Page 56 of Yours, Forever

Lina chuckled. "Just wait until you meet her. She's amazing. I'm sure she'll want to make a chat group for the three of us. If the guys get to gossip and coordinate things without our input on that group chat of theirs, then so should we."

"Of course you have a chat group with your friends." Eva laughed. "That's so you, Max."

I kissed her temple. "You've seen me type away. We talk most days."

"Is Javier here at the party?" Eva asked.

"Yes, we saw him briefly earlier. Jake and Vi stayed back home, as usual." Gabriel smirked.

"Oh!" Lina looked over my shoulder. "One of the stadium bid people is here. Let's go chat them up, Gabe."

"See you later," he said, before he followed his partner.

"Shall we go find Javier?" I returned her smile.

She nodded and we spent the next twenty minutes chatting our way through the hall. I introduced Eva to folk from a few boards and associations I was involved with, until we found Javier. The group he was with consisted of his parents and people from the old families Javier was related to, through his dad's side.

When Eva and I approached, the people from the other families left and I introduced my wife to Javier's parents.

"Have you been to New York before?" Javier's dad, Matthew Pendleton, asked Eva.

"No, and I haven't had a chance to get to know the city yet. It's just a quick trip for us this time."

"We should plan a visit with you and Max in the near future," Javier said. "Max and I can be your tour guides."

"We heard about the wedding, by the way." Javier's mom, Leyla, gave us a small, controlled smile. "Congratulations."

"You met in Vegas, I believe?" Matthew, always so composed, gazed at us with a detached but polite look.

He had been shaped into that by birth, while I had acquired it through paid training. In his mind, it made a world of a difference. Ironically, Leyla had a heritage more like mine than a Pendleton's; a mild scandal back in the 80s when they had gotten married. That fact hung over her head and she'd chosen to mimic and conform, seeking acceptance in their circles. I, on the other hand, used it as a shield. One I liked to push, once in a while.

I let my face take on as much of an irreverent gesture as I could. "Yes. It was a night I'll never forget."

Eva looked like she wanted to roll her eyes but didn't. She glanced at me and smirked, instead.

I wanted to kiss that smirk.

Mierda.

Squeezing her hand once to show my complicity would have to suffice.

Her eyes sparkled with her own brand of cheekiness. "Unforgettable night, for sure. We were so lucky to be at the same bar, at the same time. What are the chances you'd find the perfect person for you on a night out like that?"

"Every couple who meets in random places could say that, could they not?"

A chill went down my spine. I knew my father's voice well.

He stepped into the space next to Eva, a glass of Scotch in his left hand. He ignored me. His focus was on my wife, to whom he offered a hand.

"It's a pleasure to finally introduce myself to you, Eva. I am Carlos Errázuriz, your father-in-law."

All charm, he took the hand she offered and kissed it, in very much the same way I had earlier in the night.

"Lovely to meet you," she said. She took her hand away from him and took mine. She squeezed—hard.

He finally looked my way. I steeled. "Hello, son. Gorgeous bride you're introducing us to."

I gave Javier a look. He got what I needed without me having to say it out loud.