Page 38 of Delinquent Daddy (Banks/Kincaid Family 2)

95

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

He didn't respond. For the longest time, she was unable to lift her eyes. When she managed to look up and gauge his reaction, she sucked in a breath. He was just staring at her as if he hadn't heard her, as if he was in a movie and someone had pushed pause. Then he blinked rapidly and frowned, shifting his gaze to her still-flat stomach.

He jerked from the door so suddenly she yelped. As he strode toward her with a look on his face that made her eyes go wide in alarm, Ellie stumbled a step back and would've tripped over her own feet and gone sprawling if Boston hadn't reached out and caught her. But once he had his hand on her, he yanked her close, melding their chests together.

"Boston!" she gasped.

He gritted his teeth, his nostrils flaring. "You lying little—"

Ellie's mouth fell open. " What!? I..." The grip he had on her wrist, which was only tightening, had her grabbing his shoulder. "Stop!"

He blinked at his hold and let go abruptly enough that she fell back. He looked so shocked he'd actually hurt her, he could only gape for a moment. But he shook his head, his face turning an angry red.

"You would stop at nothing, wouldn't you?" he growled.

"Well, let me warn you now, Ellie. Trying to get me back by faking a pregnancy is a real bad idea."

Ellie gaped and stuttered, "Wha-wha-what?" How could he actually think she was lying?

He looked away and snorted. "You make me sick."

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Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Ellie's hands fisted at her sides. She wanted to go to him and shake, slap, or pound some sense into him. But she just stood there, stewing. How dare he think she'd made this up?

Straightening her shoulders, she leveled him with a lethal glower and stiffly said, "If you don't want anything to do with the baby, that's fine with me. I'd hate for my child to have a cheating jerk for a father anyway."

With that said, she moved around him and walked determinedly toward the exit. But just as she reached for the handle and began to open it, a palm reached around her and slapped the door shut. She stared at the closed portal and felt her rigid resolve slip.

Behind her, Boston hissed, "What's your game?"

Ellie swallowed and lifted her head a little as she still continued to stare at the door. There was no way she could face him right then. She just knew she'd cry if she did.

"I assure you," she said, proud there wasn't even a tremor in her steady voice, "this is no game."

"I don't believe you."

Ellie snorted. "That's obvious."

"Then why did you come here?"

Unable to take it any longer, she leaned forward and rested her cheek on the door panel. Pressing her hand against the cool surface and wishing he'd let her leave already, she whispered in desperation. "Please. Just let me go."

Boston touched her, and the gentle pressure of his hand on the back of her shoulder was her undoing. The first tear tracked down her cheek. She blinked rapidly, but instead of 97

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

drying her lashes, the move only caused another droplet to fall.

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