Page 73 of Delinquent Daddy (Banks/Kincaid Family 2)

For a moment, Ellie was too stunned to speak. This wasn't the Boston Kincaid she knew at all. The college boy she'd dated would never have given her such an advantage, never exposed his vulnerable side. He didn't question himself.

The man really had changed.

Determined not to let that affect her, she asked, "Would you leave if I said yes?"

The achy look he sent her made her want to start crying again. "I want to say yes," he said. "I only want what's best for her. But from the first moment I saw her, I don't know..."

He shook his head, as if dazed. "It was like... bam, smacking me in the center of the chest and taking my breath. That little human was a part of me. And suddenly, I wanted...I wanted to be a father. Her father. I wanted to be a part of her world.

But..." He paused to lick his lips. "I don't want to hurt her."

176

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Ellie felt herself fall into a hole she'd sworn to herself she'd never fall into again. She looked at Boston Kincaid and wanted to be loved by him. He honestly seemed like a different man from that twenty-two year old she'd once known. He'd matured.

Loosening toward him, she admitted, "If you want the truth, then no, I don't think she'd be worse off with you in her life." Then she bit the inside of her lip, wondering what the hell she was doing. This was her one chance to get rid of him, and she wasn't taking it.

Boston looked about as shocked by her declaration as she felt about making it. But he laughed in relief and grinned at her like he thought they were mending fences when, yeah, that probably was what they were doing. Neither of them had yelled all evening. That had to mean something.

"So, what happens now?" he said.

Ellie was about to answer, "I don't know," when it struck her. "I think you need to get to know Cassie better before you can take her anywhere by yourself. I mean, tell me honestly, what do you know about nine-year-old girls?"

Frowning, he said, "Nothing, but—"

"Plus, if I saw you with her a few times, and was convinced she'd be okay, then I'd probably feel better about letting her go with you overnight somewhere."

He paused, looking truly shell-shocked now. "You mean, you want me to come here...with you around...to see her?"

He looked like he might prefer a root canal.

"Not especially," she admitted. "But it's the only compromise I can think of at the moment."

177

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Fine, then," he said and nodded a little too quickly for her comfort. "I'll come here. When do you want me?"

Right now...in the bedroom, flat on your back. The answer popped into her head so suddenly, she actually blushed for thinking it. Glancing away in absolute mortification, Ellie cleared her throat. "Umm...how about Saturday. Anytime.

We'll be here all day."

"Is eight too early?"

She shook her head.

He smiled. "It's a d—ah, it's a deal then." Pushing to his feet, he held out a hand. "Thank you, Ellie."

"Thank you for what you did tonight."

Their hands met across the table in a formal manner. But his warm flesh connecting with hers still caused her skin to tingle.

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