Sutherland’s Pride Read Free Page A

Flynn Sutherland. Please come in.”
    “It might be better if I sit out here with the children while you talk to Pride,” Gloria said. “If you have anything important to discuss, things could get a little distracting.”
    “I doubt if Daddy’s will can be classified as important.” Pride winked at Gloria. “You might as well come on in. It’ll be our laugh for the day.”
    Flynn said nothing. He stood aside and held the door while Gloria and Pride herded their charges inside his office.
    Flynn’s office boasted a comfortable sofa, which Gloria and Pride both settled on, with two children between them and one on each side.
    Flynn closed the door and took in the five pairs of expectant brown eyes and the single pair of wary green eyes that focused on him.
    “You look like six owls on a wire,” he observed.
    “That’s because we’re all so wise,” Pride intoned. With Gloria and the children present, she found herself almost able to deal with him. “Come on, Flynn. Don’t keep us in suspense. We want to know if we can buy our tickets to Bermuda now, or do we have to wait a thousand years, while the penny Daddy left me accrues interest.”
    “Your filial respect is impressive,” Flynn said.
    “If I had ever developed any filial respect, no doubt it would impress me, too,” Pride said, with equal dryness. “Skip the boring parts and acquaint us with the interesting stuff. The kids want to get outside and play.”
    “Hold your horses.” Flynn walked to his desk and perched on the corner of it, studying her. “Let me look at you a minute.”
    Pride looked back at him, studying him in the same way he studied her. The past three years hadn’t been as kind to her as they apparently had to Flynn.
    “That hair color suits you,” he said, at last. “I like it.”
    “Thank you.” Pride firmly squelched the upsurge of pleasure.
    “What happened to your freckles?”
    “My freckles?” She blinked, surprised. “I think they just faded away. I haven’t been in the sun much these past few years.”
    “That will have to be remedied.” Flynn studied her some more. “Are you sure you don’t have them covered with makeup?”
    Pride refused to get into a discussion of her makeup. She said nothing and glanced meaningfully at Gloria.
    Gloria widened her eyes and gave her shoulders an infinitesimal shrug.
    “Hey,” Pride exclaimed. “What do you think you’re doing?”
    While she exchanged glances with Gloria, Flynn produced a handkerchief from his pocket, dipped it in a cup of coffee sitting on his desk, then took Pride’s chin in one hand and applied the wet cloth to her nose with the other.
    Immediately, an ominous tickle began inside Pride’s nose.
    “Mine,” Johnny shouted.
    Pride, thoroughly flustered, grabbed for her son as he lunged for Flynn’s hand. Johnny latched onto Flynn’s wrist and entangled his small fingers around Flynn’s gold watchband.
    Flynn, startled, paused in his ministrations to Pride’s nose and stared at the little boy clinging to his wrist.
    Pride sneezed, a mighty sneeze that rattled her teeth and made her eyes tear.
    “Bless you.” Flynn passed her the handkerchief.
    “Thanks a heap —
Atchoo
. Now look what you’ve done.
Atchoo
.”
    “Mine,” Johnny yelled, louder.
    Pride opened watery eyes. Her son danced on the edge of the sofa with both small hands outstretched, pleading at the top of his voice.
    Flynn Sutherland backed up carefully and pulled his sleeve down to cover his watch. “I seem to have started something here.”
    “You’re right. This is all your fault.” Pride dried her eyes and blew her nose with relish. “Don’t you know better than to wear a mariner’s watch around little children? You should have taken it off as soon as we came in. They were bound to see it.”
    “I’m sorry,” Flynn said, looking at Gloria. “I didn’t realize the reaction it would cause.”
    Gloria’s mouth opened and closed. She appeared bereft of words.
    Pride