Page 28 of Delinquent Daddy (Banks/Kincaid Family 2)

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Two pair of blue eyes glanced up at her and, for a moment, she couldn't breathe. They looked so much like each other.

"Uhh..." Feeling regretful for interrupting, she hesitated.

Biting her lip, she said, "Cassie usually goes to bed at nine.

And...and she has school tomorrow."

Boston glanced at his Rolex, blinking. "Wow. I didn't realize it was so late."

As he stood, Cassidy clamped her arms around his legs.

"Don't go!" she begged. "Please, oh, please don't go."

"I...I'm sorry, I can't stay," he told her, looking bowled over by the idea his daughter wanted him to stick around.

"You have to go to school tomorrow, and I have work.

Besides, I have to drive all the way back to Kansas City tonight."

"Where exactly do you live?" Cassie asked, looking curious.

Unable to watch their goodbye, Ellie stepped into the hall and quietly closed the door.

"...well, that's not so far away," Cassie said.

Boston reached out and sat his hand on her hair. "Not so far at all," he agreed softly. He could visit her just about every day at this distance. "Well, I guess this is goodbye," he said, noticing—in his peripheral vision—that Ellie had slipped back out of the room to give them a private farewell.

Reaching down, he scooped Cassie up, making her eyes go big.

"Cool!" she said. "Mom can't lift me like this anymore."

Boston grinned and gave her an encompassing hug. Cassie wrapped her arms and legs around him, hugging him back.

75

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"When will I see you again?" she asked.

"Whenever you want."

"Tomorrow," she decided.

He nodded. "I could do that."

"Could we go to Chuck E. Cheese's?"

"If you'd like," he answered on a chuckle as he smoothed his hand over her hair again, still amazed he had a daughter.

He was touching his daughter.

"Then I want to go to Chuck E. Cheese's," she said.

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