“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
