All of My Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

kitchen tear-out first. Still thinking about Corian?”
    Faith pulled out another pamphlet. “Definitely. We’ve already measured. I spoke with the dealer and it can be cut and ready to install in ten days.”
    “It looked gorgeous and so did the knobs she picked out.” Stella smiled across the table at her daughter. “The house will be functional with touches of warmth, charm, and elegance.”
    Paul snorted. “Elegance! Faith doesn’t need elegance. She’s not like you, always wanting more. Never satisfied.”
    Quietness settled over the group like a blanket. Paul realized his mistake. If he didn’t care what she thought, he wouldn’t have said a word. However, from the crushed look on her face, she just thought he was being cruel. That thought irritated him even more. He came to his feet. “Sorry, Faith, Brandon. If you’ll excuse me, I want to take a look at the house again.”
    Faith came to her feet and placed her hand on his arm. Brandon stood as well. “It can wait until tomorrow. You probably didn’t stop to eat. I’ll have something sent to your room. We’ll talk later.”
    No recrimination, just understanding and love. He hugged her. “I love you.”
    “I love you, too, Daddy. After you eat, take a nap, and that’s an order,” she said, her smile unsteady.
    She was hoping for reconciliation. It wasn’t happening. “I’m depending on you, Brandon, to take care of her.”
    “You know I will, sir.” Brandon’s long arm curved around Faith’s shoulders.
    With a brisk nod, Paul left the restaurant and headed for his room. On the way, he contemplated how in heaven’s name he was going to be able to work with his ex for the next three weeks when he couldn’t even sit at a table with her for five minutes.
    He didn’t want to lash out at her, but he did it anyway. That wasn’t the way he wanted to behave, especially not in front of Faith. He was hurting his baby girl because he was hurting. He paused at the entrance of the restaurant and glanced back. His heart clenched.
    His ex sat with her head down. Faith had scooted closer to put her arm around her mother’s shoulders. What a mess, and it would only get worse. He loved a woman who had walked out on him and, no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t stop. Swallowing, he headed to his room. Perhaps there he’d find a semblance of peace. Yet, somehow, he didn’t think so.
    *   *   *
     
    “Mama, why don’t we look at these in your room?”
    Stella stood, her hands clamped around her purse, her head down. She was so embarrassed and ashamed. As painful as it was to admit, Paul had been right. She had been swayed by the glamorous lifestyle and a powerful man.
    “Thank you again, Mrs. McBride.” Brandon gave her a brief hug. “You probably want to rest tonight, but if you aren’t tired tomorrow evening, I’d very much like for you to come to the Red Cactus for dinner.”
    Not if Paul is there, she thought. “I’ll see.”
    Stella could feel Brandon’s and Faith’s questioning gazes on her, but she refused to look up. How had she ever thought this would work?
    “Bye, Brandon.” Faith curved her arm around her mother’s waist. “It will be all right,” she whispered, leading her from the restaurant.
    No, it wouldn’t, and she only had herself to blame.
    *   *   *
     
    Brandon ached for Faith. She loved her parents deeply. Her forcing them to be together, and seeing how much it wounded both of them, had to be killing her. There wasn’t anything in the world he wouldn’t do for her.
    With firm determination, he walked straight to the Pueblo restaurant. Henri, the hotel’s executive chef and Brandon’s arch cooking rival, would be there getting things ready for their evening opening. The hotel had two restaurants: Mesa for casual and the Pueblo for fine dining.
    Brandon nodded to the staff setting up in the elegant dining room and continued to the kitchen. As expected, Henri, in his pristine white chef’s jacket,