Grayson glanced at Kendra.
She smiled. “I would love to attend.”
“Good. Make sure you bring Grayson with you, just in case he forgot about the date, but I’m sure he didn’t.” Ivy’s tone of voice was definitely sarcastic.
“We’ll be there. What time?” Grayson asked.
“Noon. At Dad’s house. You were supposed to order pizzas for everyone, but I guess Marcus can do it since you’ll probably be there until you come to the party. Kendra, be sure to bring your roller skates if you have them. You too, Grayson. If you didn’t know it, I’m including you as family, Kendra. See you both tomorrow.” Then Ivy hung up on them.
“You did not forget her birthday party.” Kendra folded her arms across her waist. She figured Grayson had.
Grayson chuckled. “I’m not going to lie, Kendra. With all that’s going on, I did forget about Ivy’s birthday. If I had been home, doing my regular bounty hunter business, I wouldn’t have. But I did get her a gift.”
“What did you get her?”
“New skates. She hinted at what she wanted and the size. I bought them right away so I wouldn’t forget.”
Kendra laughed. “I need to get her something.”
“Nah, we’ll be together, and she won’t be expecting anything from you.”
“She was wearing earrings. I’ll get her a pair of hearts for her sweet sixteenth birthday. Which means we need to drop by the jewelry store.”
“All right.” He was glad Kendra seemed to like his sister. He knew Ivy liked Kendra. She would appreciate the gesture.
They drove to the newest jewelry store and walked inside. Kendra looked for the earrings she liked best. They were crystal, and a couple of hundred dollars.
Grayson brought out his leather wallet.
“Nope, this is on me.”
“Let me pay for half at least.”
Kendra smiled and pulled out her credit card. “I’ve got it. Ivy called me family.”
He chuckled. “She’s a natural manipulator.”
“She’s sweet. And maybe it would help if she had an older female adult to talk to. Not a mother. I’m not old enough, but someone who can understand what she’s been through since I went through this with my sister.”
“I agree.” He suspected Kendra wouldn’t have time to talk to Ivy during the birthday celebration, but maybe they could have dinner with just the family at some other time. Kendra and his sister could have a private conversation while he, his dad, and brother made dinner.
Kendra paid for the earrings and then took them out to the car. “You’re staying overnight at my place.” She wasn’t giving him a choice, which amused him, but he was all for staying with her whenever he was in town.
“That sounds like a great idea.” When they were in his hometown, he expected Kendra to stay with him.
“Dinner at my house? We can eat out if you would like, but I have some salmon steaks I need to cook.”
“Sounds good to me.” He finally pulled into the driveway at her home.
“All bears own the properties around mine on Flathead Lake.”
“That’s great. We have homes all together like that, butted up against a forest. Perfect for running as bears.”
“Oh, that’s great. We often take a dip in the lake at night when everyone’s gone to sleep. The people in the cabins across the lake from us can’t see us. Unless they had telescopes or binoculars. We’ve never had any trouble.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“It is. I guess we’ll hike in the forest behind your homes, then, after the birthday party?”
