Page 45 of Stepbrothers

Clarice kicked off her shoes then followed Parker up the ladder, gripping tight, her bag looped over her shoulder and bouncing on her butt.

Hugh was close behind her, almost as though preparing to catch her should she slip.

When Parker reached the top, he pushed at the hatch, and it popped open. He disappeared through it.

“You okay?” Hugh asked.

“Yes.”

Parker’s face appeared. “You’re nearly there.”

She followed him inside, and he held her hand until she was standing upright. The wood was cool on the soles of her feet. “This place is like something from a movie.”

Hugh climbed in and dropped the hatch so it was flush with the flooring.

The interior was dim, though the paned windows did let in green-tinged light. The tree trunk ran up the center, the bark rough and dark and peppered with moss. To her right was a steel bar hanging down from the sloping roof, to her left what looked like a bench, waist height, the top leather, the legs spread to resemble a gymnast’s fault.

“What’s this for?” She nodded at the bar.

“Pull-ups.” Hugh took hold of it and sprang upward, his biceps bulging around his short-sleeved t-shirt.

She let her gaze slide down his body. His butt was peachy cute in his chinos. A small shiver of desire went through her. He’d been so damn good with his tongue the other evening. It was impossible not to think of him doing that again, doing more, even though she knew she shouldn’t think of him that way.

He dropped down.

“Here.” Parker came up behind her and gripped her waist. “Your turn.”

“What? Oh…” She was lifted into the air and quickly clasped the bar.

“You can do it,” he said, his big hands firmly in position.

She laughed. “I’m not sure I have the muscles for it.”

“Try.”

She had a go at pulling herself up. Her bag slipped. Parker kept hold of her.

“I need to join a gym,” she gasped.

“We’ll find you one, if that’s something you’d like,” Hugh said.

She let go of the bar, and Parker released her. She set her bag to one side.

“So…” Hugh said, folding his arms and leaning his butt on the bench. “Are you going to tell me how you got on with the tasks I set you this week or are you going to keep avoiding the subject?”

“Tasks?” A flush of heat went up her chest, to her throat.

Hugh had that steely glint in his eyes again, the one that made him look as if he’d never heard of the word ‘humor’.

She glanced at Parker. His gaze was on her, equally brooding and stern. The atmosphere had changed from playful, boisterous almost, to deathly serious, as though a storm cloud had blown in around them.

“What tasks?”

“Don’t mess with me,” Hugh said. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“I went to the appointment at the clinic.” She tipped her chin. “You know I did. You checked up on me. You have the results.”

“Yes. That’s good.” He nodded. His knuckles were pressing against the muscles in the tops of his arms, denting them. “And your landlord?”

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