Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(24)

93

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Three weeks later, she was packing her dorm bathroom and preparing to head home for summer break when she came across her supply of tampons and realized she hadn't had her period in a long time...too long. Absolutely freaking out over the thought she might be pregnant, she'd raced to the drugstore and bought a home pregnancy test. When it came up positive, she rushed back out and bought another.

Three tests later, she finally admitted defeat. Sitting on her small bed, she wept.

It took two days to gather the courage to tell Boston. She remembered how chilly the breeze had been on her slow walk across campus to his apartment building. Her cheeks had been windburned; she had her jacket wrapped snuggly around her with her fisted hands buried deep in her pockets.

There were deep-purplish hollows under her eyes from lack of sleep when she knocked on his door.

Boston didn't look much better when he pulled it open. His hair was a mess, his clothes were rumpled, and his eyes were bloodshot. But the expression in his gaze when he caught sight of her had her hopes lifting. His face lit like he'd actually missed her as much as she'd missed him.

Had he felt more for her than he'd claimed?

But with his next breath, he seemed to pull taut, like he'd just reminded himself they were no longer together. His eyes frosted over and his lips tightened. "Ellie," he said in an icy tone.

She looked down but just as quickly lifted her head, demanding herself to be strong. "May I come in?"

94

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

She thought he might tell her no; then he shrugged as if it made no difference and stepped aside, letting the door swing open. His eyes were hard on her as she passed. Ellie went straight to his bed and sat on the edge before lifting her face.

Boston closed the door and leaned back against it, staring at her coldly. He made no move to sit.

Figuring if he wouldn't sit, then she couldn't either, Ellie scrambled back to her feet. For a moment, she merely stood there, wondering how she was going to do this. How was she going to tell him? It all felt too surreal.

When she'd first seen him in Mack's Burger House, she'd thought of him as something unattainable, someone she could never get close to. Then as time passed, and he talked her into that first date, it felt like she was living in a dream.

She was with Boston Kincaid. She couldn't believe it. But now it was over and she still thought of their time together as a dream.

The child growing inside her was real, though. She looked at the man with whom she'd shared so many intimacies. He merely glared back. Wincing, she knew, deep down, he wouldn't take the news well.

She hated the fact he blocked the door. She wanted an escape route handy.

"Well?" he demanded.

Ellie took a deep breath, but once she met his gaze, she had to drop her head.

"I'm pregnant," she said more to her feet than she did to him.

95

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

He didn't respond. For the longest time, she was unable to lift her eyes. When she managed to look up and gauge his reaction, she sucked in a breath. He was just staring at her as if he hadn't heard her, as if he was in a movie and someone had pushed pause. Then he blinked rapidly and frowned, shifting his gaze to her still-flat stomach.

He jerked from the door so suddenly she yelped. As he strode toward her with a look on his face that made her eyes go wide in alarm, Ellie stumbled a step back and would've tripped over her own feet and gone sprawling if Boston hadn't reached out and caught her. But once he had his hand on her, he yanked her close, melding their chests together.

"Boston!" she gasped.

He gritted his teeth, his nostrils flaring. "You lying little—"

Ellie's mouth fell open. " What!? I..." The grip he had on her wrist, which was only tightening, had her grabbing his shoulder. "Stop!"

He blinked at his hold and let go abruptly enough that she fell back. He looked so shocked he'd actually hurt her, he could only gape for a moment. But he shook his head, his face turning an angry red.

"You would stop at nothing, wouldn't you?" he growled.

"Well, let me warn you now, Ellie. Trying to get me back by faking a pregnancy is a real bad idea."

Ellie gaped and stuttered, "Wha-wha-what?" How could he actually think she was lying?

He looked away and snorted. "You make me sick."

96

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Ellie's hands fisted at her sides. She wanted to go to him and shake, slap, or pound some sense into him. But she just stood there, stewing. How dare he think she'd made this up?

Straightening her shoulders, she leveled him with a lethal glower and stiffly said, "If you don't want anything to do with the baby, that's fine with me. I'd hate for my child to have a cheating jerk for a father anyway."

With that said, she moved around him and walked determinedly toward the exit. But just as she reached for the handle and began to open it, a palm reached around her and slapped the door shut. She stared at the closed portal and felt her rigid resolve slip.

Behind her, Boston hissed, "What's your game?"

Ellie swallowed and lifted her head a little as she still continued to stare at the door. There was no way she could face him right then. She just knew she'd cry if she did.