I shook my head. “A few tried to approach, but I was busy.”
He rolled his eyes. “Next time let them do their job, Gideon.” He was genuinely upset.
“Penn, what’s going on?”
“Benito and Monica Calvern are here; that’s what’s going on.”
“How in the hell?” My gaze darted all around. There were a lot of people, and I couldn’t sift through them all.
“He’s in the food tent, and it turns out he’s good friends with Richard Felthouse, because that’s who gave him his invitation.”
“Fucking Dick!” Richard Felthouse was a weasel, and it shouldn’t have surprised me that he’d have his nose up Benito’s ass.
“Yeah, and he said he was looking forward to meeting you…and you,” He quirked a brow at Rita.
“Me?” Rita snorted. “That man can’t handle me.”
“Mmhmm,” Dean muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rita stood akimbo.
“There’s no time for this.” I waved Dean and Rita off. “I’m not making this easy for him. If he thinks I’m going to seek him out, he has no idea who I am at my core.”
Penn shrugged. “I wanted to make sure you knew.”
I pressed a chaste kiss to Penn’s lips. “Thank you.”
“Yep. Okay, I’m going to find the kids and not leave their sides because if that man or his plastic wife try to talk to them, I will kill them.”
I smiled as I watched Penn storm off in search of the kids. The love I had for him burned hotter every day.
“What do you want to do?” Dean asked.
“The show must go on.” I faced Rita. “Get me my microphone, and let me start introducing these horrible acts.”
Rita chuckled and handed me a sparkling silver microphone.
Halfway through the evening,I still hadn’t bumped into Benito. I had a feeling he was playing the same game I was: Neither of us wanted to be the one to approach the other.
The sounds of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” began, and I faced the stage, where Mila was holding the microphone. She wasn’t half bad. I was sucked into watching her, and I didn’t hear anyone sidling up beside me.
“She’s good.”
I turned, and sure enough Benito Calvern stood there, hands in his pockets, staring at Alex’s fiancée. Seemed he couldn’t stay away.
“She is.”
His blue eyes were calculating. I knew when I was in the company of a formidable opponent. Lorcan never had that gaze; he was always slightly unhinged, same as his brother. Benito didn’t falter—he showed no sign of fear. He was confident, and I’d be stupid to brush him aside.
“Mr. Hendrix, it’s good to finally meet you. I’m Benito Calvern.” He held out his hand.
I glanced at it briefly before I shook it. “I’m aware of who you are, Mr. Calvern.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you are.” He tilted his chin toward the stage. “This really is a lovely gala. Very philanthropic of you.”
“I believe in giving back.”
“Mm. It’s important to give back to a community you thrive in.” He gestured to my house. “You clearly are doing well here in Northchester.”
