Page 130 of Delinquent Daddy (Banks/Kincaid Family 2)

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

demanded money from him three nights later. Ellie groaned and ran her hands through her hair. She had to have the worst timing ever, or the most rotten luck.

> It just wasn't meant to be for them. That's all there was to it. She and Boston weren't destined to be together. The sigh she let out came from the depths of her soul.

EarthNet was eight stories tall. Ellie dragged her feet so badly on the way to the entrance, she'd taken the time to count each one. Cameron had tried to explain to her at Thanksgiving what exactly his and Boston's jobs at EarthNet entailed, but she still wasn't too certain. She knew he bought businesses that were already established and then he either fixed them up or merged them to other businesses before selling them again for a profit. She had no idea how that constituted the need for eight floors of offices, but they obviously had the profit to afford them, so who was she to question it?

The front doors slid open automatically when Ellie reached them. She jumped a step back, not expecting such a welcome, before she cautiously eased into the huge lobby.

The velvet red carpet looked like it belonged in a high-star hotel. But the single reception desk resembled something that would be in a trust fund building on Wall Street.

The woman sitting there lifted her face as the chilly December breeze entered the building with Ellie. A security guard who'd been patrolling the room also glanced over. He paused and watched her curiously as she moved toward the front desk. Besides the receptionist and guard, no one else 299

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

was in the huge cathedral-shaped entrance. If the floor hadn't been carpet, her footsteps would've echoed like crazy.

"I'm sorry," the receptionist told her before she'd even reached the desk. "But all of our offices are closed for the evening. If you'd like to make an appointment with someone, you'll have to come back tomorrow when we're open. Our office hours are..."

Ellie zoned out as the women droned on. She just wanted to know if Boston was here.

"Actually," she interrupted, leaning forward and giving the tight-lipped woman an apologetic smile for interrupting, "I just need to see Boston Kincaid if he's here. It's not a business call."

She glanced around the large room for some kind of sign or directory that gave employee names or where different departments were located.

"I'm sorry," the woman said again. "But all our offices are officially closed for the evening. I suggest you come back tomorrow and—"

"You can't even tell me if he's here?" Ellie asked, her annoyance growing. She'd come all this way, knees knocking the entire distance. She couldn't not talk to him tonight.

She'd lose her nerve.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. It's against policy to give that kind of information after hours. If you'd like to speak to Mr. Kincaid, I suggest you come back—"

Tomorrow...yeah, yeah, yeah. Ellie didn't need a recorded message. She needed to know if Boston was here or not.

300

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

But thank God a familiar voice called out, "Ellie?" or she might have strangled the aggravating receptionist.

Ellie spun around and saw Cameron, Chinese takeout in tow, approaching her with a wide, welcoming smile.

Oh, thank God.

Shoulders slumping in relief, Ellie stepped from the receptionist's desk and moved toward him.

"Wow, you're a sight for sore eyes," he told her and, to her surprise, enveloped her in a warm, one-armed hug. "Couldn't stay away from me, huh?" he finished with a friendly kiss on her cheek.

But she was so nervous and focused on accomplishing her mission, she couldn't even answer or rebuke his tease. "Do you know where Boston is?"

He paused, gaze turning worried. "He's taking a client to supper," he said, reaching out to take her arm. "Is everything okay?"

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