‘Obviously.’ Juliette giggled. ‘I’m so pleased it’s allgone well for you. Are you nervous about starting with a new firm?’
‘I think it’s you who should be worried, seeing as I’ll be working from home two days a week. Won’t I cramp your style?’
‘I’m sure I can manage. Besides, once we’re both here, our bills and outgoings will be less, so maybe I won’t have to work every day of the week.’ Already she’d taken to leaving Friday afternoons free and her weekends were kept clear for when Danny was around, so the life-work balance had shifted in the right direction for them.
‘What are you having?’ She looked up from the menu. ‘I think I’m going to try the chicken.’
‘I’m going to have…steak.’ He snapped it shut.
‘So predictable.’
They placed their orders and wine was poured. Danny had a lemonade too.
‘Have you thought any more about…’ Juliette stopped, her eyes widening with disbelief.
‘What is it?’
‘It’s Richard, from next door. And he’s with another woman.’
Danny turned his head.
‘Don’t look!’ she whispered loudly.
‘What am I supposed to do? Face you and not move all evening?’ He shook his head. ‘Besides, it might be completely innocent.’
Juliette put a hand to her face. ‘I don’t know why I’m blushing. I’m not doing anything I shouldn’t be.’
‘What’s the woman like?’
‘Mid-twenties, tall, blonde hair. Very attractive.’
‘He must be a charmer, getting them so young.’
‘If I didn’t know you, I’d say you were envious.’
‘Naw, but I am going to have a quick look.’ He did so just as Richard leaned over to kiss the woman across the table.
‘I told you!’ Juliette said. ‘That’s definitely not business.’
The waitress came across with their orders and bustled around them as they got ready to eat.
‘What’s he doing now?’ Danny asked.
‘I wish I’d let you sit facing the room,’ she said. ‘I’m right in his eyeline and I can’t stop looking.’
‘Well, I suppose it’s none of our business what he gets up to. It’s not as if it’s doing us any harm.’
‘But what about Sarah? I’ve a good mind to make it obvious we can see him, watch his face when he knows he’s been caught.’
‘It’s nothing to do with us,’ Danny repeated. ‘Let’s eat.’
Juliette gave Richard one last glance before shaking her head. ‘I hope he hasn’t seen us, actually. That would make things very awkward. Oh, they’re standing up. Looks like they’re going.’
‘Has he spotted you now?’
‘I don’t think so.’ She sat still while she watched thecouple disappear and then she gave out a huge sigh of relief. ‘They’ve gone.’
‘Good. Now we can concentrate on us.’
