Page 19 of Delinquent Daddy (Banks/Kincaid Family 2)

"Boston?"

He looked up, but the closer Ellie stepped, the further away she seemed to get. She reached out like she might comfort him. But she pulled her hand back at the last moment as if realizing what she was about to do.

For a split second, he wished she'd touch him. He ached for some of her sympathy. Hell, he wanted to wrap her in his arms and smell nothing but her hair, soaking up all the comfort he could get. Did she still use that lavender-scented shampoo?

Boston laughed bitterly and wiped at mist that had gotten caught in his eye. There were more important things to ponder here. His daughter was just down the hall, taking a bath.

"She looks just like my mom," was all he could think to say.

Instead of replying, Ellie pulled out a chair and motioned to it. He sat and lifted his face, but she turned away before he was ready for her to leave. She returned seconds later with a glass of ice water. He realized the drink was for him when she set it next to him on the table. Automatically, he drank.

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Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

The water cleared his head as much as it did his throat. He gulped every last drop and closed his eyes when he finally had to lower the glass.

"Are you okay?" Ellie asked, moving another foot away as if he might be contagious. "You look like you're going to throw up."

He kind of felt like he might.

"I..." He tried to tell her he was fine. But the words that came out sounded a lot more like, "I didn't think it'd be like this."

He touched his chest, wondering if he was having a heart attack. "To see her for the first time," he added. "I didn't think I'd feel so...I can't breathe." He tugged frantically at the top button of his collar only to realize it was already unbuttoned.

"What do you say to a nine-year-old?" He didn't know the first thing about kids, especially nine-year-old girls. Sure he had nieces and nephews, but this was totally different. This was his child.

Automatically, he looked to Ellie for help. But as much as he wanted to beg for her comfort, he wanted to keep yelling at her too. She'd lied to him and purposefully kept his daughter from him.

"I need to put the cold food in the refrigerator," she blurted out, snagging his empty cup and moving toward the sink to wash it and set it back in the cupboard.

Boston sat back in his chair, watching her stash her groceries. She'd just turned to a pantry to put away her canned goods when the back door opened. He glanced over 54

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

and blinked when a small blond-haired boy strolled inside like he owned the place. Ellie didn't notice him at first, but Boston couldn't take his eyes off the kid.

Who the hell was this? Was he another child of hers, a younger son or something? The idea of Ellie having more children didn't sit well with him, and he wasn't about to explore why. He scowled as he watched the scrawny kid in the thick glasses meander toward the fridge and lug out a gallon of milk.

Ellie finally noticed the boy a second later, or rather she noticed Boston watching him. She turned and jumped half out of her skin.

"Keller!" she yelped. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm...getting...a drink...Mama Ellie." The boy panted, out of breath because the milk was too heavy for him.

Ellie hurried forw

ard and took the carton from his grasp.

"Well, I'm sure you have milk at home, dear."

"But I'm here to see Cassie. We're going to play the new Pokemon game on her Xbox." He tipped his head back to stare up at her and send her a confused look. "Why should I go home to get a drink and then come all the way back, when I can just get it here?"

Ellie sighed. "Keller, Cassie can't play tonight." She glanced toward Boston. "She—"

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