Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(16)

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

She paled. "Don't threaten me, Boston. This is my child you're talking about. I raised her and fed her. I rocked her to sleep every night and worried about her every day. I was the one to bring her up from an infant and care for her. You don't even know her."

"And whose fault is that?" He blinked rapidly as if trying to wipe away an onslaught of tears. "You didn't give me a chance to mess up," he whispered in a hoarse voice.

Ellie shook her head. "You'd already messed up."

He ran a hand through his hair. "I messed up with you," he reminded her. "Not her."

When she didn't answer, he growled out a sound of frustration. He opened his mouth, but something in the doorway caught his attention and he promptly snapped his jaw shut. Knowing it was Cassidy, Ellie cursed her luck and turned slowly to find her daughter once again standing in the entrance of the kitchen, but this time she wore her nicest dress, white tights—which she always refused to wear—and her glossy black dress shoes. She'd brushed her hair, something Cassie usually made Ellie do since she hated doing it herself, and even put barrettes in the dark locks.

Seeing the girl primp to meet her father made Ellie want to cry. Without wanting to, she gave in.

Every night for the past year, she'd been forced to tell the girl something about her daddy. Not wanting the usual bedtime story from one of her books, Cassie had opted for information about Boston. That was why she'd learned so much about him and been able to find him...because she'd bugged Ellie constantly for facts.

65

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Seeing that hopeful gleam in Cassie's eyes was Ellie's downfall. Her daughter had been dreaming of this for months...years.

"Cass," she said quietly. But the girl paid her no attention.

She strode to Boston. He met her gaze, and Ellie could tell he was holding his breath.

"Are you going to take me to my dad now?" Cassidy asked.

"That's why you're here, isn't it? Because he couldn't come himself?" Grinning broadly, she looked down at her dress.

"Well, I'm ready to meet him."

Boston sent her a wobbly smile. "You look very nice too."

Ellie wanted to hug him. That was the best thing he could've told the girl.

Cassie beamed. "Is he waiting very far away?"

"Cassidy," Ellie interrupted then. Her daughter ignored her until she said, "Montgomery Kincaid isn't your father."

Cassie whirled around, her eyes wide with denial. "He's not?" Her bottom lip quivered, and Ellie sent her a sympathetic look as she shook her head no. "But...but...why is he here then?" Cassie motioned blindly toward Boston. "He wouldn't come if his brother wasn't—"

"Cassie, come sit down," Ellie interrupted, moving toward the kitchen table.

Her daughter didn't budge. "No. I want—"

"I'll tell you the truth about your father," she added evenly, though she had to pitch her voice up an octave to catch Cassie's attention. "Now, sit down."

For a moment, it looked like Cassidy was going to rebel.

Then she glanced up at Boston. He hitched his chin 66

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

encouragingly toward a chair. Finally, the girl slumped into action, but she didn't look happy about it. She probably thought Ellie was going to evade the subject like she usually did.

Easing down into a seat next to her daughter, Ellie reached out and took both of Cassie's hands. From the corner of her eye, she saw Boston edge closer, though he still kept a good distance away.

"Cassie, honey," she started, sounding surprisingly calm considering the way her heart threatened to thump its way out of her chest.

"Listen to me, sweetheart." Her fingers tightened around Cassie's. "Boston is here because he read the letter you sent his brother. You see, he also went to the University of Kansas at the same time as I did. And he's also the son of an astronaut. He...he..."

She paused to glance his way. She hadn't realized saying it aloud would be so hard.

Oh, boy. What if she couldn't do it?

But as soon as she caught Boston's anxious gaze, she felt encouraged. Turning back to Cassie, she said, "Montgomery Kincaid is only your uncle. Boston..." she added, glancing at him again, "is your father."

Cassie's mouth fell open in awe, and she lifted her head to look up at Boston. " You're my dad?"

His face had drained of color, and it didn't look like he'd remembered to breathe in the last thirty seconds. But he held Cassie's gaze steady as he nodded.

67

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Cassie slowly slipped to her feet, and Ellie let go of her hand as she watched her little girl cautiously approach the grown man who looked like he was going to hyperventilate any moment. Ellie could honestly say she'd never seen him look so scared.

"Really?" Cassie asked, looking him up and down as if she couldn't believe it.

For a split second, Ellie thought he was going to pass out.

But he seemed to collect himself enough to give another mute nod.

Cassie gasped in pleasure. "Can...can I hug you?"