Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(11)

Her whispered answer was, "You said you didn't want her."

46

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"You know I didn't mean it like that," he spat out, his voice growing again. "We were both screaming things we didn't mean back then."

"Kind of like how we are right now?"

"No. Right now, I mean everything I'm saying. I'm pissed as hell. You turned me into a...a delinquent father."

She wrinkled her nose. "Delinquent?"

"Neglectful," he restated, sending her a dry look. "Falling down on one's duty. It's a violation of the law to neglect your own child. You've caused me to break the law... for years."

"Oh, brother." She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, you're definitely a lawyer now, aren't you?"

"Damn it, Ellie," he exploded.

"Boston," she cut in before he could go off on one of his self-righteous tangents. "I made a decision I thought was the best for all three of us—"

"Well, it wasn't the right one," he roared. "You never should've goddamn lied to me. You never should've..."

The words died on his tongue, and he froze. His face drained of color as his eyes drilled into a spot behind her.

Already knowing what, or rather who, she was going to find, Ellie whirled and gasped, bringing her hand to her heart.

" Cassie!" she wheezed in a high voice.

The raven-haired child rooted in the kitchen entrance stared at Boston with wide, frightened blue eyes before swiveling her gaze back to Ellie. She was a beautiful girl, tall for her age, the second tallest in her class. Slim with tanned, golden skin and the perfect face, she'd inherited Ellie's nose, 47

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

chin, and mouth and Boston's intelligent blue eyes and inky black hair.

"Mom?" she said in a wavering tone as she dropped the gym bag hanging off her shoulder and skittered the last few feet to Ellie's side, once again glancing cautiously toward Boston. "What's going on?" she asked, seeking comfort by snagging Ellie's hand.

Ellie opened her mouth and turned to Boston as if looking for assistance. But her heart dropped into her knees when she took in the vanquished features on his face. He looked completely lost and exposed, a vulnerable train wreck.

Honestly, she couldn't blame him. This was his very first encounter with his daughter, and the girl gaped at him as if he were an axe murderer. Biting the inside of her lip, she fought back the instant guilt. But, hell. She should've known better than to engage in a yelling match with him when she knew full well Cassie was expected home any moment.

"Who is he?" Cassie asked, her voice shaking. "Why're you two yelling at each other? What's happening?"

Boston dragged his eyes up to Ellie. His gaze begged for help. For a second, she thought he was going to cry. Ellie gripped her hand around Cassie's small fingers.

"Cassidy Diane," she stated firmly, ignoring Boston for the moment and turning to give her daughter her full attention.

She swiped the envelope off the counter where it had been piled along with all the groceries. Waving it in Cassie's face, she demanded, "Did you write this?"

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Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

The child focused on the letter, and her eyes bulged. In an instant, her fear evaporated. She brightened and whirled around to gape at Boston. "Are you Montgomery Kincaid?"

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49

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage





Chapter Four


His daughter was talking to him. Boston couldn't wrap his mind around the concept. A part of him had helped create this tiny person. She was a part of him. Yet everything about her remained foreign.

Cassidy Diane. Diane was his mother's name.

Unbelievable. This child was so...well, she was perfect.

Absolutely flawless. Boston couldn't stop staring.

He'd been on the verge of a breakdown for a second there.

When she'd originally laid eyes on him, she'd laser-beamed him with a killer glare. Obviously, she was a protective thing.

She definitely didn't like him yelling at her mother, that was for sure. The girl had sidled herself next to Ellie and frostily scowled at him with a courage that was, frankly, remarkable.

So much for a good first impression.

But now...now that she knew he was here because of her letter, it looked like she was going to plow that perfect nine-year-old body against his legs and hug him for the next month. Though that thought was preferable to her skewering him through with a lethal stare, it still scared the bejesus out of him just about as much as thinking she might hate him. He was this girl's father, but he didn't know a thing about her. He had no idea what he was supposed to do.

Should he go to her? Was she expecting him to race over and pull her into his arms, tell her how much he loved her and how happy he was they were finally together?

Apprehension spiraled through him.

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Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

His eyes rose anxiously to Ellie. For the first time since he'd showed up, she actually looked apologetic for putting him through this hell. Turning away, she drew Cassie's arm toward her, commanding her daughter's attention.