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probably should head back to Evie’s,” Lindsay agreed. She made no move to leave him, though her drink now sat empty and she shook her head when Pat asked if she’d like another.
    Henry chuckled, then swallowed the rest of his second beer and contemplated the wisdom of the question he wanted to ask. It was probably foolish, but he asked anyhow. “You said announcing the fact that you have a kid up front will help you screen men you’re interested in. Does that mean you’re interested in me?”
    “That depends. Do you have a problem with me having a son?”
    “Until three weeks ago, I thought I had a son, so it’s safe to say that I definitely don’t.”
    “Then, yes, I’m interested. I think I’d like to get to know you better while I’m here, if you’re agreeable to that.”
    “I don’t know if it’s a good idea right now, and I think you know why,” Henry said slowly, “but if you’re okay with my issues, I’d like to get to know you better, too. Just probably not tonight.”
    “No, not tonight. I’m supposed to be having a girls’ night in with the bride, anyhow, and thanks to you, I think I might actually be able to enjoy it now.”
    “Not sure how I helped, but you’re welcome.”
    “ How is not important, but you did. I’ll see you at the wedding tomorrow?”
    “Yep. Looking forward to it.”
    “Me, too. Thanks for the drink and the commiseration.”
    “Right back atcha.”
    He watched her walk away until she disappeared into the deepening twilight, captivated by her natural poise and subtle confidence. He stayed at the bar, had more than a few beers, and chatted with Pat but ignored the other customers who came and went. Melanie and the paternity test hovered at the edges of his thoughts, but for the first time in three weeks, he wasn’t consumed by them; he was too captivated by the enchanting Lindsay Miller. As the night wore on and his senses dulled with alcohol, he wondered if he’d imagined their entire conversation. Recalling her almost shy invitation to get to know him, he sincerely hoped not.
    At ten, Pat closed the restaurant and the bar and drove Henry home. When Henry climbed out of the passenger seat, Pat leaned across the cab and said, “I’ll stop down and pick you up on my way to the C Diamond tomorrow morning so you can get your truck.”
    “Thanks, Pat. For driving me home, picking me up tomorrow… and for listening.”
    “Any time, Henry. That’s what friends are for. And hey, it’s heartbreaking that Dylan isn’t your son, but now you’re free to find the kind of good woman you’ll want to spend the rest of your life with.”
    A good woman, Henry mused as he climbed the steps to his front deck with surprisingly steady legs. Maybe he should ask Pat in the morning what a good woman was like because he couldn’t say for sure, but Pat had certainly found one in his wife, Aelissm. The thought stayed with him while he prepared for bed. As he crawled between his sheets, he decided he was glad he hadn’t declined Lindsay’s offer to join him for a drink because her openness and honesty was, right then, very appealing. And if those two traits are a good place to start, Lindsay might just be one of those good women Pat mentioned.
     

Chapter Three
     
    WITHIN FIFTEEN MINUTES of arriving at the Carlyles’ ranch house, Lindsay wished she had thought to pack a button-up shirt for the day of Evie’s wedding. The yellow, curve-hugging dress she wore was the only thing she’d brought that could be taken off without pulling it over her head when it was time to change into her bridesmaid dress, but it was entirely impractical for setting up for the wedding. At the moment, Livia had her hauling chairs out to the backyard. Everyone else who had already arrived to assist was out front setting up tables and the dance floor for the reception or in the kitchen finishing up the food prep, so she was alone, but Livia had promised to send any new arrivals out to aid her.
    At