Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(49)

As soon as she was ten feet away, though, Nora whirled to him.

183

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"I'd like to apologize for absconding with your son the other night," he said before she could speak. "I honestly had no intention of scaring you."

She blinked a few time, clearly startled by his remorse.

"Well," she said, clearly not sure what to say. "I guess if Ellie's forgiven you, so can I. I actually gave you permission to take Keller to Chuck E. Cheese's, and besides, he's back now. No harm, no fowl. I'm willing to let bygones be bygones.

If..." she added archly, making him lift a curious brow. "You give Ellie a hand with cleaning up her yard."

For a moment, he could only blink at her. Then he finally asked, "You actually think I'd let her take care of a mess this big by herself?"

"Haven't you before?" she asked, glancing Cassie's way.

Biting back a nasty retort, Boston cleared his throat and quietly answered, "I don't think you know enough about me to make that kind of observation."

Her eyes narrowing a little too perceptively on his face, she said, "Or maybe I know too much."

The chainsaw in her own yard stopped and the man running it yelled, "Keller! Stop playing around and come pick up these sticks." Then he glanced Boston and Nora's way.

"Nora. I need you."

"Be right there, dearest," Nora called back, her voice so sweet, it sounded fake even to her husband, who scowled before returning to his chainsaw and starting it again.

"That's my husband, Dr. Mendel Young," Nora murmured to Boston, watching her husband work. "He's a cheating bastard too."

184

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

She turned to Boston, eyebrows arched in challenge.

He gave a slight nod of defeat. "Then I guess he and I will get along fine together, won't we?"

"I was right," Ellie said, breaking into the conversation as she hurried over, a bit breathless from her rush. "That was a lawn service calling me back."

"And?" Nora asked.

Looking momentarily uncomfortable, Ellie glanced toward Boston before answering, "They can be here in two weeks no problem."

"Two weeks!" Nora exploded. "Oh, Ellie. That's awful."

"Got a chainsaw?" Boston asked.

Ellie's head snapped around. She stared at him as if he were crazy. "No."

He nodded even as he pulled his iPhone from his pocket.

Dialing a number, he returned his attention to her as he waited for someone to answer.

"Boston, you don't have to worry about my yard," she started. "Why don't you take Cassie somewhere and spend the day with—"

But he held up a finger, cutting her off. "Hey, beautiful,"

he spoke into the cell, grinning as he did so. "Can I talk to your loser husband?"

After pausing to wait a moment, he spoke into the receiver. "You using your chainsaw today? Yeah, Ellie's got a tree down in her yard. It's pretty big."

He glanced her way and said, "Sure, we could use that...or better yet, grab Monty and bring his trailer. There's enough tree here for a few ricks. Great. Thanks. Oh, and stop by my 185

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

place on your way to grab an extra pair of work clothes for me."

After rattling off Ellie's address, he disconnected and turned toward the women. With a proud nod, Nora grinned and was off toward her own yard. Ellie didn't look so grateful.

"Got a trash bag and a rake?" he said before she could start.

She nodded. "Yes, I have a rake. But I don't want you to worry about any of this. This is my yard, Boston. It's not your problem."

He turned away and called, "Hey, Cass. Come here."

The girl had been in the Young yard with Keller, picking up twigs and sticks. But at her father's voice, she hurried his way. As she approached, he knelt down to talk on her level.

"You want to make some money today?"

Lured by that offer, she moved closer. "Sure."

"Uncle Cam and Uncle Monty are going to be here soon.

We're going to help your mom clean up this yard. It sure would be a big help if you could rake all the small twigs into a pile. I'll pay you ten bucks an hour."

"Okay," she said brightly.

"And if you do a good job," he added, tugging playfully on her ponytail as he pushed back to his feet, "I'll make sure you get pizza for lunch."

"All right!" she cheered.

"Then get to work, young lady," he said, clapping his hands. She hooted and raced off toward the small shed by the back of the house.

186

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Good Lord, Boston," Ellie commented, clearly amused.

"Ten dollars an hour? I would've raked the yard for half that."

Boston turned to her, his smile growing. "Oh, I have other plans for you."

By noon, Ellie was sweating her butt off. It'd taken a good hour for Boston's brother and cousin to arrive. The two men had been impatient for an introduction, refusing to start any work until they met her, which threw her for a loop. She hadn't expected any of Boston's family to want to meet her, much less be excited about the prospect. So, this...eagerness they had to simply talk to her caught her totally off guard.