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