Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(59)

The more he had dodged family topics, though, the more she'd wanted to know about them. She'd been so sure he must have awful parents who were pressuring him to do well in school and get into Yale. They had to be rich and socially elite, only concerned with upholding a superior reputation.

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Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

But then she'd been in calculus class one day and the teacher had been handing back graded tests. When he'd called out the name Montgomery Kincaid, a guy, looking astonishingly like Boston, had lifted his hand. Blinking, Ellie studied him for so long, he'd glanced her way as if he could feel her stare. Flushing, she quickly jerked back around in her seat.

From then on, she'd paid sharp attention to Mr.

Montgomery Kincaid. And it didn't take long to realize he was indeed related to Boston. She'd actually heard him mention his brother to his friend he always hung out with.

So sure he had this high-nosed snob of a family, Ellie had been shocked to realize Boston had a normal-acting brother.

It confused her that Boston wouldn't even mention him.

Today, on the way to see them again, Ellie held no such disillusions. Boston's family wasn't awful. In fact, they seemed pretty close to him. From everything she'd heard Cassie tell her, they were very involved in his life. He'd only kept them from her because she hadn't been important enough to meet them.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, realizing the only reason she was meeting them now was because she was Cassie's mother. And it did nothing to ease her anxiety. Instead of trying to be nice because she was with Boston, they were going to study her and ask themselves what was wrong with her, what had she done to lose him?

They were going to hate her.

When Boston slowed the car and pulled into a huge, elegant drive that was already packed with at least a dozen 220

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

automobiles, her heart literally stopped beating for a nanosecond. When it thumped back into gear, it started again so hard, it nearly cracked her ribcage.

"Libby's already here!" Cassie cheered from the backseat.

Her daughter was out of the car as soon as Boston pressed on the brake. Feeling deserted, Ellie watched Cassie race across the lawn to where a group of kids were already gathered and playing.

Next to her, Boston chuckled. "Such enthusiasm," he said, killing the engine and unbuckling his seatbelt. He opened his driver's side door and began to exit before he realized Ellie wasn't following. Pausing, he glanced over his shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

She sent him a panic-stricken expression. For the life of her, she couldn't control the fear. She couldn't even appear to be strong in front of him. "I can't do it," she blurted out. "I can't go in there."

"What? Why not?"

She gnashed her teeth, refusing to tell him. But the words still bubbled their way from her throat. "You know what they're going to think of me."

Boston's eyes flared. He pulled his foot back into the car and turned to her fully. "Ellie," he said calmly. "No one thinks badly of you. And no one is going to say anything bad to you either. Trust me. They're all more disappointed in me because I didn't stick around long enough to make sure you really weren't pregnant." Quietly reaching out, he took her hand and gave a reassuring squeeze.

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Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Come on," he murmured. "I promise I won't let anyone stamp any large letters on you or call you any names."

Ellie snorted at his joke. But it helped to make her realize how much of a weenie she was being. Blowing out a long breath, she pushed open the car door.

They entered his parents' house through the back. Ellie could hear the multitude of voices as soon as Boston opened the door and stepped aside to let her go first.

"Good," he said from behind her. "We made it in time for the food. They're too loud to be eating."

They'd just entered a kitchen when a beautiful, busty yet petite blonde walked into the room. She grinned when she saw them, or rather when she saw Boston.

"Boston! Baby, what took you so long to get here?"

He paused and sent the woman a hot, flirtatious grin.

"Miss me?"

The blonde fluttered her lashes and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Always," she answered and gave him a long, yet closed-mouth kiss as she leaned into him.

Ellie couldn't help but arch an eyebrow as she watched.

Boston pulled away and grinned at the woman, pressing his forehead to hers and murmuring a quiet greeting. And even as the envy and irrational jealousy zipped through her bloodstream, Ellie felt someone sidle up beside her. When a male arm looped companionably around her shoulder, she jumped and turned.

The dancing green eyes she found twinkling her way surprised her almost as much as the wide, welcoming smile.

"Hey there, Ellie," Cameron Banks greeted. "I didn't know Bos 222

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

was bringing you along. But thank God you're here. Because I really need some help keeping this guy in line." He finally glanced toward Boston then, his eyes narrowing as he sighed in disappointment.

"You know," he said conversationally, tilting his head toward hers as they studied Boston and the blonde together.