Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [122]
She wished the commentator hadn't stopped the interview just as things had been getting interesting.
She really really wished he hadn't used that word titanic.
Halfway through cleaning the kitchen floor - blimey, that was when you knew you were desperate - the doorbell went.
Wringing out her sponge and peeling the wet knees of her jeans away from her skin, Miranda went to answer it. `Oh no, not you again.'
`That's what I love about you, your unquenchable enthusiasm,' said Danny. `Tell me, have you ever considered becoming a Samaritan?'
`Have you ever considered becoming a stand-up comedian?' Miranda parroted back. Heavens, sometimes a wet sponge was an awfully tempting thing to have in your hand.
Danny, reading her mind, said mildly, `This is my best suit. I'd rather you didn't.' He pulled her cheap sunglasses out of his pocket. `I only stopped by to drop these off. You left them at the pub on Friday night.'
`Oh. Thanks.' Grudgingly, Miranda took the glasses from him.
`I'm surprised you're here,' he went on. `Thought you'd be up at Silverstone. Isn't there some kind of race going on today?'
`I was asked. I didn't want to go.' God, that sounded feeble, even to her own ears. Danny clearly thought so too. Irritated by his knowing smirk, Miranda said crossly, `What's the suit in aid of, anyway? Don't tell me you've been to church.'
She would have died rather than admit that actually Danny was looking good. Only someone with his gypsy-darkcolouring - and fat-free physique - could get away with a navy-blue suit teamed with a deep-red shirt and blue and gold tie.
`You like it?' Danny's eyes widened in mock-alarm and he held up his hands. `Stop, better not answer that. And no, I haven't been to church. We're just on our way out to lunch.'
For a moment Miranda thought he was inviting her out. We as in you and me.
Then she realised he didn't mean it like that at all.
Her gaze jerked automatically in the direction of Danny's car. In the passenger seat a glamorous-looking blonde with swept-up hair and a low-cut top was reading a newspaper and calmly smoking a cigarette.
Chapter 49
`Oh.' Unable to think of anything else to say, Miranda asked in a high voice, `Where are you going? Somewhere nice?'
`The Mirabelle.' Danny indicated his striped tie. `Pretty smart, hence the suit.'
`Pretty expensive too.'
`Never mind, she's worth it.' Turning, Danny caught the eye of the blonde waiting in his car. She smiled and wiggled her fingers back at him, sex-kitten-style.
Miranda felt her shoulders stiffen. It wasn't jealousy, it really wasn't. She just knew that Danny hadn't really dropped by to return a pair of sunglasses that had cost all of two pounds fifty.
`Right. I'd better not keep you.'
`I don't know,' Danny mused, `it just doesn't seem fair, somehow. There's Miles Harper, your secret boyfriend, about to take part in the biggest race of his life… and here you are, stuck at home like Cinderella scrubbing the kitchen floor.'
Miranda gritted her teeth. `I've already told you, he asked me if I wanted to watch him race.'
`Oh, that's right, and you said no, you'd rather give Florence's quarry tiles a good going-over.'
`You still don't believe me, do you? You think I'm making this whole Miles Harper thing up.' Losing her temper - oh dear, again - Miranda flung the front door wide open and jabbed a finger in the direction of the sitting room. `Right, let me prove it to you.'
Danny signalled to the waiting blonde that he would be two minutes and she nodded, evidently unperturbed.
In the sitting room, Miranda grabbed the video remote and pressed Rewind. She was going to show Danny once and for all that it wasn't a fantasy affair. The tape finished rewinding and she pressed Play, fingers trembling in her eagerness to wipe that hateful smug smile off his face.
A close-up of a woman with a lot of amalgam fillings appeared on the screen. Her orange-lipsticked mouth was wide open and her epiglottis quivered as she drew breath.
. All things wise and