The Nanny Part 25

"I don't think so-"

Shaun shrugged. "I dunno. I'm probably just imagining it all.

"We shouldn't be talking like this," said Jo suddenly. "They probably have a video cam up the cyberdog's nose."

Shaun laughed. "How does he smell?" he asked.

"He doesn't," replied Jo, scanning the tidy room. "He's not real. Follow me."

"Haven't you finished yet?"

"No. And the quicker I do it the sooner we can go out." She walked back downstairs and started tidying the kitchen.

"You have to admit the boy's good-looking," said Shaun.

"Who?"

"Josh."

"Are you still going on about him?"

"I'm not going on about him, I'm just saying you have to admit he's good-looking."

Jo let out a wry laugh. "I don't have to admit anything," she said, filling the dishwasher. "I want my lawyer."

"Oh come on," said Shaun. "You must have noticed. If you like the poncey, public school type."

"Never occurred to me."

"Oh come on."

"Alright," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "He's good-looking."

Shaun didn't answer.

"Perhaps you could actually help instead of just pestering me," she said.

"Right," said Shaun, joining her in loading the dishwasher while reminding himself to quit while he was ahead next time.

Jo knew exactly where to take Shaun on Friday night. Sat.u.r.day night the girls were taking them both up to a great nightclub in town, so tonight she wanted to keep it local. She'd spotted a tiny French restaurant on Highgate High Street, which looked adorably cute. Shaun loved French food, and she'd booked ahead.

"We've only got two hours there," she told Shaun as they walked up the hill.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "They chuck you out?"

"Not exactly, but they use the table twice in one evening. You can't book it for the whole evening."

"b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l."

"It's a tiny restaurant."

"And that's our problem?"

"No, it's just-look, it's special."

"What, as in 'special needs'?"

She linked her arm with his.

"Come on," she coaxed. "Don't spoil it, we've only got one night alone."

Shaun unlinked their arms and put his arm round her shoulder, squeezing her tight as they continued up the hill. He stopped at every estate agent they pa.s.sed, which took considerable time as there were more estate agents than newsagents on Highgate Hill.

"Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed. "Look at the prices!" He started laughing. "And Londoners think they're better than us!"

"No they don't."

"Look at that one! And it's only a two-bed flat. We could get a mansion for that at home."

"Yes," but you wouldn't be in London."

"I know!" he cried. "Brilliant!"

When they finally reached the restaurant, Jo led Shaun to the tiny window and made him peer in.

He smiled down at her, and she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. "Very nice," he said. They walked down the narrow covered pathway to the side entrance and were led to the one table in the restaurant window. The waitress handed them their menus.

"Jesus Christ!" whispered Shaun. "Look at the prices!"

"Shaun!" hissed Jo, flus.h.i.+ng.

"No wonder the Fitzgeralds pay you so much."

"Shaun," asked Jo. "Why are you spoiling this?"

Shaun looked up at her. He held her hand over the table. "Am I? I didn't realize," he said. "Sorry. It's all just a bit new to me, that's all."

"I suppose I've got used to some things."

Shaun gave a twitch of his eyebrows, which Jo pretended not to see.

When the waitress came over, Jo was about to order, when to her amazement, Shaun ordered for them both.

"What are you doing?" she interrupted.

"I'm ordering. What do you think I'm doing?"

"How do you know what I want?"

Shaun frowned. "You like it when I order for you."

"I do not."

"Yes you do, you always say you can't make up your mind."

"Well," said Jo uncomfortably, "I can now."

The waitress stopped writing. "Shall I come back?" she asked.

"Yes," said Shaun.

"No," said Jo. "We both know what we want, thanks."

When Jo made her order, she looked straight at the waitress. Shaun ordered his usual, French onion soup and rack of lamb. When the waitress left them alone again, they looked at each other.

"So, since when did you like gravlax?" asked Shaun.

"Since I tried it."

"What is it when it's at home?"

"Dry-cured salmon marinated in herbs."

Shaun tutted and shook his head.

When their food was brought to them, Shaun eyed Jo's suspiciously. "Looks like leather."

Jo gave him a look, and he shut up. They ate the rest of their meal in silence, occasionally interrupted by Shaun remarking how tasty the food was.

When they walked back, Jo started to tell him about the new friends she'd met and ignored the lack of enthusiasm in his responses. She supposed it was a bit unsubtle, telling him how happy she was, so she stopped. Instead, she began to describe the kids. When he started sighing at her tales of how much work she was expected to do and told her to have a word with her boss, she stopped. She was relieved when they got home.

d.i.c.k and Vanessa were in the lounge with the door shut, so they were able to tiptoe unnoticed into Jo's room.

Half an hour later, Shaun rolled away from her and fell asleep. She lay in bed wondering if Josh had heard anything.

Chapter 14.

Sat.u.r.day morning, Jo woke early. She listened intently for any noises coming from Josh's bedroom. If he was in bed, they would have to be quiet. If he wasn't, it meant he'd seen them in bed together on his way through her room. This was beginning to feel intolerable. Then she heard a very loud yawn and knew that Josh was still in bed. Worse, he was letting them know he was in bed. Even worse, if she could hear him yawning, he would have heard last night's noises.

She got out and went into the bathroom for her shower and took her clothes in with her to change. She'd hoped Shaun would have woken up by the time she returned, but he was absolutely fast asleep. She knew Josh would want to get dressed, but was trapped until he knew they were both finished. She shook Shaun. He grunted. She shook him again. He grunted again. She whispered his name in his ear. He smiled. She whispered it again. He grabbed her round the waist and pulled her onto the duvet. When he realized she was serious and not coming back into bed, he opened his eyes. "Crikey, you're dressed," he said. "What time is it?"

Jo looked over at Mickey Mouse, whose grin seemed frustratingly knowing. "Eight."

Shaun moaned. "You mean we don't get a lie in?"

"We can't."

"Why?"

"Because he can hear everything."

"Who?"

Jo pointed her head at Josh's door. "Josh."

"His room's there?"

She nodded.

"b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l."

"He'll hear everything."

"Good," he said, and tried to grab her again.

"No, Shaun."

He started tickling her and despite herself, she started giggling. Shaun always knew exactly where to get her.

"Stop it!" she shouted eventually. "Leave me alone!"

Shaun stopped it and left her alone."

"I'm going to put on some coffee," she whispered. "Get in that shower immediately or I'm going out without you."

Shaun grinned up at her. Anything you say, s.e.xy," he said at full volume.

"Shhhhh."

As soon as Jo shut the door behind her, Shaun yawned very loudly and started whistling the theme tune to The Italian Job.

Jo opened the door and shushed him again, nodding toward Josh's room again. Shaun stopped.

"Oh yeah!" he hissed loudly enough to be heard in Niblet. "Sorry."

They spent the afternoon wandering round Covent Garden, watching the buskers and eating ice cream. The weather was idyllic-it was turning out to be a beautiful spring-and it reminded Jo of their first few months together all those years ago. And yet, she couldn't seem to get rid of a nasty feeling of guilt. As she watched a juggler while Shaun made a work call on his mobile, she retraced her steps, waiting for the guilt to reappear. She pinpointed the feeling back to her bedroom, but Shaun was the only person who'd been in her bedroom, and she didn't think she'd said anything to hurt him. Or had she? He didn't look hurt, he looked very busy behind his shades, eating his ice cream and chatting on the phone. Good.

Later that evening, they made their way to the nightclub where they were to meet Pippa, Gabriella, and Rachel. Jo found them already in the queue.

"Hiya!" she called out. "This is Shaun." She held him forward on her arm and basked in their appreciative gazes.