Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [113]
`Don't be like this.' When she didn't speak, Danny shook his head. `There's really no need to be embarrassed about what happened the other week. Can't we just forget it and start again?'
Great idea, except some things were harder to forget than others. Particularly when they'd been tattooed on to your brain with what felt like a road-drill.
`Look, I'm not embarrassed about that,' Miranda lied. `But I'm not actually in the mood for socialising tonight. It's been a long day, I'm tired, I-'
`You're tired because you're depressed. I spoke to Florence last week as well,' Danny announced matter-of-factly. `And she told me everything. So now I'm here and we're going to get this sorted out.' As he spoke, he prised Miranda's hand from the door frame and took it firmly in his own. `No more arguments, okay? I'm in charge now. I'm going to take you out,' he shot her a warning look, `and cheer you up if it kills me.'
Miranda went along with it in the end because basicallythere was nothing decent on TV, an evening out might distract her from thinking nonstop about Miles and… well, what the hell, it was easier to make up with Danny than spend the rest of her life in an unflattering strop with him.
And really, now that she had the Miles thing to occupy her - even if the sensible part of her brain told her that nothing would ever come of it - the embarrassing episode with Danny no longer seemed to matter quite so much.
Upstairs, Miranda changed out of her nightie and slippers into a pale-grey shirt and old black jeans. By making as little effort as possible, she hoped to reassure Danny that he was quite safe, she wasn't planning to leap on him crying, `Take me, take me now!'
No make-up, no perfume either. With only a few precious drops of Eau d'Issey left in the bottle, she was saving them for a more enthralling occasion than this.
If Danny noticed the lack of effort she had gone to on his behalf, he kept it to himself.
They drove to a pub in Shepherd's Bush and found a free table outside in the garden.
`White wine?' said Danny.
`Orange juice.' Miranda let him know that contrary to recent appearances she wasn't a complete lush.
It was a family-orientated pub. While Danny was inside getting the drinks, she watched a group of children hurtle one after the other down the slide. When one of them skidded off the end, kicking up the dry bark put down to cushion heavy landings, dust flew into Miranda's eyes and she wiped them on the sleeve of her shirt. Just as well she hadn't bothered with mascara.
`Here.' Danny, back from the bar, handed her a clean
handkerchief and gave her arm a brief squeeze. `You think it's never going to happen to you, don't you?'
Puzzled, Miranda said, `What?'
`But it will, you know. One day.' He nodded at the children leaping and yelling around them.
Was he reassuring her that one day she would have children?
`I just got dust in my eye,' protested Miranda.
Danny nodded, humouring her.
`Okay, but listen to me anyway. The thing with Greg… he was a louse. It's bound to hurt. But one day you'll meet someone else, someone you can trust. You've got a lot going for you, seriously. You're brave and kind-hearted, beautiful, funny…'
`Just not quite beautiful and funny enough for some people.'
Unable to resist the dig, Miranda nevertheless regretted the words as soon as they were out of her mouth. Danny gave her a pained look.
`Let me explain about that. When you and I were in the car outside your house, you'd had a hell of a day. You were drunk as a skunk and miserable. That's why I didn't take you up on your… er, offer, and that's the one and only reason, I promise you.' He leaned closer, his dark eyes serious. `If the circumstances had been different, if it had been any other time, I'd have been more than happy to go along with it.'
Go along with it?
`Well, thank you, that's really generous of you.' Miranda winced. Once again her attempt at sarcasm had failed miserably. Instead she sounded whiny and self-pitying.
Danny said kindly, `You leapt to the wrong conclusion.'
Oh right, thought Miranda, that