Griffin stepped out into the lounge straightening his tie.

"How do I look?" he asked.

Cara gave him a smile.

"You look great." she said, although she couldn't resist the urge to straighten his collar.

"I'm not sure why you insist we dress up, it's just dinner at Ryan's." said Griffin, adjusting his collar slightly where it pinched.

"Because it's sometimes nice to make an effort." said Cara"…Well?" she added taking a step back and holding open her arms.

"Well?" asked Griffin, not sure what she wanted.

Cara held her arms out wider and did a little spin,

"Well?"

"Oh…" said Griffin finally catching on. "You look nice."

"Nice." cried Cara, shaking her head at her hopeless brother. "I look amazing. I haven't been able to fit in this dress for months… You really need more lessons in talking to ladies."

"I don't know, I seem to manage." said Griffin grinning back at her.

Cara swatted his arm.

"Come on." said Cara picking up her purse. "We'll be late."

Charlie had already been dropped off at Opal's and Cara was hiding a little thrill of excitement for the night ahead, because Griffin didn't know that Kendal was coming tonight as well.

…

When Ryan opened the door Griffin handed over a bottle of wine, and then Cara stepped forward.

"You look stunning." said Ryan, kissing her cheek.

"Thank you." said Cara, she gave her brother a sideways look. "See that's how you should speak to ladies." she whispered.

"Can I get you a glass of something?" Ryan asked as they stepped into the apartment.

"Beer?" asked Griffin.

"A glass of red." requested Cara.

"I'll be right back." said Ryan, disappearing into the kitchen.

Now they were alone Griffin fidgeted slightly, he had only been in Ryan's a few times before. It was a nice place… which reminded him.

"Have you heard back from the Rental agency?" Griffin asked. They only had a week to find a new apartment and Cara seemed to be dragging her heels, at finding them a new place. Cara had been particularly coy about this evening and Griffin was beginning to worry that this was her and Ryan's way of breaking it to him that they were moving in together and he was on his own.

"Just be patient, the perfect solution is waiting just around the corner." said Cara, "Trust me!"

Yep, his sister was defiantly hiding something.

Griffin decided to drop the subject and had a proper look round at his surroundings. Ryan had made quite an effort laying the table with candles and flowers; then Griffin noticed there was a fourth place setting.

"Are we expecting someone else?" he asked, as Ryan came back with their drinks.

"Yeah," said Ryan, checking his watch. "Only she's running a little late."

"She?"

Then he noticed Cara's wide grin.

Griffin's mouth went dry.

"Kendal?"

He swallowed and smoothed down his hair.

"Maybe." said Cara with a chuckle.

Just then the doorbell rang.

"Why don't you answer it?" his sister suggested.

Indeed, there was Kendal standing on the doorstep, a bottle of wine in her hand. Griffin's brain short circuited for a moment.

"You look stunning!" he managed, mimicking Ryan's actions earlier, leaning forward to kiss her cheek.

"And you look very handsome." replied Kendal, her fingers seductively trailing down the lapel of his jacket.

"When he makes the effort." said Cara, with a tease, stepping in to give Kendal a hug. She winked at her brother as if to say, see you do know how to talk to girls.

…

Conversation over dinner flowed over a wide range of subjects, beginning with concern over Bianca and Marissa, the trial, moving on to the Erica movie soon to be released, the Midnight Shadow film in pre-production, Erica's wedding plans and then the conversation settled on their children, comparing joys and horror stories. Ryan and Kendal taking delight in letting Cara in on what was still to come with little Charlie.

The conversation about Charlie got Griffin's thoughts returning to their accommodation predicament. Kendal noticed his changed expression.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Now's not the time." said Griffin, not wanting to burden her.

"Is this about your eviction?" she asked, "Because…" Kendal's eyes flicker to Cara briefly, "… I do have the perfect solution, for both of us."

"Us?"

"My house is huge… I just rattle around it now that Bianca has moved out. It's lonely. I would love for you and Cara to stay."

Cara gave her brother a hopeful grin, so that was her scheme.

"We wouldn't want to intrude." said Griffin, trying to be polite even though his heart raced with the thought of being able to see Kendal everyday. It wasn't an invitation to move in… they still weren't quite to that point in their relationship… but still.

"You will be doing me a favour I swear. There are plenty of spare rooms and it wouldn't take much to turn Gabby's room into a nursery again. Plus the fact it would do my boys good to have a man around the house. Ian's getting wilder and wilder these days."

"Um…" said Griffin.

Cara leaned across the table.

"That's Griff for yes." she said with a laugh.

Kendal smiled.

"Excellent, I'm glad that's sorted."

Griffin look from Cara to Kendal, with a clear feeling he'd been railroaded here… not that he really minded.

"It sounds like it is." He said, sharing a helpless gaze with Ryan.

…