Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(48)

In the midst of the windiest weather, a loud crack of thunder hit so close, the windows shook and the air was filled with an electric charge that made the hairs on Ellie's arm stand on end. The lights went out and a huge thud was heard, followed by a crashing sound outside.

Ellie and Nora let out small startled yelps as the two children screamed and leapt toward each other, groping in the dark until they found one another. Mendel, who was actually home for the evening, cursed until he found a flashlight and flipped it on.

The mothers immediately sought their children to comfort them, and Keller's father tried to peek out the small, foggy windows to see what had happened.

"Tree got hit by lightning," Mendel announced. "Took out the electric wire."

"Was it our tree house tree?" Keller asked, hurrying toward his father and trying his best to see out the window, but he was so short he couldn't see anything. Dr. Young didn't bother to answer his son but went to find his cell phone so he could call in the outage.

180

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Ellie peered out the window to see which tree had fallen.

"It's not the tree house," she assured the children.

Cassie and Keller cheered and hugged each other, dancing in a circle and celebrating until Mendel told them to hush.

Rubbing at her chilled arms, Ellie glanced out the window again and swallowed when she took in the sight of the tree that had fallen.

Half of the massive trunk had landed in her yard.

Boston arrived to quite a scene Saturday morning. He could hear Cassie and Keller in the backyard, only for their voices to be cut off by the sound of a chainsaw firing up. He strolled around the side of the house and came to a surprised halt when he found them. The two kids chased each other, playing tag as an adult male in the Young's backyard sawed at a huge fallen tree. Boston gaped at the mess until he spotted Ellie alone in her yard, wearing a pair of worn jeans, an old college sweater, and gardening gloves. Her face was red with exertion as she tried to drag a single large limb toward a pile she'd already gathered.

He lifted his eyebrows, thinking she had the makings for one hell of a bonfire.

Nora Young stood near the man with the chainsaw, trying to talk to him. He had to shut off his engine to hear her.

"You're going to cut up the limbs on Ellie's side too, right?"

she asked.

Giving her an annoyed frown, the man grumbled, "I don't think I'll have the time."

"But she can't—"

181

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Turning his back on her, the man started his saw again, cutting off the rest of her words.

Nora glared for a few moments, her hands set on her hips.

But then she shook her head and turned away to march toward Ellie's yard.

"I'll help you, El," Boston heard her call. She grabbed another end of the limb, and together the two women were able to drag the partial tree to the pile Ellie had already collected.

Boston sighed, realizing exactly what he'd be doing for the rest of the day. He started toward Ellie when Keller finally spotted him.

"Hi, Cassie's dad," he called and dodged just as Cassidy was about to tag him.

At the boy's greeting, Cassie stopped running and grinned, waving madly. "Look. Our tree fell down." Then she barreled into his legs and hugged him.

Boston sucked in a breath and knelt down to give her a full hug. Okay, so Ellie had been right. Cassie was quick to get over her anger. But it still felt good to know for certain she didn't hate him.

Pulling back before he got emotional, he forced a grin. "So I see." He stayed kneeling beside her because he liked being close. He enjoyed it when she was happy and affectionate like this. It'd been the same way with her mother.

Glancing unconsciously toward Ellie, he was surprised to find she'd stopped her work and was watching them. She gave him a small smile when their gazes met, and he immediately straightened to his feet.

182

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Ellie dragged off her gloves as she strolled his way. "I completely forgot you were coming today."

Boston jammed his hands in his pockets because they were itching to reach for the stray hair clinging to her cheek.

He forced his attention to the felled tree. "Hmm, I have no idea what might've caused you to forget."

Ellie gave him another smile and looked over at the tree as well. "Yeah, a storm passed through last night."

"I saw that on the Weather Channel. But I didn't realize it'd been so bad."

He took an instinctive step back as Nora Young joined them. The last time he'd talked to her, she'd been ready to tear his head off. Not sure if he was still listed on her bad side, he held his breath until she spoke.

"Thank God you're here. Ellie's been on the phone all morning trying to get a hold of a yard-cleaning service. But with the storm that came through last night, they're all tied up." She looked at him expectantly.

He opened his mouth to respond but Ellie broke in,

"Boston's only here to visit Cassie. I'll take care of the yard myself." She glanced at him with a meaningful look. "One of the services should call me back any minute." When a ringing came from her back porch, she brightened. "That's probably one of them now." She turned away and hurried to her deck where she'd left her portable phone.