Return of the Prodigal Son Read Online Free PDF Page A

struggled to keep up with the impatient strides.
    When Andi realized that her son wasn’t following, she turned. “Cory. Come with us.”
    “Why?” He held back, hands on his hips.
    “You can give me a hand unpacking.”
    “Sounds like a lot of fun.” The boy dug his hands in his pockets and trailed behind, calling glumly, “‘Bye, Donovan. Sorry about—” he shrugged “—you know.”
    “It’s okay. See you.” Donovan stayed where he was, watching until they rounded the bend in the road.
    As a lifetime member of a loud and overbearing family, he considered himself something of an expert on family dynamics. This was a family that was hurting. It was obvious that the little girl was so shy she tried to be invisible. Cory was a wounded, angry rebel, ready to break all the rules he could. Donovan had to smile at that. He’d know a thing or two about being a rebel.
    Then there was their mother.
    As he made his way back to the house, Donovan thought about Andi Brady. For someone so young, she had her hands full. A dead husband with a checkered past, a ton of unwanted notoriety and a couple of troubled kids. He’d bet any amount of money that her friends were probably avoiding her and her creditors were circling around, ready to jump in at their first opportunity to clear their own debt at her expense.
    Still, she wasn’t at all what he’d been expecting. He didn’t know how he’d missed her the first time around, when he’d been in college and she in high school. A man would have to be blind not to notice a woman like that.
    It would seem that Champion Mackenzie’s little sister had definitely grown up.
    “Here, Cory.” Andi began unpacking a box of clothing. “I’ll put your clothes on the bed and you can hang them in your closet.”
    He leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. His look, as always lately, was one of defiance. “Why can’t you hang them?”
    “Because it’s your closet. You may as well arrange them the way you’d like.”
    Andi turned away and began hauling out shirts, jeans and assorted jackets and sweats. As she worked she thought about what Champ had told her. He’d managed to persuade Donovan to look into Adam’s case. Though her own hope had begun to fade, she had to keep trying, for the sake of her children. Champ had said that if anyone could find a needle in a haystack it was Donovan Lassiter.
    Donovan Lassiter. She went very still, her work forgotten.
    The first time she’d met him, in her brother’s dorm, she’d been completely tongue-tied. Champ had warned her about his roommate, and had filled her in on the family history. While her girlfriends had flirted shamelessly, she’d hung back, too afraid to even speak to him. Like all teenage girls she found the solemn, moody Donovan a romantic figure. She’d even begun to weave a few fantasies about him. In her mind’s eye, she saw herself bringing a smile to those angry lips and a gleam in those steely blue eyes. But once she immersed herself in college life, Donovan Lassiter had faded into a pleasant, romantic memory. Though she’d never completely forgotten him, she’d been startled by the intense feelings evoked by their little encounter just now. She’d felt that same impact when she’d looked into his eyes. And the touch of him had left her almost paralyzed.
    She turned to look out the window at his house on the hill. It was almost completely hidden in the woods that surrounded it. Somehow she thought that would suit Donovan Lassiter. From what her brother had told her, he hadn’t changed much from that solitary, lonely young rebel. Still, she was determined to go along with whatever demands he made on her children. If she had to, she’d keep them locked inside the house all day. It was little enough price to pay for what he might do for them in return.
    “Mom?”
    Cory’s voice broke through her thoughts.
    “You’ve folded and unfolded that sweatshirt a dozen times now. Want me to stash it