Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(63)

Cringing because she hadn't meant to oust him, Ellie glanced anxiously his way. Boston's face had drained of color, and he looked guiltier than she'd ever seen him look before.

It stung that he was more ashamed for his family to find out the truth than he'd been when she'd discovered his indiscretion.

"Holy hell, Bos," Cameron breathed. "I can't believe it."

"You didn't really cheat on her, did you?" Olivia whispered, her blue eyes wide and hopeful.

Experiencing the strange need to defend him since it had been her big mouth that put him on the spot, Ellie lifted her hand and said, "But that was a long time ago. We've already hashed it out and—"

"I don't care if it was a hundred years ago," Helena interrupted loudly. "Boston Robert Kincaid, you should be ashamed of yourself. How could you have sex with another women when—"

234

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Will you shut up," Boston hissed, slinking even further in his seat. "Mom and Dad are only ten feet away. Do you want them to hear—"

"Yes, actually, I do," Helena cut in. "You had sex—"

"Shh," Boston gritted out. "They do not need to know, and besides, I didn't have sex with her."

Ellie whirled toward him. "Yes, you did."

He blew out a long, slow, steadying breath before lifting his gaze Ellie's way. "No. I didn't."

"But—"

"Ellie," he cut in irritably. "I was there. You weren't. So, you don't know. There was no sex involved. Okay?"

"Then what exactly did you do with this other woman?"

Helena wanted to know.

Sending a look to kill his sister's way, Boston growled,

"None of your damn business. Only Ellie has the right to ask me that."

Four pair of eyes turned expectantly Ellie's way. She jumped. "I'm not going to ask," she yelped. "I don't want to know. It doesn't matter now, anyway. It happened a long time ago."

"Please, Ellie," Cheyenne started. "I'm curious."

"Stop it," Boston hissed. "We are not going to talk about this. Next topic, please."

"But—"

"Cheyenne," he growled.

Annoyed at him for snapping at his own sister, Ellie straightened her spine. "I changed my mind. I want to know."

235

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Ha!" Cheyenne taunted as Boston turned to send Ellie an incredulous look.

"I thought it was a long time ago," he said. "Water under the bridge and all that."

Ellie shrugged. "So I'm curious. Sue me."

Boston filled his cheeks with air and then blew out a breath. After taking a moment to run a hand through his hair, he got to his feet. "If you want to know, fine, I'll tell you. But not here. Not in front of these snoopy—"

"Oh, come on," Helena argued. "We'll just get her to tell us what you said."

But Boston zapped a killer look her way. "Butt out. This isn't your affair."

"Well, obviously," she snorted. "It was yours."

Sighing, Boston turned back to Ellie. When he held a hand down to her, she glanced up at his face and studied his silent, probing stare. An echo of all the pain and heartbreak this man had ever given her shimmered through her. She knew she was damning herself for going with him, but she did it anyway.

"Okay," she murmured, ignoring his hand and rising to her feet. "I'll listen to your story."

"Go, Ellie," Cheyenne cheered. "Make him get on hands and knees and beg for forgiveness."

Both Boston and Ellie frowned cantankerously at his sister.

Then Boston turned away, and Ellie found herself helpless to follow. He weaved through the crowds, and Ellie was all too aware of all the people watching her and Boston as they exited a side doorway together.

236

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Everyone is watching us," she murmured.

"Yeah, well, this was your idea." He kept a steady stalk down the quiet hall before he turned abruptly and disappeared through a doorway.

Ellie followed. She found herself in a study with a desk holding a computer in the center and shelves lining the walls.

Behind her, Boston shut the door with a click.

She jumped.

"So, what do you want to know?" he asked, coming straight to the point.

Turning slowly, she found all the courage she'd had at the table—where she'd been surrounded by his loud family—was gone. "Look, Boston," she said. "It's okay. I don't—"

"No, you want to know the truth," he bit out. "So, I'm telling you the truth. Just tell me where to start?"

She pressed a hand to her chest. "Fine then. I want to know exactly what you did with Heather Grimaldi?"

There. It was asked. She could wish the question away all she wanted. But it didn't matter. It was out there now, and he'd heard it perfectly.

Blowing out a breath, he gingerly stepped closer until he was only two feet away. "Do you really want to know?"

She took a second to think about it. Did she really want to know? It wouldn't change anything. What happened had already happened.