When I Need You (Need You #4)(6)

"I'd wondered about that."

"She's always been responsible and reliable even when I have to work late." Had I said that to convince him? Or myself?

He shrugged. "Everyone screws up sometimes. No harm, no foul. I'd give her another chance because I bet it won't happen again." He launched himself over the edge of the couch-one-handed like he was dismounting from a pommel horse.

God. Why did jocks always have to show off their athletic prowess? I looked at Jensen, expecting to see smugness on his face because he knew he'd executed a hot and sexy move and he also knew I'd watched him do it.

But he'd focused on Calder. "I have no problem tattling on you to your mom, ninja-boy, if I see you running amok in the hallway again."

Jensen was joking-and yet not-and he came across completely charming about it. "I'd appreciate it. My schedule is erratic so I'm not always home from work at decent hours."

"Where do you work?"

"At the U of M."

"Hey. I went to school there."



       
         
       
        

I know. So did I. I even cheered for you.

Calder yawned and nestled the side of his face against my stomach. "I'm tired."

Jensen sidestepped us and opened the door. "It was great meeting you, Rowan. And Calder."

I said, "Same. See you around, neighbor."





Three



JENSEN



I hauled my ass out of bed at four thirty the next morning.

Since I hadn't seen my older brothers for several weeks, they'd demanded workout time with me as soon as I returned. Mostly because they wanted to hear the doctor's prognosis.

As the youngest of four children I was used to being called the baby and treated like one. My siblings were high achievers: Brady-my oldest brother-was CFO of Lund Industries, the family business that grossed several billion dollars each year. My brother Walker had started his own construction company. My sister, Annika, was the VP of PR for Lund Industries. All of them, along with my parents and other assorted Lund family members, had supported me throughout my college football years and when I'd gotten drafted into the pros.

I'd lived my dream. I'd made a name for myself by hard work and dedication to training and learning everything about the sport of football. But what other skills did I have?

Yeah, that was another question I still didn't have an answer to.

This early in the Twin Cities, traffic wasn't bad so I made it to Brady's place in decent time. My brother lived in an old warehouse he'd had renovated several years ago before the area had become super trendy. He'd installed a gym that boasted every amenity, so I loved working out here, but I'll admit since Brady had married Lennox, I didn't just show up as often as I used to.

I punched in the code at the gate and followed the driveway to the private parking lot. Walker's big rig pulled in beside my ZR1 and he waited for me as I finished my energy drink.

Walker grinned and yanked me into a back-slapping hug. "The prodigal son, home at last."

"Prodigal son, my ass." I topped my brother by three inches and fifty pounds and he still managed to make me feel little. "You're the son whose wife is carrying the first Lund grandchild. If anyone is golden, bro, it's you."

"It's a strange turn of events for me to be the first one to do something in this family."

"How's Trinity feeling?"

"Oddly calm. We're four months in and she hasn't freaked out once. Not even when she felt the baby move."

"Maybe she's saving the freak-out for the delivery room."

"Bite your tongue," Walker warned. "Any time women bring up delivery room horror stories, I bolt." 

"No talking about babies," Brady said as we reached him, leaning against the steel door, a mug in his hand. He drained the contents and pulled me into a hug. "Glad you're here, Jens."

"You'd think since you're both the big bosses at your respective jobs we could've waited until six A.M. to meet up."

Brady ruffled my hair. Like I was five. "Need extra beauty sleep, pretty boy?"

"Piss off."

"Maybe he had a beauty in his bed and he didn't want to leave," Walker suggested slyly.

I snorted. "I spent all day yesterday in airports. Only thing I wanted to do in my bed last night was sleep."

Brady's was the only gym I'd been in that didn't smell like a gym. I crossed over to throw my can in the trash. Then I took a mat off the stack and unfolded it on the floor. I grabbed a thick foam roller and a couple of leg bands and sat on the mat with my right foot pressed against the wall.

Both Brady and Walker were silent, so I cranked my head around to look at them. "What?"