Page 71 of Delinquent Daddy (Banks/Kincaid Family 2)

His heart filled with an emotion that seemed to consume him to the point of explosion. He just wanted to scoop her up and let her have whatever she wanted. But she was being a brat, and Ellie's words echoed through his head. That's the second time tonight you got to play the good guy.

"No," he heard himself say, sounding stubbornly resolute and, surprisingly, just like he could remember his own father being. "You said some very mean things about her. Things that would hurt her. I can only imagine what you told her to her face. So you're not leaving this room until you can apologize to your mother."

Cassie's face filled with surprise. Then anger. Crossing her arms over her chest, she growled. "Fine. I didn't want to leave anyway."

Boston eased quietly out of Cassie's room, slightly sick to his stomach. Worried he'd just lost his one chance with her, he paused to swallow down his rising panic. Then he huffed out a breath and walked through the house until he saw Ellie 172

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

through the back window. Blowing out another breath for an entirely different reason, he opened the door to join her. He wasn't sure why he bothered. Both Trenton girls despised him at the moment. He should leave. But he felt drawn to Ellie, and leaving was the last thing he could do.

It was a cool evening with a slight breeze. Ellie sat at a picnic table, huddled inside her bulky jacket. For a moment, she looked so much like that college girl he'd fallen for, he couldn't even breathe.

Then she lifted her face and that was it. All the anger he'd felt over the past week evaporated. In its place, a strange ache wrapped around his chest and pulled taut.

Light from the kitchen window reflected on the wet gleam on her cheeks. He didn't like seeing her cry. It made him feel helpl

ess and clumsy. He just wanted to go to her and pull her into his arms and tell her—

Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets. "There. Now we're both the bad guy," he said and moved to sit on the bench seat opposite hers.

Ellie unobtrusively tried to swipe at her cheeks. "What?"

Boston tilted his head back so he could stare up at the sky and not her. "She begged to come live with me, but I said no.

I told her she couldn't even leave her room until she apologized to you."

"You what?"

She sounded so surprised, Boston straightened and gave her a helpless shrug. "It sounded like something a dad would say."

173

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

He wondered if it'd been the wrong thing, though. He wondered what he should've said. The temptation to ask Ellie what he should've done almost suffocated him. He was so uncertain, even his own skin felt uncomfortable.

But then he noticed a slight smile on her face. "That's exactly what I told her too," she finally murmured.

His heart thumped against his ribcage in a crazy little beat.

He wanted to reach across the table and take her hand.

Unable to keep the anxiety at bay, he asked, "Do you think she'll ever talk to me again?"

Once again Ellie sent him an amused smile, making his pulse even more erratic. "Cassie might be quick to throw a fit, but she's just as quick to get over it. She'll probably be calling you tomorrow and begging you to take her back to Chuck E.

Cheese's."

"And would you let me?" he asked softly.

She didn't answer immediately. Boston held his breath, hoping he hadn't just started another fight. He didn't want to fight tonight. Not when he felt such a kinship with her.

But Ellie didn't grow upset. She lowered her eyes to her tightly clasped hands in her lap and answered, "You know, you could've taken her away for good tonight. I was so upset, I probably would've let her go with you if that was what you'd both wanted."

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