She went to the kitchen and rummaged through the refrigerator for something to snack on. She settled for a container of peach yogurt. Though dressing and showering still gave her problems, she could finally get a spoon to her mouth without pain radiating all through her arm. She sat on the sofa, opened another one of her father’s letters and read. She finished it and opened another. Her cell chimed, letting her know she had received a text message. It was Kathi.
Made it home.
She texted back: Glad to hear it.
She placed the cell on the table and unfolded the next letter. The words on the page brought tears to her eyes.
Hi, Faith. How’s Daddy’s baby girl? It’s been five years since I’ve seen you and I know you’re a big girl now. I miss you so much, sweetheart, and think about you all the time. I can’t wait to see you again.
All my love,
Daddy
Faith was crying so hard she could barely see the words. She clutched the letter to her chest and let the tears fall. Once they finally stopped, she set the paper aside, stretched out on the sofa, closed her eyes and tried to bring her emotions under control. She had no idea how long she lay there before her cell rang. Instinctively, she reached for it with her right hand and winced with the pain. Coming to a sitting position, she picked it up with her left hand.
“Hello.”
“Faith? Is everything okay?”
“Hey, Brandon. I’m fine.” She cleared her throat and realized from all the crying she’d done, she probably sounded like she had a cold.
“Are you sure? You don’t sound okay.”
“I’m sure.”
“Is your friend still there?”
“No. She left a few hours ago.”
“Would it be okay if I came by after I leave work?”
“Of course.” The words shot out of her mouth before she could stop them. What am I doing? You agreed to one dinner, Faith...one. So why is it you have a sign that says “always open” whenever he calls? She closed her eyes to shut out the annoying but logical voice inside her head. She knew she shouldn’t be encouraging his visits, yet he made it so hard to resist. How often does a woman meet a guy like Brandon? Not often, so she planned to enjoy his company until she returned home.
“Faith!”
The sound of Brandon calling her name pulled her back into the conversation. “Huh? What? I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“Are you sure you’re okay? I called your name three times.”
“Fine, fine. My mind just drifted off for a minute. What time will you be here?”
“Around seven?”
“Great. I’ll see you then.” Faith ended the call and tapped the phone lightly against her forehead. “The man probably thinks you’ve lost your mind,” she muttered. She stuffed the letter she’d read back into its envelope and placed it and the other one into the box, then took the box to her bedroom.
It dawned on her that Brandon was most likely coming from work and she didn’t have anything to prepare for dinner. She had purchased some ready-to-eat meals, fruits and raw vegetables to compensate for her lack of function, but didn’t think any of them would be suitable for entertaining. She took a quick peek at her watch. He wouldn’t be there for another hour and she toyed with going out to buy something. But she nixed the idea because she didn’t know the area well enough to go out searching. Instead of worrying about it, she sat at the table and powered up her laptop.
Faith was so engrossed in her work that the sharp knock on the door startled her. When she opened the door, the sight of Brandon’s smiling handsome face made her pulse skip.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” They stood there for several seconds just staring at each other. “Come in.” She moved back so he could enter.
“Thanks.” Instead of going over to the sofa like he usually did, Brandon closed the door behind him, tilted her chin and studied her for a long moment. “You’ve been crying. Why?”
How in the world hand he known? “It’s nothing.” Faith took a step and he placed a staying hand on her uninjured arm.
“Talk to me, Faith. Did something happen? Is it the pain? I can take you to the hospital.” Evidently she didn’t answer fast enough because he opened the door again. “Let’s go.”
“Brandon, wait. I’m not in pain.”
He viewed her skeptically.
“Really.” She closed the door and led him over to the sofa. “Yes, I was crying earlier when you called, but not from the pain. It’s still stiff and sore, but nothing I can’t handle. I can even move it a little. See?” She slowly lifted her arm midway and put it back down. “I told you I was in town for business.”
Brandon nodded. “I remember.”
“That’s not exactly true. I recently found out that the father I believed dead is very much alive and has been looking for me for twenty-eight years. I came to LA to meet him. I was halfway to his house before I chickened out and was on my way back here the night of the accident.”
“Wow. I mean...wow. I wasn’t expecting that. But I don’t understand how you thought he was dead, especially since he was looking for you all this time.”
She gave him a sad smile. “You would if that’s what your mother told you.”
His stunned gaze met hers. “Your mother?” When she nodded, he asked, “Why would she do that?”
“He was in the military and suffered from PTSD. She said she was afraid he might hurt us, so she divorced him and packed up and left when I was two years old.”
Brandon slid closer to Faith and draped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine growing up without my father.”
“It’s okay. My mother married my stepfather when I was eight, so I didn’t grow up without a father. He’s a wonderful man and I love him. Enough about me,” she said, eager to change the subject. “Would you like something to drink? I have orange juice, tea and water. Sorry I don’t have anything in the way of dinner to offer you. Me and the arm aren’t quite ready for full-fledged cooking.”
He chuckled. “It’s no problem. We can go get something.”
“Can we get it to go?”
“Sure.”
Faith shut down her laptop. “I don’t know what’s around here, so you can choose.”
“Whatever you want to do,” he said in that black velvet voice.
“I’m... I’m going to change.”
“Take your time.”
She stood and backed away, unable to tear her gaze away. “I won’t be long,” she mumbled and retreated to the safety of her bedroom. This man did not play fair. How in the world was she supposed to resist him? “It’s nothing serious, just some fun. All you have to do is keep your emotions out of it,” she reminded herself as she slipped into a clean blouse.
* * *
Brandon followed Faith with his eyes and asked himself for the hundredth time why he couldn’t stay away from her. It had only been two days since he’d seen her, but from the moment she opened the door and he saw her reddened eyes, he’d wanted to wrap her in his arms and make sure she never cried again. He thought about what she had told him. Even if his father had come back with the same issues, his mother would never have taken them away from their father. It had to be difficult for Faith, as well as her father, to know they’d missed out on so much time.
“I’m ready.”
He rose to his feet. She had changed from the sweats to a sleeveless purple button-down top, black shorts and flat sandals. As they walked to his car, he said, “Oh, and this does not count as the dinner I promised you.” He unlocked the doors by remote and held it open for her.
“Speaking of that, since this isn’t really a date or anything, I’ll pay for my own food. You’ve done so much already.”
“I don’t think so.” He cl
osed the door, got in on the other side and started the engine.
“Brandon—”
Brandon slanted her a sidelong glance. “Date or no date, you’re not paying.” He pulled out of the lot and onto the road. A few minutes into the ride, he looked over and saw her tightly set features. Was she mad because he wouldn’t allow her to pay? When he started dating, his father had drilled into his and his brother’s heads how they should treat a woman—always open doors, stand when she enters the room and never expect her to pay when you take her out. Brandon had taken those instructions to heart and didn’t see that changing anytime soon. But he didn’t want her angry with him, either. “Are you mad?”
Faith turned his way. “I haven’t decided.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not real fond of the whole bossy thing, but it’s kind of flattering to be with a man who seems to be a throwback to the era where men didn’t want women to pay for dates.”
“You think I’m a throwback?”
“Maybe, but you’re definitely bossy.”
Brandon laughed. “Yeah, well, I already acknowledged that part. And after almost thirty-four years, I don’t think it’ll change.”
She laughed. “Yep, you’re pretty much set in your ways.”
He started to ask her age, but gathered from what she had told him that she was thirty. “So, do you know what you want to eat?”
“No. What do you have a taste for?”
She’d asked the question so innocently, and what he wanted to answer was anything but. Yes, he had a taste for something, more like a craving, really. He wanted more of her sweet kisses, to trail his hands and lips over her smooth-as-silk skin and...
“Brandon?”
He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “Oh, nothing specific. There are several restaurants a few miles up the road, I’m sure we can find something.”
Forty-five minutes later, they returned with meals from an Italian restaurant. He unloaded their pasta dishes at her small table while she got glasses from the cabinet for the lemonade. During the meal, Brandon tried his best not to think about kissing her, but watching her lips close around the fork and her tongue dart out to catch the sauce in the corner of her mouth had him so aroused he could barely eat. To distract himself, he said, “Tell me about your business.”
Faith took a sip of her lemonade before speaking. “It actually started as a favor for a friend of mine who had a newly launched catering business. She wasn’t happy with the person she had hired, didn’t like the color scheme and the site wasn’t user-friendly. This person stopped returning her calls and never made the requested changes, so she asked me to help her. I had so much fun. It just sort of snowballed from there. At the time, I worked as an assistant manager in a small software company.”
“So you just quit?”
“Oh, no. I worked there another two years and did the website design program before striking out on my own. It’s been just over a year and I’ve enjoyed every minute.”
Brandon was impressed. She had done a lot in a short amount of time. “Do you plan to have a team of designers eventually?”
“I don’t know. What I’d really like to do is offer classes to teens so they can gain entrepreneurship skills early on.”
“That sounds like a great idea.” He also thought it might be something to start at his company. If it ever became his.
“You told me you worked at a home safety company, but not exactly what you do. Although, with how bossy you are, I’d guess you’re in some management position,” Faith added with a smile.
He chuckled. “You’re right, but I started at the bottom and worked my way up. We design and manufacture accessible equipment like shower rails and custom ramps.”
“That’s fantastic. How long have you been a manager?”
“Three years.” Not wanting to talk about himself anymore, Brandon quickly shifted the conversation back to Faith. “Tell me more about this entrepreneurship idea you have.”
She continued to share her plans, even after they had finished dinner. She spoke with such passion and enthusiasm he couldn’t help but get caught up in her excitement. He watched the way her lips moved, fantasizing.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been going on and on. I didn’t mean to bore you. I get a little excited when talking about my sites.”
“You’re not boring me.”
“Are you sure? It looked like you were a million miles away. What were you thinking about?”
“Do you really want to know?” Brandon stood, rounded the table and gently pulled her to her feet. “This.” He bent and covered her mouth in a heated kiss. The contact sent a sharp jolt to his groin. He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. On the edge of losing control, he eased back.
“We need to slow down,” Faith said, her breathing uneven. “I didn’t come here for this. Only to meet my father.”
“I know.”
“It doesn’t make sense to start something we know won’t last.”
“I agree, but it seems this something is beyond our control. How about a compromise?” he asked when she nodded. He placed kisses along her jaw and the curve of her neck.
“What kind?” she murmured.
“We see each other for the duration of your visit. Whatever we have ends when you leave.” He wasn’t looking for a commitment and he assumed she didn’t want one, either.
“So, another couple of weeks or so.”
“Yes.”
She paused briefly, seemingly thinking over his offer. Then she nodded. “Okay.”
He smiled and slanted his mouth over hers again. Two weeks wouldn’t be nearly enough time to get her out of his system, but he’d take it.
Chapter 6
Tuesday, Brandon sat in his office making notes for the staff meeting later that morning. He thought more about having internships and learning modules for students and liked it. He jotted down all the areas of potential training and smiled. Faith had a brilliant idea. Faith. He leaned back in his chair and pondered their agreement. He had hoped for more than just two weeks with her and wanted her to stay awhile longer. Maybe if things worked out with her father, she’d reconsider.
“Uh-oh, I recognize that look,” Justin said from the doorway.
“What look? I’m just thinking about a new proposal to present at the meeting.” Brandon glanced over at the wall clock, stood and gathered his papers. “You coming?”
“After you.” As they entered the conference room down the hall, Justin asked, “So, how’s Faith?”
“She’s good, healing.”
“That’s what I thought. Like I said, ‘the look.’” And he walked away.
He didn’t have any look. Justin didn’t know what he was talking about. Brandon shook his head, got a cup of coffee and took a seat. The meeting started as usual with updates from each department.
“Mr. Gray, are you and Mr. Whitcomb still planning to step down at the end of the month?” someone asked from the other side of the room.
Brandon’s jaw tightened.
Brandon’s father and uncle shared a look before his father spoke. “Brandon’s transition to CEO will be delayed for another few weeks. There are a couple of loose ends Thad and I need to tie up first, then we will proceed as planned.”
Siobhan asked, “Is it something we can help with?”
“I appreciate the offer, but we have it under control. Rest assured this is nothing that will affect the running of the company in any way.”
She gave Brandon a look that said “I tried.”
There were a few more updates, and then Brandon gave his. He also presented the idea of having interns and conducting entrepreneur workshops for teens, which was well received. At the end of the meeting, he left the room wit
hout talking to anyone, still annoyed by whatever was delaying his takeover as CEO.
After lunch, Siobhan knocked and entered. “You okay?”
“Fine.”
She sat across from him. “I went to Daddy’s office and tried to get some information, but he is seriously closemouthed on this. I’m even more curious as to what’s going on. He’s never been like this when it comes to business.”
“Exactly. Which is why I’m worried.” Had this been something pertaining to family business, Brandon wouldn’t have batted an eye because their parents had kept details about certain things from them until the right time.
“Well, he did reiterate that this doesn’t affect you getting the job, just in case someone thinks they have a shot. So, that should make you feel better.”
“Maybe. But something just feels off about this. I know what Dad said, but somehow, I know this is going to have an impact on me and how I do my job.”
Siobhan shrugged. “Mom might know something. You can always ask her at dinner on Sunday.”
He let out impatient sigh. “Yeah, right. You know good and well Mom isn’t going to betray any secrets.”
“True.” She waved a hand. “Enough about that. I heard you were still visiting that woman from the accident. Are you two getting serious?”
Brandon planned to punch Justin on sight. “No. She’s just visiting LA and will only be here for a couple of weeks.”
“Since she doesn’t know anyone here, you should bring her to the family dinner on Sunday.”
His eyes widened. “Oh, hell no!”
“Goodness, Brandon,” she said with a chuckle. “No need to bite my head off. It was just a suggestion.” She stood and walked to the door. “See you later.”
Brandon shook his head. No way would he take Faith to that dinner. That would be tantamount to making a statement. And he wasn’t. They were just enjoying each other until she left for Portland. No ties. No commitments. Just the way he liked it.
* * *
Tuesday evening, Faith sat on bed in her hotel room flipping through the channels, but didn’t find anything that remotely interested her. As she reached for the book on her nightstand, her cell rang. “Hi, Daddy,” she said when she picked up.
Giving My All to You Page 6