Athan sighed. “Don’t call my grams a chick.”
The elevator doors opened to reveal his grandparents. “I couldn’tagree more,” his grandfather boomed, escorting his mate out.
Athan immediately stood. “What in the world are you doinghere?”
His grams smiled serenely. “Apparently, we’re back to war.”She clapped her hands authoritatively. “Let’s finish it this time, shall we?”
* * * *
Ivy steeled her shoulders, patted her hair in place, andthen walked out of the bedroom as if nothing had happened. As if she hadn’t hadwild sex all night and now felt Athan Maxwell in every cell of her entirebeing.
She stopped short at seeing him standing in the living roomnext to Benjamin Reese and two people she didn’t know. She had met Benny a fewtimes through the years, and he had always seemed like a gentle giant to her.Heat flushed through her face, and she fought the insane urge to run back intothe bedroom. Instead, she walked toward Athan as if she had every right to doso—which, frankly, she did.
He snaked out an arm to pull her close, facing thenewcomers. “Ivy, I’d like you to meet my grandparents. This is Nia and CathalMaxwell.”
Ivy blinked and tried to appear normal.
“Oh, it’s so very nice to meet you.” Nia rushed forward andclasped both of her hands around one of Ivy’s. “I’ve been on Athan to bring youto the ranch for so long. I never thought it would happen.”
Ivy gulped. If there was anything in the world Athan’s gramsdid not look like, it was a grandmother. The woman was definitely the mostbeautiful person Ivy had ever seen in real life—or even as airbrushed. Shestood about five feet, two inches and had deep brown eyes flecked with gold, aside smattering of freckles, and a wild mane of hair that right now was inbeautiful coils down her back. Her bone structure was delicate, and her skinwas a dark tawny touched by the sun. It was impossible to tell her heritage,but a very slight Scottish brogue danced in her tone. Of course, consideringthe woman was probably about three thousand years old, she may have only livedin Scotland for a time and picked up the accent.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Ivy said, curiosity flourishing inher as she looked at Athan’s grandfather. There was no doubt they were related.Cathal was as tall as Athan with stunningly dark blue eyes, an unruly mass oflighter brown hair, and shoulders wider than Benny’s. He looked like a slightlyolder version of Athan and wore dark jeans and a white button-down shirt.
“Hello,” he said, reaching out and quickly shaking her hand.“It’s about damn time Athan brought you into the fold.”
Athan rolled his eyes. “Ivy and I have been on our ownschedules, and you two know it. Now, back to business. Why are you here?”
Cathal rolled his neck. “You’re off werewolf and Kurjanscientist duty. I just sent Klyde to take over that part of the familybusiness.” He shifted a weapon to a better position strapped to his massiveright thigh. “I smelled bullets on him, but he’d already healed himself. Whoshot him?”
Athan lowered his chin but didn’t answer.
Ivy cleared her throat. “Um, I did.”
Cathal flicked his blue gaze her way. “Interesting.”
Nia chuckled. “Can’t wait to hear that story.”
Cathal looked at Benny and then at Athan. “Ben, you stayingfor a while?”
“No,” Benny said, glancing at his watch. “I need to getback. It’s unlikely that Karma’s pregnant again quite so soon.”
Athan snorted. “You know it’s a joke, but you’re going toend up with a dozen just like you, Ben.”
Benny paled. Then he winked at Ivy. “It’s good seeing you,girl. We’ll spend more time together soon. I’ll have Karma and the kids withme, and we’ll have a grand time.” He jerked his head toward the elevator.“Athan? Before I go, I have an informant on ice waiting to speak with you.”
Athan stiffened. “Why didn’t you just say so?”
“I was doing the niceties,” Benny said, frowning. “It’s whatfriends do.” He loped toward the elevator.
“I’ll come with you,” Cathal said, following him. “I take itthe guy on ice pertains to my business?”
“Yep,” Benny said.
Within a few seconds, the men were gone.
Nia looked at Ivy and then grinned. “They’re such dorks.They may live thousands upon thousands of years, honey, but let me tell you,they remain idiots.” Her tone was soft, her smile sweet, and her eyes sparkledin a way that had Ivy laughing and instantly relaxing.
“Well, that’s good to know,” she said. “It really is.”
