by Elle James
Ariana’s sad face made Dillon want to cheer her up. He couldn’t bring back her dead husband, but he could look for ways to make her smile. Because when she smiled, the air around her seemed to light up. He liked that. A lot.
As they drove out to the ranch, Dillon told Ariana some of the trouble he and his brothers and sister had gotten into living on the ranch.
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 internet.” She slammed her door.
Dillon grinned. “I think she’s right.”
“Whatever.” Colton shot a glance up the staircase. “Ariana’s not who I pictured you with.”
His back stiffening, Dillon turned to his brother. “What do you mean?”
“She’s short,” Colton said.
“Petite,” Dillon corrected. “And I like that.”
“You’ve never dated a petite woman,” Brand said.
“That’s right,” Ace said. “Most of your women are a lot taller.”
“They’re not my women. And size doesn’t matter.”
“And you say she’s never been fishing?” Colton asked. “Or horseback riding?”
“Neither.”
Brand shook his head. “How’s she gonna fit in on a ranch?”
“Who said she needed to fit in? It’s not like I’m going to spend a lifetime with her. She’s here for the day. That’s all.”
“Uh huh,” Ace said. “She might not even make it that long. Ranch life isn’t for everybody.”
“She’ll do fine.” Dillon had had some of the same doubts, but he wouldn’t let his brothers know of them.
“Need me to show her how to cast a line?” Ace waggled his eyebrows.
“Hell, no,” Dillon said.
“I haven’t been fishing in a while,” Brand said. “Might just have to go dip my line.”
&
nbsp; “Me, too,” Colton said. “I’ll go get my rod.” He turned toward the back door.
“Stop.” Dillon clenched his fist. “No one else needs to get their rod or dip their line. I’m taking Ariana fishing. Just the two of us.”
“Are you really going fishing?” Colton turned back, his eyebrow cocked. “Or do you need to be alone for an entirely different reason?”
Dillon closed his eyes and clamped his lips tightly together. “Why do I bother arguing with you?”
“Because you know you’ll never win, but you’re an optimist who believes someday you will,” Ace said with a grin. “They’re just yanking your chain. Aren’t you?” He stared hard at Brand and Colton.
“Yeah,” Brand said. “Yanking.”
“If one of you shows up, I’ll kick your ass from here to tomorrow,” Dillon warned. “I should have known better than to bring Ariana here.”
“Lighten up,” Ace said. “Your woman is ready to go fishing.” He gripped Dillon’s shoulders and turned him toward the staircase.
Ariana stood at the top, dressed in a pair of denim overalls, gum boots and one of Emma’s old T-shirts. She’d braided her hair into two long plaits hanging down behind her ears. On her head, she wore a wide-brimmed straw hat.
“Hello, Orphan Annie,” Colton said.
“Howdy Doody,” Brand corrected. “She looks like those old film clips of Howdy Doody.”
Ariana spun back toward Emma’s bedroom.
Emma caught her shoulders. “Don’t let them make you self-conscious. You’re going fishing, not to a fashion show.”
“I know. I know,” Ariana grumbled and turned toward the stairs. “Fishing.”
“You look great,” Dillon said. “These yahoos are just being jerks.”
Ariana descended the staircase, holding onto the railing. “The boots are a little big, but Emma gave me three pairs of socks to fill the gap.” As she neared the bottom, her toe caught on a step, and she pitched forward.
Dillon rushed forward, catching her in his arms.
“And it’s Dillon for the save!” Colton cried out.
Ace, Colton and Brand all clapped.
Muttering beneath his breath, Dillon set Ariana upright. “Those boots are huge on you.”
“I should have stopped at my house for shoes,” she said, her gaze falling away. “It was nice of Emma to loan me these.”
“It was all I had that she could get wet,” Emma said as she came down the stairs. “She has really tiny feet.”
“They’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Once we get out there, it won’t matter.” He slipped a protective arm around Ariana’s waist and led her to the door, calling out over his shoulder. “The two of us are going fishing. Emphasis on two.”
“Gotcha,” Ace said. “I’ll make sure Brand and Colton have stalls to clean.”
Dillon wouldn’t hold his breath. His brothers loved playing jokes on each other. He usually got in the thick of them. Just not this time.
He didn’t want Ariana to regret going fishing with him. He liked to think she might go with him again in the future.
Chapter 7
Ariana didn’t miss the irony of her situation as she stepped into the little jon boat and settled on the hard metal bench seat. She’d never been fishing or riding. For that matter, she’d never been on a real, working ranch. And she was about to be launched out into the water. A fish out of water, in the water.
“Here, put this on.” Dillon sat across from her and handed her a bright orange life jacket.
She hooked it around her neck and fumbled with the buckle.
He brushed her hands away and wrapped the strap around her waist, leaning in close enough she could smell his cologne.
Ariana inhaled deeply, liking that scent a little too much.
When he brought the strap back around to her front, he smiled into her eyes as he clipped the buckle. “There. Just in case we capsize.”
“I do know how to swim,” she said.
“Yeah, but you’re weighed down by clothes that are two sizes too big for you.” He sat back on his bench, grabbed a paddle and pushed the boat away from the shore.
“You’re not wearing a life vest,” Ariana pointed out.
“I have one here,” he said, pointing to the vest on the floor of the skiff.
“Couldn’t we have fished from the shore?” she asked.
“We could have, but the bigger fish are in the deeper water. I have hope we can eat what we catch for dinner.”
She cringed. “Are you going to teach me how to clean and cook the fish, as well as catch them?”
He laughed. “I take it by the look on your face, you’re not ready for the cleaning part.”
Ariana shook her head. “I’m not even sure I’m ready for baiting the hook.”
“We’ll start with something simple. A worm.”
She nodded her head. “Okay.”
The pond had appeared fairly small when they’d walked up to the edge. But now that they were out in the middle of it, it looked more like a vast lake. Ariana knew how to swim, but it had been a few years since she’d been in a pool. And it was a long way from the boat to the shore. She tested the straps on the vest, cinching them a little tighter.
They were two-thirds of the way across the pond when Dillon stopped paddling and let the boat drift. He opened a tackle box and pulled out a round white and red thing. He attached it to the fishing line on one of the poles, and then attached a line with a hook on the end.
“You can use this pole. Hold it while I prepare mine.” He handed the pole to her. “Careful not to catch your skin on the hook.”
Ariana appreciated that he was patient with her. She really had no idea how to catch a fish. She understood the concept of luring a fish with something it liked to eat, but actually catching one and reeling it in…? Not so much.
Once he had his hook and round red and white thing attached, he dug into the can they’d brought that was full of the worms they’d dug out of the pile of horse manure and straw behind the barn. He brought up a worm and threaded it onto the hook. “Watch closely, because you’ll be doing this.”
“Doesn’t that hurt the worm?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “Besides, the worm is about to be eaten by a fish, if we’re lucky.” He dipped his fingers in the water to rinse off the worm guts and horse manure. Then he flipped the metal ring over and, with his thumb on the line, he cast the line and worm away from the boat. “Think you can do that?”
“Maybe.”
He dug out a worm and handed it to her. “Let’s see you do it.”
She struggled to get the worm on the hook, wincing as she pierced the worm’s body, feeling sorry for it. The worm wiggled like it was in horrible pain. Arianna almost gave up halfway through the process. But she refused to be the city girl who couldn’t fish because she was too squeamish. Once she had the worm on the hook, she flipped the metal ring like Dillon had, but forgot to put her thumb on the line. The hook and worm dropped into the bottom of the boat. “Oops. I don’t think that was supposed to happen.”
“It’s okay. Here…” He reached across, took the pole from her and reeled in the excess line. “I’m coming across to sit beside you.”
Very carefully, he moved across the short space between them, rocking the boat as he did.
Ariana held onto the bench seat with both hands, glad she had on the life vest.
Dillon settled on the seat beside her and wrapped his arms around her. “Hold the handle here.” He placed her left hand below the reel. “Now, flip this metal ring over the top, while holding your thumb on the line.” He pressed her thumb on the line and flipped the ring. “See? It doesn’t go anywhere when you hold it like that. Now, you bring it back like this.” He leaned back, his hands around hers, his arms surrounding her making her body light up like Fourth of July fireworks, and he flicked the end of the rod, saying, “Let your thumb off.”
She moved her thumb and the line flew out over the water, the
bobber landing with a plop, the hook with the worm on the end, sinking beneath the surface.
“Now, you turn the handle once to set the line.”
Ariana turned the handle, hearing a click as she did.
“Good,” he said, still holding her in his arms. “Think you can manage it from here? Or do you want me to help you reel it in?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like you to take me through reeling it in at least once before you turn me loose,” she said. And she didn’t want him to move from where he sat, holding her in his arms with her back pressed to his chest.
Who knew fishing could be so sexy?
The bobber dipped beneath the surface.
“Is that supposed to happen?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. That means the fish are hitting the bait. Wait until the bobber sinks below the surface. Then we’ll pull up sharply to set the hook in the fish’s mouth. And yes, it hurts the fish, but we’re going to eat the fish later, anyway.”
“You really are going to be good with kids, someday,” she said.
The bobber sank below the surface.
“Give it a little jerk,” he said, wrapping his hands around hers. He pulled back the rod sharply.
Ariana could feel the tug at the other end. “I have a fish!”
“Yes, you do. Now, reel it in.”
She turned the knob slowly.
“Go faster. Sometimes, they’re only snagged and can get off easily. Bring it in. I’ll get the net for when it gets close enough.”
She turned the knob faster and faster, getting a cramp in her hand as she did.
Soon, the bobber popped up out of the water, and Ariana could see the silvery shadow sliding beneath the surface. “I see it!” she cried.
“Hold steady while I scoop it out of the water.”
He leaned close to the edge. The skiff dipped down.
Ariana stopped reeling and leaned the opposite direction.
“Pull the pole up so I can get under the fish,” Dillon said.
She did as he said, yanking it up a little too fast.
The fish flew out of the water, smacked Dillon in the face and landed on Ariana’s lap.
