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seeing anyone under the age of twenty at the wedding party’s table. “You have a son? Where is he?”
    “Back home in Washington because he didn’t want to come to Evie’s wedding with me.”
    “How old is he?”
    “Eight. And before you ask, yes, I got pregnant in high school—senior year.”
    “Tough break. But can I ask you a question?”
    “Sure.”
    “Do you always begin conversations with such deeply personal information?”
    “I think I might make it a habit.” She took a sip of her rum and Coke. “It should save a lot of time and frustration if the guy I’m interested in can’t handle the fact that I have a son.”
    “I take it that has happened more than once?”
    She nodded but offered no other information on the topic. He watched her for a moment, distracted by the rather adorable way she chewed on the slender straw in her drink, and waited for her to enjoy her beverage a bit before he asked what had happened between her and her ex.
    “At first, he acted like he wanted to stay in our lives and wanted to be a father to Noah, but then he went off to college at Washington State University, found a new woman, and our relationship faded into nothing.”
    “Wait. When did he meet her?”
    “During his junior year when he and I were still technically together. Just before graduation, he called to tell me that he was getting married.”
    “Christ, that’s low. I’m sorry, Lindsay.”
    She shrugged. “It’s water under the bridge, as they say, but if I could find a way to make it happen, I’d burn the bridge.”
    “I don’t blame you,” Henry said gently. Then he let out a self-mocking snort. “Makes me feel even worse for walking out on Mel. But I couldn’t stay with her anymore. Honestly, she was never a long-term prospect for me, and we only got back together because she told me she was pregnant with my kid.”
    “Why’d you break up before?”
    “Too many incompatibilities. She’s a city girl through-and-through, hates to do all the things outdoors that I love, and—forgive me for saying this because it will probably sound cruel—her favorite thing about me was my steady paycheck. I wouldn’t call her a gold digger, but she tends to seek stability. Maybe that’s because her dad walked out on her and her mom when she was seven, or maybe she just likes spending money. I don’t know, and I don’t care anymore.”
    Lindsay tilted her head and studied him again. “Let me guess. You feel guilty because you’re doing the same thing to Dylan that her father did to her.”
    “When you put it that way… yeah, that’s exactly how I feel.”
    “You realize none of that is your fault, right?” she remarked. “I’m also going to guess that she said the kid was yours to keep your steady paycheck.”
    “That makes her sound exceedingly manipulative.”
    “Granted, I don’t know the exact timeframe of all this, but it sounds like she slept with two other guys very soon after she slept with you the last time, so there’s no way she could have known for sure you were her kid’s father.”
    “I’d like to hope she at least believed I was Dylan’s father. It’s better than the alternative—that she picked me without even considering that I might not be because she knew I’d support her. Yeah, we always used some form of protection, but accidents happen.”
    “I can attest to that.” Suddenly, Lindsay grinned. “Who’s divulging deeply personal information now, hmm?”
    Despite the ache that had trickled back into his heart, Henry laughed. “You are a very intriguing woman, Lindsay. I’m not in the habit of opening up like this so quickly… or so easily.”
    “That sounds like a good thing.”
    “Jury’s still out, but since I’m already in a better mood, I’d say it’s a very good thing.”
    “See? Aren’t you glad I invited myself over?”
    “Yes, I am. I wish you could stay longer, but I don’t want to take anymore of your time away from your friends.”
    “I