Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(6)

Why couldn't he breathe?

Questions mounted, time ticked on, and Boston continued to wait...and sweat. As sure as the neighbor had been about Ellie's ETA, he grew anxious. Something wasn't right. He remembered her as always being prompt too. So, why wasn't she home yet?

It made him wonder if someone really had pulled a hoax on him. If they had, he wasn't amused. If someone was messing with him, they'd pay. Plotting the demise of his unknown prankster, Boston didn't realize another fifteen minutes had passed until an old Toyota Corolla minus a muffler pulled into the drive.

As the car shuddered to a stop and the engine coughed out its last breath, Boston pushed to his feet. He spotted one occupant—a lone woman—inside. No child sat in the 28

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

passenger seat or even in the back. Frowning, he moved to the top of the steps.

She didn't notice him. Instead, she opened the driver's side door, slid out, and immediately moved to the trunk to pop it open. He folded his arms over his chest, waiting for her attention.

The lady looked to be the same height and size as the Ellie he remembered. If it was her, she hadn't gained any weight except maybe to grow a few new curves. But after ten years, that was completely possible.

Then it happened.

Before reaching down to retrieve whatever was in the trunk, she pushed a piece of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. The move was so Ellie like, it caused Boston to catch his breath in bittersweet memory of the girl he'd fallen for all those years ago.

It also provided him with a better view of her face.

He sucked in air, forcing oxygen back into his lungs. Oh yeah, his all-knowing gut surprised him with an acidic rumble of recognition. He'd found Ellie all right.

Features that still bore the wholesome girl-next-door had bloomed and turned into the strikingly beautiful TV

commercial-mom look.

Her hair appeared lighter. There were now blonde streaks among the dark tresses. She wore the mane shorter than she had ten years ago too. But, wow, this was definitely her.

His stomach tightened as he watched her pull two bags of groceries from the trunk, shut it with her elbow, and finally turn his way.

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Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Ellie, something soft and nostalgic murmured through his bloodstream, startling him with its longing. Ten years melted away and his body grew taut, remembering more than it should. But he knew the sweet memories would drown in bitter reality as soon as she lifted her face and noticed him.

He gritted his teeth, almost reluctant for things to get underway, yet all too aware there was no way out of it now.

She was bound to see him any second.

Three, two, one...

Ellie was running late.

Her boss, Winston Young, had to be the most forgetful, careless man ever. She'd wanted to clock out early so she could stop by the grocery store and be home in enough time to have supper fixed before Cassie was due back. But Mr. Oh-I-forgot-I-need-a-memo-typed-before-tomorrow had plopped a stack of papers on her desk at four thirty, and she'd suddenly remembered why she couldn't stand lawyers.

They lied and lied and left you nothing but a heaping mess to clean up. And mess was the exact word she'd use for the unorganized pile of junk Winston had left her. She began to understand half an hour later why Winston always talked his clients into pleading out on a case. He probably didn't think he could keep his paperwork around long enough to ever make it to a trial.

After filing the last document into its proper drawer, she'd slapped Winston's last-minute memo onto his desk, wished him a good evening, and hurried toward the exit, tugging her purse strap onto her shoulder as she fled. She didn't even 30

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

hear all of his, "'Bye then. See you tomorrow," before she shut the door snuggly in his face.

Her quick grocery run proved to be not-so-quick ten minutes later when she stepped foot inside the store and realized they were having a sale on meat. The place was packed, the checkout lines overflowing, and the aisles overrun with customers. Deciding she wasn't going to have time to cook, Ellie snatched two salad meals from the produce section and hurried along.

Cassie would grumble about salad for supper. But they were coated with meats and vegetables and cheese and were about the healthiest quick meal Ellie could buy on the run.

And no, Ellie wasn't going to waste time fixing a complete meal. Supper was at six, so she'd have food on the table at six when her daughter made it home from tumbling practice...no matter what.

As she pulled into her drive, she grinned at her perfect little neighborhood and cut the engine of her car that actually ran...most of the time. She hurried to unload her groceries and was just starting to turn toward the front door when she noticed the car parked at the curb.

Living where she did, she was used to pricey automobiles cruising her block. To the left of her house, the Young family owned a loaded Escalade and a Mercedes Benz, and her neighbors to the right drove a Bentley. For a shiny new Infiniti to be parked directly in front of her sidewalk, however, was unusual. She glanced up and down the street, wondering if maybe one of her neighbors was having a get-together, and the Infiniti had merely been looking for a spot to rest. But, 31

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

no, the roadside wasn't crowded with an overabundance of parked vehicles. Therefore, there was really no reason for someone to park directly in front of her place.