Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(72)

He growled and grabbed a handful of his own hair. "Damn it, Elora," he gritted out. "What do I have to say to convince you—"

"Nothing," she said, pacing across the living room to gain some space. "Trust me. You've said quite enough."

Boston froze and looked at her as if she'd struck him. The instant hurt she saw in his eyes made her want to apologize, but she kept her mouth stubbornly shut.

Then he snapped his fingers and smiled. "Ah..." he cooed, his gaze lighting with delight. "Now I understand."

Ellie plopped a hand on her hip. "And just what do you think you understand?"

"You're scared."

She laughed out a snort. "Scared? You think I'm going out on a date tonight because I'm scared?"

He grinned and nodded. "Yes."

"And what, pray tell, am I so scared of?"

"You're scared to believe it's the real thing this time between us. You don't want to trust it because last time hurt so bad. Well, let me tell you something, Ellie. I'm scared too.

I'm scared I'm going to do something else wrong, and I'll end up losing you and Cassie all over again. But I'm willing to take that risk.

267

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"You may think history is just going to repeat itself, but I can't believe that. Because I'm not the same person I was ten years ago, and you aren't either. Things change, people grow and mature. But other things stay the same, like the way I've always felt about you. I don't care how much you resist and run from it, it's still going to be there between us. I'm still going to be here. I love you, damn it, and I'll wait as long as I have to until you're ready to come around."

He loved her?

Wait.

"What?"

Totally not expecting that confession, Ellie dropped her mouth open. He seemed to realized what he'd just told her a half a second later when his own face filled with color.

He sucked in a surprised gasp. "Oh, God," he whispered.

He didn't retract his words, but the look on his face made her think he was going to be physically ill for confessing them aloud.

They stared at each other, both clueless as to what to say now.

The ringing of the doorbell had each of them jumping. Ellie yelped and turned in surprise.

Oh, no.

No, no, no.

That couldn't be Ted. He was way too early. She stared hard at the door and then glanced toward Boston. He stared right back at her. At her panicked look, he lifted his eyebrows. "Want me to get that?"

268

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"No," she said quickly. Too quickly. But God, no. There was no way she wanted him to meet Ted. Hell, there was no way she wanted to see the two men standing next to each other.

It'd be too obvious which one was better looking, better smelling, better everything.

"I got it," she mumbled needlessly. Boston trailed casually behind her. She sent him a brief back-off scowl before she reached for the handle. He didn't budge.

To her horror, it was indeed her date standing on the front porch.

"You're early," she blurted out. After glancing down at her wrist, she nearly groaned aloud. " Really early."

But Ted merely grinned. "I couldn't wait." He thrust a bouquet of bright lilies at her.

"Oh!" she said in surprise, noticing them for the first time.

"Ah...thank you."

"Ready?" he asked.

Ellie bit her lip. "Actually, no. I'm sorry, but not quite yet."

That was when Ted noticed Boston hovering slightly behind her and to the right.

His smile faded.

"Hello," Boston said, moving closer to Ellie in such a territorial way Ted actually shrank back a pace. "You must be the date." After scowling at the flowers, he sent Ellie a sideways look. "I thought roses were your favorite?"

She cleared her throat and shifted her weight with one foot to grind the heel of her shoes into Boston's loafer. The muffled grunt behind her made her glow.

269

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Ted," she said, beaming at him as she showed him inside.

"This is Cassidy's father, Boston Kincaid. He's just here to pick her up for their weekend together."

Ted's shoulders relaxed. He actually smiled a friendly greeting. "Hey," he said and held at his hand.

As they shook, Ellie continued. "Boston, this is Ted..." Her face filled with color as Ted's last name completely escaped her memory.

Both men paused to stare at her. Boston lifted one mocking brow, on the verge of outright laughing.

"Barnaby," Ted supplied, his cheeks a bright tomato red.

Ellie snapped her fingers and smiled brightly at Ted.

"Barnaby, that's right." Starting to ramble, she said, "I don't know where my head is..." Probably still reliving Boston's I love you over and over again. "I kept wanting to say Murdock, but, no, that's your partner."

"Partner?" Boston asked curiously. Ellie shot him a look to shut him up, but he completely ignored her as he stared at Ted with interest. "Are you a lawyer?"

"I co-own Barnaby & Murdock here in town," Ted was eager to report.