Page 91 of Delinquent Daddy (Banks/Kincaid Family 2)

For a second, she was sure she'd heard wrong. But after blinking about five times, she couldn't deny the inquisitive look Boston sent her, waiting for her answer.

Then she laughed. "Boston, don't be silly. She'll forget all about me once you guys reach the party. Besides, if she does 214

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

get sad, just have her call. I'll talk to her and assure her everything's fine."

He looked away for a moment as if he were thinking that option over. And then he turned back to Ellie. "Here's the deal," he started. "I want this to be the best Thanksgiving she's ever had. And I don't want her to have to worry about her mother, about calling you and making sure you're okay.

She's never been away from you for a holiday before, and I don't want that to be a problem. So, if you were there...with her...I know she could fully enjoy the day."

He paused to gauge her reaction. Ellie stared at him blankly for a moment.

"Really, Boston." She trilled out on a nervous laugh. He looked a little too serious for her comfort. "I can't go with you guys."

He frowned in confusion. "Why not?"

"For starters, your entire family is going to be there. I'm not spending the day with your family."

He frowned and pulled back, surprised and leery. "What's wrong with my family?"

"Well...they must hate me," she blurted out. "I didn't just keep Cassie from you. I kept her from them too. I can only imagine what they must think of me."

Boston's mouth fell open. "No," he said and then shook his head vehemently. "No one hates you. Go

d, Ellie. Did you think Monty and Cam hated you?"

She bit her lip. "No, but I thought they were just...strange."

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He laughed. "Well, they are that. But everyone else feels the same. They're very anxious to meet Cassidy's mother. In fact, you probably would've had a few unwanted visitors by now if I hadn't warned them to stay away."

"They want to meet me?" she asked slowly, not sure if she should believe him. "But...what about Chuck E. Cheese's?

Didn't my behavior there turn them off?"

Sending her a guilty look, Boston admitted, "It turned them off me for a while. I swear, my mother was about to bend me over her knee for not getting your permission to take Cassie."

When Ellie couldn't come up with a ready response, he took her hand. "Tell me honestly," he murmured. "Do you want your daughter to be miserable today or not?"

"Of course I don't want her to be miserable." Ellie sighed.

"But I think once she gets there, she'll forget all about me, and she'll—"

Boston didn't seem to want to risk it, however. "You're coming with us."

Ellie raised her eyebrows at his authoritative tone.

He seemed to yield at her arch look. "I already felt like crap for taking her away from you on a holiday," he said.

"Now, she's going to feel like crap too, and I'm sure you're not overly enthused about the situation either. Therefore, you have to come along so we're not all miserable."

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