“One of my brothers,” Ella added.
“But it turned real, real fast.” Cassie held up her gold-banded left hand. “We’re happily married.”
Ayla turned to Evie, her gaze dropping to her fairly sizable baby bump. “Looks like you’re happy, too.”
“With twins,” she announced. “And the man I’ve loved since I was a kid.”
“Oh.” Ayla let out a relieved sigh. “So you didn’t require their services.”
“They certainly helped.” Evie gave a wistful smile. “Declan and I had been separated for years, and then…the Dogmothers showed up at my door, and Yiayia planted a twenty-year-old memory in the piano.”
“And that got you together?” Ayla asked.
“It helped things along,” Evie said.
“And then they obviously played sweet music together,” Ella teased.
Ayla shook her head, laughing, but maybe a little overwhelmed. “So, are you saying…” She looked toward the field where five of the men were in a huddle, her eye immediately drawn to the tall, handsome former Navy officer she’d met when she first got here.
They’d talked a few times more that day, but with so many people to meet—and so many who wanted to talk to him—she hadn’t had a chance to do much more than look at him. And she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t done that every time she had the chance.
But…matchmaking?
Suddenly, she was aware that all of the women were watching her watch him.
“So?” Darcy leaned in. “What do you think?”
“You’re about as subtle as they are.” Ella poked her. “Let the poor woman at least gather her wits and figure out her strategy. Remember—run, fake, or fold. Those are your options.”
Ayla laughed and looked away as Theo grabbed the football and backed up, calling plays, his powerful arm raised to send the ball into the air.
“I think,” she said, “that I am recently out of a very serious relationship—”
“So’s he,” Cassie said. “For which we are all grateful.”
“No, I mean just out.” Like, she was in a wedding gown less than twenty-four hours ago. “It’s way too soon for me.”
“I think he and Heather broke up a week ago,” Darcy said.
“And he is pretty easy on the eyes,” Evie added.
“Not to mention brilliant,” Cassie chimed in. “The highest IQ of all the Santorinis, and that’s saying a lot.”
Ayla laughed a little self-consciously. “Y’all are kidding, right?”
They exchanged looks, silent for a moment, but Ayla got the feeling there was some kind of secret communication between the close-knit group of women. Then they broke into easy laughter.
“Totally!” Cassie said, waving her hand.
“We tease!” Ella added.
“He won’t even be in town that long,” Darcy assured her.
Evie smiled and rubbed her belly, a sparkle in her eyes. “You can’t force love, Ayla,” she said. “Although the Dogmothers mean well.”
“Aunt Cassie?” the little boy called from the next blanket. “Can someone watch Clementine while I run inside?”
“I will!” Ayla jumped at the distraction and the chance to end this conversation. They thought her psychic talent was crazy? The whole lot of them was practically marrying her off to a complete stranger.
She pushed up and moved to the next blanket, taking over holding Clementine’s collar as the little boy had been doing. The dog hadn’t run off, but she also hadn’t actually been more than two feet from Theo all day, so that must be why he’d instructed someone to hold her.
Ayla had heard they’d tried to kennel Clementine while they ate, but she cried until Theo picked her up, and then she sat under his chair for the whole meal.
“I got her, Christian,” Ayla assured him, happy she remembered his name. “And who’s this?” she asked, putting her other hand on his German shepherd.
“That’s Jag. He’s mine.”
She smiled, instantly sensing the dog’s love for the boy.
“I can tell,” she said sincerely, settling between the two dogs.
“We didn’t mean to scare you.” Cassie crawled over and snuggled next to Jag, her dark gaze on Ayla. “Consider it more of a warning so you both know what hit you.”
Both? “Does Theo know?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him today.”
A football came tumbling toward them, bumping Clementine, who jumped up and barked. And barked. And pulled so hard that she escaped Ayla’s grip, tearing toward the grass, straight to Theo, jumping into his arms with so much force it nearly knocked him down.
Both teams and the small group around the lawn hooted and howled, but Ayla put her hand on her chest and mouthed, “I’m sorry,” to Theo.
He shook his head and said something to one of his brothers, then jogged over to the blanket, bringing Clementine with him.
“I tried to hold her,” she said, pushing up.
“It’s fine.” He smiled down at her, a few beads of sweat on his forehead, a smudge of dirt on his cheekbone. He smelled like sunshine and grass and…a sexy guy playing football.
Suddenly, she was aware of so many eyes on their exchange that her cheeks warmed.
Of course. They were all probably placing mental bets on the family business of matchmaking.
“I think this girl needs exercise,” he said. “Want to take a walk with us?”
Oh, and wouldn’t the Dogmothers love that?
“I can take her,” she said quickly. “You’re in the middle of a game.”
“The Bloodhounds are up by twenty-one, thanks to the new star quarterback who blew into town today.” He looked down at his sister. “Cass, can you stand in for me while I show Ayla and Clem around Waterford Farm?”
Cassie started to get up, then stopped, catching Ayla’s slight look of panic. “Braden’s a better quarterback that I am,” she said. “I’ll walk with you, Theo. We haven’t talked all day.”
“Oh, but I’d like to show Ayla around. She hasn’t gotten the big tour yet.” He eyed her for a second. “Unless you’d rather not, Ayla?” he added, probably sensing her reluctance.
“I’d rather…” Not be matched. So she better put a stop to it right now. “Actually, a walk would be nice.” She pushed up. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
“Really?” His eyes flickered with interest, sliding down to her mouth for a second, then back to her eyes. “That makes two of us.”
A whole bunch of female hormones got up and danced around like they were in on the scheme, too.
Um…no.
She better put the brakes on this before she found herself looking at him…the way Clementine did.
Chapter Seven
Clementine didn’t even notice all the dogs as they walked toward the large pen in the middle of the property. Ayla was right about one thing: The dog had eyes only for him. But Theo couldn’t help wanting to lock gazes with the other girl at his side, the one he’d tried to not notice all day…tried and failed.