By the time they arrived, she was laughing and smiling again.
When he pulled up in front of the ranch house, Ace came out on the porch. Colton rounded the side of the building and Brand pushed to his feet from his seat in a rocking chair.
“Sorry, I didn’t expect you’d have to run the gauntlet of my brothers,” Dillon said, shifting into park. “I thought they’d be out working still.”
“It’s okay. I’d like to meet them. I feel like I know them already.”
“Oh,” he leaned toward her, “about that story I told you about skinny dipping in the creek…?” He shook his head. “Don’t tell them that was me who hid their clothes. They still don’t know who did it.”
She pressed her lips together. “Your secret is safe with me.”
He got out of the truck and came around to help her down. He’d always gone out with taller women, but he found that he liked how petite she was. It gave him an excuse to put his hands around her waist to help her down. Which he did.
When her feet touched the ground, he found he didn’t want to let go.
“Dillon, who’ve you got with you?” Ace asked.
He held out his hand to Ariana. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to my brothers.”
Ariana put her hand in his and let him lead her up the steps to the porch.
Starting with the oldest brother, he went down the line. “Ace, this is Ariana Davis. Ariana, my oldest brother, Ace.”
He took her hand in his. “Nice to meet you, Ariana.”
Brand stepped up. “I’m Brand.” He shook her hand and tilted his head. “You’re not like the usual women Dillon dates.”
Dillon cringed.
“Dumbass.” Ace jabbed an elbow into Brand’s side. “You don’t say that to a woman.” To Ariana, he aimed a crooked smile. “That you’re not like the usual woman Dillon goes out with is actually a good thing. Don’t let this knucklehead make you feel bad.”
“It was a compliment,” Brand grumbled, rubbing his ribs.
“And this is Colton,” Dillon said, ready to get past his brothers and out to the pond, alone with Ariana.
Colton grinned. “A redhead.” He took her hand in his. “Is it true that it’s good luck to rub your hand over a redhead’s hair?”
Dillon glared at his brother. “Don’t even think about it.”
His brother’s brows shot up. “What? You didn’t think I was going to actually do it, did you?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past you.” Dillon pushed past his brothers and headed for the door with his hand at the small of Ariana’s back. “Is Emma here?”
“Did I hear my name?” Emma pushed through the screen door, the smile on her face turning upside down. “Ariana? What are you doing here?”
Ariana lifted her hands, palms up. “BODS matched me with Dillon.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Emma’s glance shot to Dillon. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “Got the text last night, made arrangements to meet this afternoon, and then Leslie called to say the computer system was damaged during the lightning storm last night. By the time she called to let us know, we were already on our way to our meeting location.”
Emma’s brow wrinkled. “Let me get this straight. BODS didn’t work right when it matched you two?”
“That’s sums it up,” Ariana said.
Emma frowned. “Then why are you two here?”
Dillon grinned. “We figured we might as well make a day of it. I’m taking Ariana fishing, and then we’re going to ride horses.”
Emma’s frown deepened as she turned to Ariana. “I didn’t know you like to fish.”
Ariana shrugged. “I don’t know if I like it, either. I’ve never been.”
“Since she’s never been fishing and she’s never been on a horse, I thought I’d give her the consolation prize of a free lesson in how to bait a hook and cast a line. When she’s mastered that, I’m going to teach her how to ride.”
“Okay.” Emma reached out and hugged Ariana. “I’m really glad you’re getting out. It’s about time.”
Ariana hugged her back. “You, Fiona and Leslie inspire me to get out of my comfort zone.”
Emma grimaced. “Being with any one of my brothers will put you out of your comfort zone quickly.” She pointed a finger at Dillon. “You better treat my friend right. No minnows down her britches or worms in her boots.”
Ariana’s eyes widened. “He’s done that before?”
Emma crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes, he has.”
Dillon chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve seen you move that fast since.” He hooked Ariana’s arm. “I promise not to put a minnow in your drawers. Which reminds me.” He turned to his sister. “Emma…?”
“Ariana’s not dressed for fishing.” Emma disengaged her brother’s arm from Ariana’s and led her toward the staircase. “Come with me. I’ll find you some of my old clothes to wear. They might be big on you, but better that than ruin your pretty skirt.”
“Thank you,” Ariana said. “I don’t want to be a bother.”
Emma huffed. “You’re getting my brother to take a day off. You’re a godsend.”
Dillon frowned. “I had already decided to take the day off.” Well, he’d decided to give the project the day off, anyway. Mucking stalls and fixing fences wasn’t like real work. Okay, so it was.
He watched as Emma and Ariana climbed the stairs and disappeared into Emma’s room.
Ace draped an arm over Dillon’s shoulders. “She’s never been fishing?”
Dillon stiffened. “No. So?”
Ace chuckled. “You like the woman?”
He shrugged, not wanting to give anything away to his brothers. It was too soon in his relationship with Ariana. A relationship that should never have been, according to Leslie and BODS. “She’s nice.”
“And a redhead.” Colton stepped through the door. “You know what they say about redheads.”
“It’s not good luck to rub their heads,” Brand said, entering after Colton. “That’s bald men.”
“It’s not bald men,” Ace said. “It’s leprechauns.”
“It’s all three,” Emma called out from the doorway to her room. “Seriously, look it up on the
