Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(88)

He scowled. "I don't plan on it ever being over. What I have in mind for us is pretty damn permanent."

Lifting her face in surprise, Ellie sucked in a breath. "What are you saying?"

His expression changed. And she knew exactly what he was going to say. She couldn't believe it. And she couldn't stop the leap of joy that consumed her.

But just as he opened his mouth, the phone rang. Ellie yelped. Being two inches from her bare leg, it vibrated through her thigh.

Boston cursed. After checking the caller ID, he picked up the receiver and snapped, "She's still here," and hung up again. His eyes slid toward Ellie. "Cameron," he said.

She smiled. "Dying of curiosity, is he?"

"He can go ahead and die," Boston grumbled. Then he grinned. "I guess we should be thankful he didn't just walk over and ask about you."

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Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

Ellie glanced warily toward the closed door. "Should we lock that?"

"Nah. He knows better. Besides, if he does come over, I owe him a peek at you anyway."

Ellie jerked upright. "Say what?"

Boston grinned. "I accidentally saw Olivia naked once. It's only fair to let him see you."

Frowning, Ellie covered her breasts with one arm. "I don't see how that's fair at all."

Boston's smile spread as he bent over her and kissed her bare stomach. "He never stops razzing me about seeing Livy and being jealous of what he's got. But if he were to see you right here, just like this, he'd never call me jealous again."

Ellie couldn't help but experience a spark of power, realizing Boston thought she could compete with the striking Olivia Banks. Still, she shook her head in amused disapproval.

"You two have the strangest friendship."

"Yeah," he agreed on a smile and plopped down until his head was next to hers. "When we were kids, I couldn't stand him."

"Hmm. That's what your mother told me." Ellie turned on her side to face him. "What changed?"

"Actually, it was you." He reached up to brush her hair behind her ear.

Ellie frowned in confusion. "Me?"

He laughed. "God, Ellie, walking away from you that day in the hospital hurt...a lot. I lost the love of my life and my baby all in one blow. I couldn't tell anyone about it either, because I was so ashamed of what I'd done and hadn't done. Then 327

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

suddenly, there was Cameron drunk and pathetic because his first wife had killed herself. And, I don't know, I just latched onto him. I knew exactly what kind of pain he was feeling; there was this instant bond between us."

Boston laughed suddenly as he remembered it. "Hell, he probably didn't even know it, but I was looking to him for sympathy as much as he was looking to me for it. We've been close ever since."

Ellie touched his face, charmed and saddened by his story.

"I never thought about what it would do to you, telling you Cassie was dead. I...didn't know it'd actually hurt you. God, Boston, I'm so sorry. I didn't—"

"Shh." He set a finger over her lips. "Let's not relive old regrets." Taking her hand and bringing it to his mouth to kiss her knuckles, he added, "As long as you let me stick around for the next baby, I forgive you completely. Besides, I don't plan on screwing things up the way I did last time either, so you shouldn't be forced into making that kind of decision."

Eyes opening in surprise, Ellie blinked and gaped at him.

"Next baby?"

His eyes twinkled as he smile. "I'll take another little girl if you don't mind."

"Another little..." Her voice died off as she started to repeat him.

"I mean, look at what a great job we did on Cass...and she was a complete accident." He looked at her with hot, wanting eyes as he curled his body closer and nuzzled his nose against her neck. "So, just think what a baby girl would be like if we actually planned her."

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Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Excuse me," Ellie said, sitting up and staring down at Boston as if he were insane. "But it's hard enough to be a single parent of one...and you want me to have another?"

"Single parent?" he said in confusion. "Who said anything about being a single parent?"

Ellie arched a brow, waiting for him to say what she wanted to hear.

"Oh, come on," he said. "I'm not going to propose here.

What'll we tell Cassie when she asks how I asked you to marry me...that we were both buck naked on my secretary's desk, languid from an earth-shattering climax? I think not."

Ellie arched an eyebrow. "So, what are you suggesting then, Mr. Kincaid?"

He grinned. "Well, first, I'd like to buy a ring." He paused and sent her a thoughtful look. "Are you more into diamonds, rubies, emeralds or sapphires?"

Her mouth fell open. "Boston," she whispered.

He shrugged. "Okay, I'll just guess then."

He smiled when she gasped.

"Then," he went on, reaching out to walk his fingers up her leg, "I'm going to take you somewhere nice to eat. We can bring Cassie if you want. And as they carry out the main course, the ring will be served on a silver tray—not in the food, of course. Then it'd be too sticky for you to wear. But as you're gaping at it, kind of like you're staring at me right now, I'll get down on one knee, right there in front of the whole restaurant full of complete strangers, and ask you to be my wife."