Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(17)

Boston's jaw dropped. He glanced quickly at Ellie as if seeking permission. But before she could give any kind of response, he turned back to their daughter.

Eyes watering, he choked out, "I think I would like that."

He made a small sobbing sound as he fell on both knees, and Cassie leapt into his open arms.

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68

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage





Chapter Five


She felt so small in his embrace. Her limbs were toothpick thin, but the girl had muscle, and she put her whole body into hugging him as tightly as she could. He closed his eyes and inhaled her sweet child scent. Her hair was still damp from the bath Ellie had told her to take. The wet locks soaked his collar and cheek. But he didn't care. He was hugging his daughter.

Pulling away so he could see her perfect, heart-shaped face, he wiped at the corner of his eye and sent her a watery smile.

"It's nice to finally meet you," he said, hoping she wouldn't notice how nervous he was, how his hands shook, or how sweat gathered on his brow. When he straightened, her head fell back as she gaped up.

"You're tall." She took a step back to study him. Boston opened his arms to give her an unrestricted view, suddenly uncertain with his body, wondering if she'd find him lacking or—

"Are you rich?" she asked, taking in his tie and jacket.

Boston cringed. Why hadn't he changed out of his work clothes before coming? He'd left straight from EarthNet, wondering why he'd even bothered to go in at all. Sure, he had a pile of projects to finish, but he hadn't gotten any work done. Now he wished he'd changed into something more—

God, what did dads wear?

69

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Ah..." He cleared his throat, not sure how to answer. He didn't want to look pompous and brag about how well off he was, but—

"Are you married?" she broke in, obviously thinking he'd taken too long to answer. "Do I have any brothers or sisters?"

"No," he said, glancing quickly at Ellie and hoping she didn't think it was because of her he'd remained single. "I'm not married, and you don't have any brothers or sisters."

"Where do you live?" Cassie went on, not even taking the time to digest his answers.

Feeling as if he were in an interview, Boston wiped his damp palms on his pant leg. "I live in Kansas City. Er, actually Overland Park."

"Kansas City?" She gaped, her eyes widening. "That place is enormous. Mom took me there once to see some Christmas lights in this really long mall."

He grinned.

"Do you have a Nintendo Wii?"

The unexpected and abrupt change of subject made him blink. "Ah, no. No Nintendo Wii." He hoped that wasn't the wrong answer, because, hell, if it made this little angel happy, he'd buy six of them.

But his daughter didn't seem to care one way or another.

"My friend Keller has one," she said conversationally. "When his mom bought it, he gave me his old Xbox."

"I don't have an Xbox either," he murmured.

Cassie's eyes went huge with disbelief. "Really?"

He managed a smile. "Back in my day, there was only a regular PlayStation. And the basic Nintendo."

70

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Wow, you're really old then, aren't you?" Cassie grabbed his hand. "Hey, want to play on my Xbox? I just got this totally awesome Pokemon game. It's sweet."

Boston lifted his eyebrows. Sweet? Man, he must be old.

Whatever happened to awesome, and cool, and far out?

When he realized Cassie was waiting for a response, he panicked. His daughter expected him to play a video game with her. He hadn't played one of those things in years. He'd probably be so rusty, he'd die on the first level...if they even had levels anymore.

"How about I watch you play instead?" he suggested.

"You don't want to play with me?" she asked, her eyes going large with disappointment.

Boston's heart turned over. The mere thought of letting her down made his breathing catch. "You'll have to show me how," he started. "I don't know—"

"Okay," Cassie said cheerfully. She grabbed his hand and led him down the hall toward her room. He followed willingly, glancing back once to check how Ellie was dealing with this.

She watched her daughter with a slight smile. Then she lifted a hand to her eye but dropped it quickly when she caught Boston's gaze.

He turned back to Cassie.

"It's real easy," she was saying as they entered a lavender room edged with a pastel-flowered border. Out of his element, he faltered. But Cassidy looked right at home as she flopped onto a beanbag chair in front of an ancient television and turned on the power, all the while constantly explaining the game.

71

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

As she chattered, Boston settled onto the floor beside her and tried to listen to her instructions, though he was too busy staring at her to soak in the rules. She really did look like the pictures he'd seen of his mother at this age. It was remarkable. She was so pretty...and intelligent. He just couldn't believe something so completely perfect had come from his loins.