All the Way Read Online Free PDF Page A

disappeared. The clean and white pressed uniforms the chef insisted on showed up soiled and smelly. The small group of waiters left his food under the warmer for too long, so complaints trickled in about dried up fish and meat. Seven full days, and the Lucianos toppled the big cheese. The chef quit and walked out in an old-fashioned temper tantrum, while Tony threw up his arms and pretended he didn’t understand.
    More money down the tubes. And Gavin learned his lesson. He could dump his money, hire who he wanted, but the core group would never change because they were family.
    Gavin grabbed for patience as his family continued bickering. When Pop called him and asked for help, he never hesitated. He figured it would be the easiest job of his career.
    Not.
    His one step forward with the renovations just took five steps back. Now he had to deal with the aftereffects of negative publicity. Why had she picked his restaurant at this time? Had she written the column to guarantee he’d track her down? An unconscious attempt to get him so angry, he’d be sure to initiate another meeting?
    Gavin threw back the last of his shot. Hmmm. Sounded good, but he guessed she’d scoff and tell him his massive ego was twisting things again.
    Didn’t matter. She’d thrown down the gauntlet and opened the door of the past, whether she knew it or not. He was just going to walk right through.
    Gavin scooped up the paper and tucked it under his arm. “I’ll take care of it.”
    “How?” Archimedes asked.
    “I’ll get her to write a second review.”
    Silence settled over the dining room. His family looked at him as if he’d taken leave of his senses.
    Brando snorted. “She never does second reviews—that’s part of her style. Once she tags a place unfit, it’s tagged for life. You’ll never get her to do one.”
    He gazed at his brother with narrowed eyes. “Watch me.”
    He strode out of the restaurant.
    …
    “Ouch. Stephen, that hurt, you devil.”
    The little boy screeched in delight as his pudgy fist came away with a few strands of red hair. Miranda rubbed her scalp where her new bald spot lay. “Manda, do it again!”
    She shook her head and swung him high in her arms. “Don’t think so, flirt. If that’s how you show affection for a girl, you’re gonna be in some trouble.”
    He kicked his feet and laughed as he played the familiar game of airplane. “Fly me, fly me!”
    The doorbell rang, and Miranda made a landing noise as she settled him against one hip. “Come on, flirt. Daddy’s here to pick you up. Said you were going to the zoo today.”
    “Aminals!” he shouted. “Daddy said I could see the lion in The Wizard of Oz .”
    “That’s right. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my.” She grinned and threw open the door. “And here’s your—oh, my God!”
    “Oh my God,” the toddler boy mimicked.
    Gavin took one look at the toddler perched on her hip and grew pale. “Oh, my God.”
    Silence fell between them as they glanced at one another, and Miranda tried to gather her wits. She knew writing the column had been a risk. With Gavin’s massive ego, she bet he thought she wrote it in the hopes he would contact her. Still, revenge had been too sweet to ignore.
    But she’d never expected him to show up on her doorstep.
    “What are you doing here?” She moved her head away as Stephen reached for another red curl. “How did you find me?”
    Gavin’s gaze never left the boy’s face. His voice came out ragged. “I needed to talk to you. We never finished our conversation.”
    Miranda snorted. “No, you just can’t handle a woman walking away from you. I was finished with the conversation. I think you’d better go.”
    She tried to shut the door but he blocked it with the toe of his leather shoe. “We have a lot more things to discuss.” He studied the toddler. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    Stephen must have sensed the growing tension and let out a cry. She spoke softly. “You’re upsetting him. I