running, we ran the program, and it chose Dillon for you, Ariana, and vice versa.” She smiled.
Ariana frowned. “Then why are we out with Melanie and Jared?”
“Yeah, why are we wasting our time with other people.” He shot a look at Melanie. “No offense.”
Melanie raised her hands. “None taken. I have a confession to make myself.”
Dillon’s brows descended. “More secrets?”
She gave him a crooked grin. “Emma put me up to pretending I was a BODS match.”
Emma touched her brother’s arm. “I wanted to be sure of your feelings for Ariana.” She shook her head. “I’d guessed you were falling in love with her, but boy, I didn’t realize just how far you’d fallen.” She hugged him. “Ariana is perfect for you. And you’re the right one for her. I couldn’t be happier for you. I wanted you both to be sure for yourselves.”
“If I wasn’t so happy holding Ariana,” Dillon said. “I’d strangle you, Sis.”
“That was a pretty dirty trick to play on a friend, much less a family member.” Ariana stared at Emma.
“I know. I was wrong. And don’t blame Leslie. It was all my idea.” Emma hugged Ariana. “Will you forgive me?”
Ariana wrapped her arms around Dillon’s waist. “Maybe. Some day.”
“In the meantime,” Leslie turned to Melanie and Jared who stood beside each other talking in low voices. “BODS actually matched you two. Care to finish the date with each other?”
Jared grinned. “We’ve already negotiated terms and are working on the logistics.” He nodded toward Ariana. “Thanks for bringing Mel and me together. We’ve discovered we’ve run many of the same races. We should know each other by now.”
“We’re headed to a juice bar back in Austin. Thanks for introducing us,” Melanie said. To Dillon, she said, “It was fun, but I think you’re in the right hands now. Don’t let her go. She loves you.”
Melanie and Jared left.
“If you don’t need us to keep your woman in line, we have some beer to drink and friends to hang out with,” Colton said.
“Yeah, and about BODS and female tricks,” Ace sent a pointed look toward Emma, “you better not be messing with me when it’s my turn at BODS. I won’t play your games.”
Emma held up a hand. “I swear, I won’t monkey with a system that works.”
Ace’s eyes narrowed. “Not exactly the promise I was looking for.”
“Don’t worry. My meddling days are over,” Emma said,
drawing an X over her chest.
Ace smirked. “Yeah. I’ll believe that when I see it.” He waved as he, Colton and Brand wandered toward the beer tent. As they walked away, Ace and Brand pulled their wallets out, handing Colton a couple hundred dollars each.
“Are you two sticking around for the fireworks?” Emma asked Dillon and Ariana.
Dillon captured Ariana’s gaze. “It’s up to you. But I know of a place where we can set off some of our own fireworks.”
“If it involves fireworks in a hot tub, I’m with you.” With tears drying on her face and her heart bursting with hope and love for this man who’d bumped into her in the dark, Ariana couldn’t be happier.
“Let’s go home,” Dillon said.
“Are we going to the ranch?”
He shook his head.
She looked up at him. “I thought you didn’t consider the condo home.”
“Anywhere I can be with you is home.” He took her hand, waved at his sister and led Ariana away.
She couldn’t wait to get home with Dillon. “Are we making pizza?”
“I think the only thing we’ll be making tonight is love.”
She laughed. “I think we have that recipe memorized.”
Epilogue
“It’s been a month since Dillon took the plunge into BODS waters. Who’s up next?” Emma asked.
The Jacobs brothers were lounging on the porch, drinking beer after a completely satisfying dinner of home-raised beef steaks, baked potatoes and corn on the cob.
“Can you give it a break, Emma?” Brand leaned his head back on the rocking chair and closed his eyes. “I, for one, am in no hurry to find a woman.”
“Not every woman is like Stacy,” Emma said. “She was clearly not a good match for you. BODS would never have picked her for you.”
“You say that, but it would take a special woman to appreciate ranch life. Especially if she didn’t grow up on one.” Brand shook his head. “Nope. Once bitten, twice shy.”
“You’ll change your mind when BODS finds the right one for you,” Emma said.
“I’d offer to go next, if Leslie would let me examine her code,” Colton said. “I’m fascinated with what kind of algorithms she used.”