Gloria,” Penny said, forcing a smile. Gloria had made it very clear she would never forgive Penny for leaving her precious grandson. After all, in Gloria’s mind, marriage to a Buchanan was a pinnacle few could hope to achieve. “Nice to see you. This is my friend Naomi.”
Gloria glanced at the other woman, then turned back to Penny. “If you say so.”
“Oh, Penny and I go way back,” Naomi said cheerfully. “We met while she was still at the culinary institute. I was her next-door neighbor and she came over to complain that I was making too much noise.”
Penny winced, knowing what was to come.
Naomi lowered her voice. “It was the sex. I have this thing for younger men and that can get kinda noisy. I felt really bad. But Penny was great about it and we became friends.”
Gloria’s expression didn’t change, but her mouth tightened. It was what gave her away—a trait she shared with her grandson.
Cal joined them. Gloria looked at him. “Do you know this woman?” she demanded, pointing at Naomi.
Cal groaned. “Oh, yeah.”
Naomi sighed. “Tell her about the time I saw you naked,” she said, then strolled off.
Cal looked from Naomi to his grandmother, then excused himself. Under the circumstances, Penny couldn’t exactly blame him. Unfortunately, his action left her alone with Gloria.
“So, Callister hired you,” the older woman said, her voice laced with displeasure.
“That he did. I have a three-year contract.”
“I see.”
“Have you tasted the food?”
Gloria glanced at a passing tray. “I have a delicate stomach.”
The insult was so blatant, it was almost funny. Almost. Penny wasn’t surprised to hear she wasn’t Gloria’s first choice. For some reason, the old bat had never liked her and it was hard to feel affection for someone so determined to keep her on the outside.
“Too bad,” Penny said. “We’re getting rave reviews.”
“The food is free, dear. What did you expect?”
Sort of what Penny had thought. Not that she was going to admit it.
“Well, this has been great,” she said. “Nice to see you again, but I have to—”
Gloria grabbed her arm. “You won’t get him back, you know.”
“What?”
“Callister. He’s over you. I’m not sure what he ever saw in you.”
“Yes, I know. You made that very clear.” Penny pulled her arm free and wished her mother had been just a little less insistent on one being polite to one’s elders.
Cal might have let her go without a whimper, but Gloria had practically had a party to celebrate the divorce. At least that’s what Reid had told her.
“You were never right for him,” Gloria said. “You never cared enough. What kind of woman walks out on her marriage?”
The unfairness of the accusation caused Penny to abruptly excuse herself. As she walked away, she found herself wanting to turn around and announce that she had cared. She’d loved Cal with her whole heart. She would have done anything for him—anything but not have a child. Having a family of her own was the one thing she wouldn’t compromise on.
“Stupid old woman,” she muttered, then grabbed a cup of bisque from a passing waiter and drank it down.
“I saw the smoke so I came running.”
Penny turned and saw Reid behind her. She leaned against him. “Your grandmother is horrible. I’d forgotten how bad.”
“No one ever really forgets about her. You just repressed the memory. We all do. It’s how we survive.”
He wrapped both arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “The party is great. People are raving about the food. I think you’re a hit.”
“I hope so.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice low.
“I have a horrible craving for orange sherbet. I’m surrounded by all this amazing food and that’s all I can think about.”
“Pretty sick.”
“That’s what I’m thinking.”
Cal walked up, dragging Naomi behind him.
“Do something,” he told Penny. “She’s asking my opinion about waiters.”
“There are so many to choose from,” Naomi said, suddenly focused on Reid. “Well, hello. You didn’t head off to spring training.”
“Not this year.”
“That’s too bad. I always enjoy watching you work. You move really well.”
Penny shivered. “Stop it. You guys are my friends. I can’t deal with this.”
Reid flashed her a grin. “You’re going to have to get over it.” He held out his hand to Naomi. “Shall we?”
“We shall.”
They strolled off together.
Penny watched them go. “I don’t know which one to worry about. I suppose it’s been inevitable. They’ve known each other for years. But Reid was always coming or going and Naomi…” She paused. “I’m not sure why she waited this long. At least she’ll help keep his mind off the season starting.”
“Nothing against your friend, but no woman could do that.”
“Then she’ll be a distraction.”
Cal shrugged. “Probably.”
“Naomi can handle him. She can handle anyone.”
“She’s had the practice.”
Penny was about to take offense for her friend when she realized Cal wasn’t talking to her. Oh, he’d faced her and was therefore pointing in the right direction, but his attention was far more on her chest than her face.
She’d never had the kind of body that commanded men’s attention and it felt good to have it now. Twisted, but good.
“Shall we?” she asked, pointing to the crowd.
“Why not?”
They dove back in.
CAL WOKE UP in a great mood. The party the previous night had gone well and he was expecting a lot of positive press from the event. Even more important,
