Sutherland’s Pride Read Online Free PDF

said, with determination. “Or my son’s life. So long as Flynn is the slightest bit unsure about who Johnny’s father is, he will get no rights to Johnny.”
    On that, she refused to budge. Her son deserved a father who loved and wanted him. She intended to keep him very far away from Flynn if Flynn so much as hinted at even a tiny little doubt.
    She turned her back to let Gloria raise the zipper of the blue-green silk dress and stared at herself in the mirror. Yes, she looked a lot like the Pride Donovan Flynn remembered, and if she tried very hard, she could discuss something other than baby and child care.
    The silk dress accentuated her small waist, and the shimmering blue-green color made her eyes look like blue jewels. The only difference between her and the old Pride Donovan was the mass of tawny curls that fell over her shoulders. In Pride’s opinion, the new hair color was a definite improvement.
    Dinner with Flynn Sutherland. Pride smiled at her freckled self in the mirror and wondered what had gotten into her. More to the point, what had gotten into Flynn? He had made it very clear just what he thought of her and her morals three years ago.
    “You’re gorgeous, freckles and all,” Gloria said. “You’ll knock old Flynn’s socks off.”
    “Great. He can eat his heart out.” Pride picked up a tiny, leather clutch, checked its contents, and tucked it beneath her arm. “I’d better go kiss Johnny goodnight, or we’ll have a little boy trying to follow us out the door.”
    Johnny and Sylvia had already been tucked into the bed in Pride’s old bedroom. Johnny was wide awake when Pride entered. He sat up.
    “Johnny Donovan, you’re supposed to be asleep,” Pride said. “Get back under those covers. You aren’t going anywhere.”
    Johnny pleaded, adding tears when his mother remained adamant.
    “No, sir. You’ve had a busy day today, what with eating Flynn’s watch. You need some sleep so your digestive system can get to work on that watch stem.”
    Johnny retired beneath the covers, sniffing pitifully.
    “That’s better.” Pride leaned down to kiss her son. “Go to sleep, sweetheart. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    She walked into the living room, where Eric and Tracy played with plastic trucks. It had changed little since the day she had last walked out three years before. The heavy green velour carpet was accentuated by the white brocade sofa and padded chairs. Nothing had happened to the pristine furniture yet, but Pride didn’t hold out much hope for it, what with four active youngsters in the house.
    “I feel awful, letting them play in here.” Gloria gestured at the white furniture.
    “I hope they wreck it.” Pride grimaced. “I used to be afraid to even sit in here.”
    The doorbell sounded. Pride, conscious of an acceleration of her heartbeat, hastened to open it.
    Flynn stared at her. “You look beautiful.”
    “Thank you.” She smiled at him in the manner of one old friend acknowledging another. “So do you.”
    His white-streaked, dark blond hair had been tamed to sweep across his tanned forehead, and his brown eyes beneath the level brows were dark with unidentifiable emotion. He held out a hand to take hers.
    “Flynn’s.”
    Pride whirled. Johnny approached at a run, having shed his pajama bottoms somewhere along the way. He had spotted the watch on Flynn’s wrist and wanted to re-stake his claim.
    “Oh, no, you don’t.” She scooped him up. “You’re supposed to be in bed, young man. What did you do with your pajamas? Shame on you. Sorry, Flynn. I’ll be back with you in a moment.”
    “Flynn’s,” Johnny pleaded, stretching his arms toward Flynn.
    “That’s about the size of it,” Pride said. “It’s Flynn’s, not yours, and you can’t have it. It’s bedtime.”
    Johnny fought but was overruled. He filed motion after motion for a review of his case, but his clever tactics only won him a promise of corporal punishment.
    He quieted, but his sharp