“I might’ve invited one to live with us,” he said. “Sorry, Cade.”
Oh, so the new guy’s name was Cade.
“Don’t worry,” I reassured him.” I may be a sports nutritionist, but I’m not yours. I am a pretty good cook, though.”
“I can agree with that,” Conrad said. “She somehow makes it not taste healthy when she makes her healthy-ass meals.”
I shrugged. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to do any sort of work with my degree,” I admitted. “Plus, it looks like you guys already have a cook in the house.” I gestured toward Wilder.
He was watching close enough that he heard what I said, and he shook his head.
“Baker,” he corrected. “I can follow a recipe, but for some reason, cooking just isn’t my thing.”
“We’ll make a good team then,” I promised. I was determined to pull my weight here, not just loaf around.
“Why don’t we worry about things like that when you’ve actually rested, Lana,” Conrad said, giving me the stink eye. He was in full-protective brother mode.
I didn’t argue, he knew me too well for that. Instead, I polished off my plate, plus the extra slice Cade not so subtly placed in front of me.
When I finished, my entire body seemed to sag. The exhaustion was back in full force now that I’d settled in a bit.
“Your room is ready, if you want to get some rest,” Conrad offered.
“I think Lennon and Cade finished the last of your furniture this morning,” Kieran chimed in.
“Thank you. I’m sorry to make you guys do all this,” I started, but again was cut off, this time by Cade.
“This isn’t going to work if you keep thinking like that. We would do this for any family. Conrad’s a brother. I’d say that makes you a sister.”
“Friend,” Mason offered instead. “Since I’ve checked out your ass already, I’m going to say friend.”
I raised an eyebrow, biting back a laugh, completely surprised by his candor.
“Do friends check out each other’s asses?”
“You can check out mine if you want,” he said, standing up and turning around to show off a perfectly rounded, well-earned hockey ass. I swear, of any sport, they had my favorite build. I liked men that had a little meat on their bones.
When I realized I was staring, my eyes snapped up to his, but I didn’t even get to take his expression in. A hand was clamped over my eyes, and I was gently dragged away, my brother’s growl of warning echoing over my head.
“Don’t make me bribe Coach to put you on drills until you puke,” Conrad warned before I was released and led down the hall. When I glanced back, Mason was chuckling softly.
“Not happening, Lana,” Conrad warned, but I just rolled my eyes.
“You know damn well I’m not looking for any kind of relationship right now. Doesn’t mean I can’t check out a nice ass when it’s put in front of me. I’m not dead.”
“But Mason will be if he does that again,” Conrad shot back.
“Are you going to be this insufferable the entire time I’m here?”
“Oh, absolutely.” He grinned, not the least bit ashamed of it. “Come on.”
He led me up the stairs and down the hall. My footsteps lagged, and I was once again glad this house was nothing like my previous one.
“The coach originally left this room open, so it’s a guest room and has its own en-suite.”
He side-eyed the door to the left before stopping in front of the one at the end of the hallway.
“Though, now I’m starting to rethink this one… It’s right across the hall from Mason. He likes to flirt. That’s just who he is. Hell, he flirts with us. But if he takes it too far or makes you uncomfortable, you tell me.”
