need out at the ranch and a stocked pond to make it easy to catch. And when we’re done fishing, I’ll take you riding.”
“Are you sure? I thought this was a thirty-minute, get-to-know-you kind of date.”
“We did most of that last night on twenty flights of stairs,” he said. “You also have my profile. And what better place to get to know someone than to be on the water with your line dipping in?”
It all sounded good to Ariana. “I thought you were too busy to date?”
He shrugged. “I ended up giving my crew the weekend off. I don’t have to be anywhere until Monday morning. And my foreman said I needed to destress.” He held up a hand. “I told him someone else had suggested the same thing. So, let’s destress with a little fishing.”
“Aren’t you afraid Emma will read too much into your spending more than thirty minutes with your glitch date?”
“I don’t care what Emma thinks. I feel the call of the fishing pole. And I’ve never taught anyone to fish. It’ll be good practice for our kid—for when I have a kid someday.”
Ariana ducked her head, her chest swelling at his slip. Our kid. Those were powerful words, even if they were spoken by mistake. Those two words left her feeling a little dizzy and out of breath. She applied one of her breathing exercises to bring her back to her center, and then looked up with a smile. “The only plans I had for today involved cleaning my bathroom. Fishing sounds much more interesting.” She grimaced. “I’ll need to swing by and change into something besides this dress.”
His gaze swept her from the top of her head to her toes. “Yup. You’ll need either jeans or shorts, depending on if you plan on wading in, a top you don’t mind getting worm guts on and an old pair of shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Oh, and a hat and sunscreen. You know, Emma’s got all that at the ranch. She can loan you what you need.”
“You sure she won’t mind?” Ariana started to climb into the truck, but the handle was too high for her to reach.
“She’ll be thrilled I brought a girl home.” Dillon gripped her around the waist and lifted her up into the seat.
She turned and smiled down at him. “Thanks. They don’t make these trucks for short people.” Ariana tilted her head slightly. “I wonder who BODS will match us with when it’s back up and running.”
“I don’t know, but it was nice not having to face a stranger in that coffee shop.” He grinned. “I feel like we’ve known each other a long time.”
“We have.” She laughed. “We’ve known each other for twenty…” she winked and waited for him to finish her sentence.
“Flights. And look, we’re already finishing each other’s sentences.” He closed the door and rounded the front of the truck.
Ariana’s gaze followed him, a smile lingering on her lips.
She wasn’t so sure BODS had it wrong. Dillon seemed perfect to her.
Her smile faded. She really did wonder who BODS would come up with for her perfect match, round two.
Chapter 6
Dillon climbed in behind the wheel and shot a glance across the console at Ariana. She wasn’t anything like the woman he’d imagined BODS would match him with. Leslie could be right; the system had some issues. Yet, he couldn’t be happier with the mistake.
Like he’d told Ariana, he felt like they were old friends. Their connection in the stairwell of the BODS building had been casual, without the stress of meeting a blind date. They’d had no prior expectations of each other, and they’d met in the dark. Two people who knew nothing about the other, not even what the other looked like. He would always think of her sweet voice and soft curves as his first impression of her.
“Why are you frowning?” he asked.
Her brow smoothed immediately. “Sorry. I was just thinking that we’ll have to go through the uncertainty of another date with a stranger when BODS is fixed and makes our matches.”
“Well, stop,” he commanded. “I’ve been told by two people that I need to unwind. Fishing is about the most stress-free activity a person can do.”
She sighed. “You’re right.” Ariana drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I’m on board. Do all your brothers live on the ranch?”
“They do. At least, for now. I’m in the process of designing another house to be built on the ranch and plan on moving