CHAPTER 7

Thank you for the comments, it really spurs me on :)

Owen marched into the kitchen with Miles in tow.

"Look who I found loitering outside," he said jovially with a nod, nudging Miles with his elbow.

The young ward rolled his eyes, put his hands in his pockets, and headed towards the doorway, quite disinterested.

Jamie squinted at the young boy, always on her guard where Miles was concerned. "I hope you've bin behavin'?" she questioned, before he left the room.

Miles turned his head slowly and looked her directly in the eyes with scorn. Jamie's eyes widened at the distain, but the boy simply sniggered under his breath, and strolled off into the corridor.

"He is such a little shite," said Jamie to the others, "a cocky little shi…"

"Hey, come on, he's just a kid," Dani interrupted.

"Spent too long with Peter fuckin' Quint, that's 'is problem," she continued. "I see more and more of 'im in 'im every day!"

Dani cocked her head slightly, wide eyed as she threw the gardener her teacher look.

Jamie reigned it in, sucking at the insides of her cheeks, "Sorry... Miss Clayton…" she said playfully.

Dani pursed her lips, trying to stifle the smirk that had involuntarily formed.

"He just winds me up, that's all," Jamie said, hesitating for a second, "But… I know… he's just a kid… and I'm the adult…" she continued with a playful roll of her eyes, recognising that her hot-head had reared up again.

Dani smiled at her, "That's right…"

Jamie smirked and scrunched her face up at the young teacher, their eyes smiling at one another.

Dani's more rational approach to things was one of her endearing qualities. She was a teacher after all, steering young minds in the right direction, and maybe some of that was rubbing off on Jamie too.

"Impressive…" offered Owen as he busied himself in the kitchen, "I didn't think we'd ever see this one tamed," he said, nodding his head to the side at Jamie.

The young au pair smirked back at him.

Jamie's jaw dropped, "Oi!" she exclaimed, marching over to the counter and grabbing a fistful of pre-cut veg, ready to throw at the smug chef.

"Now now Jamie, don't hurt them… non of this was their fault," he said in his dead-pan manner.

Jamie chuckled under her breath, but squinted at him ready to do battle.

"Cheeky sod!… Tamed?!" she tutted.

"Alright, alright, come on now… let's squashany beef between us…"

The corners of her mouth began to upturn, as Owen lifted the butternut squash in front of him with a raised eyebrow.

"Jamie… You're my butter half… Lettuce discuss this like human beans…" he continued, pulling a sad face, raising a green bean to his mouth, and bending it downwards.

Her smirk continued to try and break free, but she held her nerve.

"Look… all I ask is that you beetroot to yourself…" he said, placing a beet to his chest.

He hesitated for a moment…

"Peas?"

Jamie couldn't hold it in any longer and a chuckle escaped her. She threw a carrot at him in disgust, and set the rest back down on the counter, "Fuckin' 'ell Owen?!" she exclaimed, "There aren't words for whatever… whatever that was…" she said with a chuckle, circling her hand at him.

With a continued seriousness, the chef lifted the carrot up in front of his face, and looked up towards the ceiling. "Keep calm and carrot on!" he exclaimed, kissing it and thrusting it upwards.

"I'm out…" said Jamie raising both hands in bewilderment, retreating and looking over towards Dani, who was simply stood grinning at the whole thing.

"Well… I though that was marvellous Owen," the young American said with completely joy, her hands clasped together in front of her chest.

"Don't encourage 'im," said Jamie, "he'll never learn…" she continued jovially, smiling at the smug chef.

"Hey… What can I say ladies?!… I yam what I yam" he said with complete self-satisfaction, getting back to his dinner prep.

Jamie rolled her eyes and shook her head with a chuckle as she began clearing her tools away.

Dani sauntered over towards her, glancing briefly over towards the sink as Owen was washing the veg with his back to the room. She let herself bump into Jamie lightly from behind, her right hand finding her waist. Jamie's head rose instantly, turning her neck to meet her with a surprised but happy smile.

Dani instantly and boldly nudged her nose into Jamie's, resting their foreheads together. She ran her nose up and down affectionately a couple of times before kissing her softly on the lips. The sensation sent a tingle through both of them, the hand on Jamie's waist clutching the gardener's side with a desire that wouldn't be satisfied.

"I'm gonna go relieve Hannah," Dani said as she pulled back, "and I suppose you'd better get cleaned up in here..." she continued with a chuckle, looking the length of the filthy table. "I'll see you later?" she said hopefully.

"Course…" Jamie replied with sincerity, "Did you wanna talk about Flora?" she asked, going back to the subject that was haunting Dani before Owen had interrupted them.

She smiled at her, thankful for this woman, but shook her head. "Thank you… but I think I'm gonna try Henry again, see if he will actually talk to me this time… I need to find out more, and I feel like he knows more than he's let on," she said, her cogs whirring.

"Yeah… Good plan!" Jamie agreed, "I 'ope he gives you summat useful… and you know where I am, right?" she said, making sure Dani knew she wasn't alone in this.

The au pair's smile grew, their eyes fixed on one another adoringly. She glanced over at Owen again, before swooping back in to steal another quick peck on the lips. Squeezing Jamie's side, she pulled away, trailing her fingertips across the gardener's back as she did so. Jamie arched slightly at the sensation, which didn't go unnoticed, Dani smiling at the affect she seemed to have on her.

Heading towards the doorway, Jamie's eyes followed her every move. The young teacher caught the door frame with her hand, and turned back to look at Jamie once more before making her way into the corridor. They couldn't help but beam at one another, fully aware that whatever this was between them was the best thing either of them had ever known.