Page 39 of The Couple Behind the Headlines

‘So?’ she asked, sitting up and resolutely hauling herself back on the conversation.

‘I’m babysitting.’

Babysitting?

Imogen’s jaw dropped as she stared at him and she nearly fell off the stool. It was a good thing she’d just put her cup down otherwise there’d be shards of porcelain and coffee all over the floor. ‘Babysitting?’ she echoed.

‘That’s right.’

‘You?’

‘Me.’

‘Are you serious?’

‘Totally.’ He paused, then tilted his head as he gauged her reaction. ‘You know,’ he added mildly, ‘your astonishment isn’t exactly flattering.’

Imogen pulled herself together and flashed him a quick smile. ‘Sorry, but I’m finding it a little difficult to get my head round the idea.’ Then she frowned as a disturbing thought crossed her mind. ‘Whose baby is it?’

‘Not mine, if that’s what you’re thinking.’

‘It wasn’t,’ she said with a speed that she suspected rather weakened that denial.

‘Yes, it was,’ he said, switching the oven on. ‘But don’t worry. I’m not that irresponsible. The baby belongs to that friend of mine, Luke, and Emily, his wife. Daisy’s my god-daughter and Anna is Emily’s sister.’

‘Who happens to know you sleep without anything on?’

Jack grinned. ‘Her notion of a joke, I imagine.’

‘She sounds hilarious.’

‘She has her moments.’

‘So how old is she?’ Imogen asked, still trying to come to terms with the fact that Jack had a god-daughter who he was babysitting tonight.

‘No idea. Late thirties, early forties, maybe.’

‘Ha-ha. Very funny. I meant Daisy.’

‘She’s three.’

‘Do you have much experience of babysitting three-year-old girls?’

‘None at all. This is my first time.’

Oh, dear. If the trauma she’d suffered as a result of running through all those possible explanations for Emily’s phone call hadn’t been so fresh in her mind, she’d have given him her sympathies. But it was, so instead she settled for what she hoped was an enigmatic smile. ‘Then in that case, good luck.’

‘Will I need it?’

All of a sudden he looked worried and Imogen grinned and resisted the temptation to reach out and pat his hand. ‘I’m sure it’ll be a walk in the park.’

Jack nodded. ‘That’s what I thought. I mean, she’s three. How hard can it be?’

If Daisy was anything like her niece, Jack was in for one hell of a weekend. The poor guy really had no idea what was about to hit him. And on top of such little sleep …

Nevertheless, at the thought of a man like Jack giving up his weekend, his Saturday night, to spend time with a little girl, something in the region of her chest melted and she let out a gentle sigh.

‘What?’ he asked, frowning at her.

---