Page 10 of Stepbrothers

“And to do that she needs her PGCE,” Jenny said.

“Which is?” Parker frowned.

“Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Teacher training course. It takes a year.” Jenny drained her drink. “Not long to get out of a rut if you ask me.”

“Mom.” Clarice frowned. Okay, she was in a rut, a deep, dank one at that, but she didn’t need that information waved around the table. “I’ll get around to it.”

“When?” Jenny raised her eyebrows.

Fortunately, Clarice was saved from answering when the wine appeared.

“And what do you guys do?” Clarice asked when the Chenin had been poured.

“I’m in advertizing,” Parker said in his deep voice. “In the City. Took over as CEO from Dad when he stepped away a year ago.”

“Nice.” She nodded slowly, imagining him striding along in a pinstripe suit and making important decisions every few seconds. The image was hot. He looked like a man who could handle the weight of responsibility. Keep his cool in a crisis. Deliver a stern reprimand if a junior stepped out of line.

“And you?” She looked at Hugh.

“I work at Euston Station.”

“Train driver?”

He laughed, his serious expression lightening for a moment. “No, Euston Fire Station. I’m a fireman.”

“Oh, I see.” She had to stop from squirming on her seat. One of her new stepbrothers was a fireman. Heck, she must have been a really good girl in a former life. Firemen were her thing, her fantasy, her ultimate Saturday night prize.

Stop! What was she doing? Hugh and Parker were her brothers now, or they would be by next weekend. Thinking they were hot and sexy and available to her was not appropriate.

“You ever been to a fire station?” Hugh asked.

“No, can’t say I have.” She paused. The devil had gripped her like he often did. “Though I’ve always fancied riding on a fireman’s pole.”

Her mother spluttered.

Benjamin patted her on the back. “Are you okay, darling?”

Clarice grinned over the rim of her wine glass at first Hugh and then Parker.

They shared a glance. Parker twitched one eyebrow. She couldn’t decide if he was amused or appalled at her comment.

Well, they’d have to get used to her sense of humor. Sitting quietly in the corner was not her thing. Besides, what state would her life be in if she couldn’t have fun? And if it made her mother splutter then that was all the better.

“And where is it you live, Clarice?” Benjamin asked, his voice a little terse.

“Finsbury Park way.”

“Alone?” Hugh asked.

“Yeah, well, apart from the mouse.” She pulled a face at her mother. “I think there’s one in the kitchen. Though I haven’t actually seen it.”

“That’s not good.” Jenny dabbed her lips with a napkin. “You really should call your landlord.

“I have called him so many times about the damp and the hot water and the broken window in the kitchen and leaking roof in the bedroom. He doesn’t give a crap, seriously.”

“So why do you stay there?” Hugh asked.

“I suppose I just haven’t got around to finding somewhere else.”

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