Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [102]
`I still think you're mad,' Bev said fretfully. `What's Miles Harper going to think when he sees you looking like this?'
`It's not for him, it's for tomorrow.' Miranda inspected the end result in the mirror, tweaking a couple of stray spiky bits into place. `Anyway, Miles isn't going to turn up. Look at the time.'
Her stomach was in knots. It was hard to pretend youdidn't care when every thud of your heart reminded you that another half-second had gone by and he still hadn't arrived.
`But if he does turn up, how can he take you anywhere nice, with your hair like that?'
Bev was bothered by Miranda's attitude. When a man invited you out, it was your duty to look as good as you knew how. When Bev had a date she could spend anything up to four hours honing her make-up to perfection…
`He isn't going to be taking me anywhere, because he isn't coming.' Miranda wished with all her heart that she hadn't told Bev about the supposed date. Miles Harper - rotten bastard - had either forgotten, or found something more exciting to do. `And anyway, if he does turn up, he'll be too late. Because I'm going home.'
Bev followed her to the door.
`Maybe it's for the best. The last thing you need is tc get involved with someone else who's going to muck you around.'
`Is that meant to make me feel better?'
`Come on, you know what I'm trying to say. Daisy Schofield's away… he's at a bit of a loose end… al he's looking for is someone to amuse himself with until she gets back.'
`Thanks.'
`But it's true!'
Of course it was true. Miranda knew that, she just wasn' in the mood to hear it. She was a nobody and Miles Harpe was practically a national hero. She would be a bit o harmless entertainment for him, nothing more. Her crust on him would deepen - oh yes, she knew that too - and i would all end in tears.
Just for a change.
`Anyway,' Bev said kindly as her bus loomed into view, `you'll have a brilliant time tomorrow.'
A brilliant time, thought Miranda. Have to look that one up in the thesaurus.
The bus eventually jerked to a halt beside them and Bev swung herself up on to the platform. Behind her, a car tooted its horn in appreciation of this slinky manoeuvre. Bev, smirking and flattered by the attention, couldn't resist a quick glance at the driver…
`Where's Miranda?' Miles yelled at her above the roar of the traffic.
Bev's smirk faded. As the bus began to pull away, she pointed to Miranda standing on the pavement.
`Jesus,' exclaimed Miles, grinning as he flung the passenger door open for her. `I didn't recognise you. What have you done to your hair?'
Chapter 42
It was happening and there was nothing Miranda could do to stop it. Everything that Bev had warned her about was coming true, her crush was hurtling out of control like a runaway tank and she'd never been happier in her life.
Then again, maybe this was because she knew it wouldn't last. Like eating an ice cream really slowly and concentrating on every lick, thought Miranda, because first thing tomorrow you know you have to start that crash diet.
Bev would disapprove mightily, of course, but so what? I'm getting involved with someone I really shouldn't get involved with, Miranda told herself recklessly, and I don't care if I am making a fool of myself, or if I end up hurt. This is brilliant and I don't need a thesaurus any more to remind me what it means.
It was scary to think that another thirty seconds and they would have missed each other. Miles would have pulled up outside the salon just as she was disappearing down into the tube station and none of this would be happening now.
`I have to say,' murmured Miles beside her, `I never thought I'd get to sleep with you on our first date.'
`I'm not asleep.'
`Are you cold? We could always zip these bags together…'
`Then we'd definitely never get to sleep,' Miranda told him. `And we'd probably end up getting arrested.'
Miles was dismayed. `For a bit of harmless alfresco fornication? If anyone needs arresting, it's that tone-deaf chap who keeps singing "My Way".'
Miranda stifled laughter.
`He