Read Once Burned for Free Online Page B

flattery. It’s not often I get to feel like a girl anymore. Most of the time, I’m Mom.”
    “And I’m sure you’re a great one, so enjoy the attention for a bit.”
    “Thanks… again.”
    “You’re welcome. Speaking of your son and turning back to football, I’m going to go out on a limb here and bet he’s is big fan, too.”
    “I don’t know if he’s as big a fan as I am yet, but he’s always liked watching it and going to games… and he started Peewee football last year, which he loves . He wants to play again this year.”
    “How’d that go over with the ex?”
    “Not well, but it was Noah’s idea.” Lindsay scooted another chair into position, then looked up and grinned smugly. “It’s probably terrible of me, but I was pretty proud when he tried tee ball—at Max’s insistence—and hated it.”
    “From what you’ve told me so far about your ex, I’d probably feel the same in your shoes… or sandals,” Henry said, making a show of leaning over to take note of her foot wear. He winked. “They look pretty practical to me.”
    “You wait tables long enough, and fancy, uncomfortable shoes lose their charm,” she explained. “So, what about you? You seem to appreciate my football fandom, which makes me think you’re a fan yourself. Did you play?”
    “Yep to both. I played Little Guy all the way on up through college. Occasionally, I stepped in at running back, but mostly I played cornerback. What position is Noah playing?”
    Lindsay smiled. “Running back, but I think his coach may try him at cornerback this year.”
    “A kid after my own heart.”
    They fell into an easy silence as they set out chairs in row after row around the as-of-yet undecorated arbor where Vince and Evie would become husband and wife in a few short hours. Lindsay found that she enjoyed working quietly with Henry every bit as much as she delighted in their playful banter. She felt no pressure to engage in meaningless small talk, and at the same time, she knew that anything they said wouldn’t be meaningless.
    After a while, she asked Henry what he did for work, and he informed her that he had worked as a welder and machinist in Denver but had quit to move back to Northstar following the results of the paternity test. Unwilling to taint the beautiful day, Lindsay redirected the conversation to other interests and discovered that, in addition to football, they shared several other passions including classic rock music, books in the fantasy and science fiction genres, and action adventure and fantasy movies. When he made a comment about her being every man’s perfect woman, she snorted.
    “So far, I haven’t seen proof of that,” she murmured.
    “Then you must be dating the wrong men.”
    “Apparently so.” She laughed softly. “Thanks.”
    “Just keeping up the tradition you started last night. Speaking of which, I forgot to ask how long you’d be in Northstar.”
    “Eight more days. I fly out of Butte next Sunday when Vince and Evie leave for their honeymoon.”
    “Eight days. That’s it?”
    “Yep.”
    “What do you have planned for those eight days?”
    “I don’t really know, but I think Evie just wants to hang out for most of it. We don’t get to see each other much now that she’s out here.”
    “I imagine not. I guess I’ll have to ask the bride what her plans for you are.”
    Lindsay tilted her head. “Why are you so curious?”
    “Well, we agreed that we’d like to get to know each other while you’re here, right?”
    “Yes….”
    “I am thoroughly intrigued by you, Lindsay Miller. Your openness is refreshing, so I’m going to have a talk with your friend and do a little scheming. In the meantime, we’re done here, so I should probably head out front to help my brothers with those picnic tables.”
    All at once, Lindsay realized that they had indeed finished setting out the chairs and felt a pang of disappointment that Henry would be leaving her momentarily. Gallantly, he took