Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(5)

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

yard and dash under a shrub, envy filled him. But running and hiding wasn't an option. It was time for answers.

Letting out a long breath, he fisted his shaking hand and knocked. After thirty seconds, he pressed the doorbell and knocked again. Two minutes later, he peeked in the window but couldn't see anything past the heavy curtain.

No one was home.

Not sure if he should be relieved or only more agitated, Boston turned around and jogged off the porch. He was halfway down the walkway when he saw movement from the corner of his eye. He whirled, braced to face anything.

A woman in bright yellow capris and a black blouse threw him off track, however, as she came from the yard of the house to the left, bearing down on him like a female on a mission.

He groaned deep in this throat. Great. A nosy neighbor.

That was the last thing he wanted to handle. But with her already headed determinedly his way, he knew he'd look silly if he made a dash for it. So, he plastered a tight smile to his mouth and nodded to her in greeting.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked, glancing curiously at his car sitting at the curb and then back to him.

She sounded nice enough, but it was clear she was doing a security check for the home's owner.

Boston opened his mouth, slid his hands into his back pockets, and turned to eye the brown house. "I..."

What could he say? I'm just wondering if I have a nine-year-old daughter and if she lives here.

Daughter.

25

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Holy God, the mere word made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Was he a father? Had he been one for nearly a decade?

Then it struck him that this woman would know who lived here. Since she obviously had concerns about strangers lurking in the yard, she'd surely know who owned the miniscule brown house.

Pointing at the front door, he forced a pleasant smile. "I was just waiting for Ellie to get home."

There. Now he'd get some answers. If neighbor woman frowned and said, "Ellie? Ellie who?" he'd know this was some kind of awful prank.

But the woman's shoulders eased at his words. "Oh," she said. Her eyebrows lifted and her gaze quickly traveled down his body. "Are you...a friend of Ellie's?"

Boston nearly groaned again. Oh, brother. Not only was she a nosy neighbor, but she was one of those matchmaking busybodies who wanted to know about everyone's love life.

The word, "No," spat out of his mouth before he could check himself.

Neighbor Lady frowned, making Boston flush.

"I mean, I'm..." He floundered. Then he thought of Cassie.

"I'm a relative," he finished. If Ellie did live here, then it only made sense Cassidy Trenton existed. That would definitely put him in the role of the absentee father. And yes, one could definitely say a father was related.

Ms. Nosy frowned even more at his answer; he almost rolled his eyes. She wasn't going to back off, was she?

26

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"It's been a while since I've seen her," he offered, hoping to appease her curiosity. "Cassie..." He faltered, cleared his throat, and tried again. "Her daughter wasn't even born yet."

Relief crossed her face as his story meshed with what she knew about the occupants of the brown house. A sickened feeling filled him. It was true then. Ellie lived here with her daughter, Cassie.

"Well, my goodness," the neighbor said, looking suddenly very comfortable with him. "It has been a while then, hasn't it?"

Boston nodded and rubbed his hand on his pant leg, hoping she would go away so he could commence a panic attack in peace. But, dear Lord, how could it be true? Ellie had told him the baby was dead. Why would she lie? Why—

"Is Ellie expecting you?"

He lifted his face. The word no was on the tip of his tongue, but he changed his mind at the last second and nodded yes. "But I made it to town a lot sooner than I expected," he lied. "I don't remember when she said she'd be home. Do you..."

"Ellie always gets home at five thirty," helpful neighbor lady answered before he could finish his question. Then she grinned and rolled her eyes. "I swear you can set a clock by Elora Trenton's schedule."

Trenton. So, she was still going by her maiden name.

Either Ellie was single or she hadn't taken her husband's name. The Ellie he remembered was traditional. She'd take on her husband's surname if she was married. So, he had to assume she hadn't met someone else and created a child with 27

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

that person. Then again, why would she name some other man's daughter Cassie?

Boston checked his watch. Fifteen minutes after five.

"Thank you," he offered the woman. "I guess I'll just wait then."

After the woman finally faded back toward her own yard, Boston returned to the porch, where he remembered seeing a wicker chair. The fragile wood creaked and groaned as he sat.

Hooking one ankle over his opposite knee, he settled back and waited.

Fifteen minutes later, his foot jiggled impatiently and his fingers tapped rapidly against the wicker armrest. Okay, it was five thirty. Where the hell was Ellie? Where was Cassie?