Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [64]
Chloe stared at Miranda in amazement.
Florence, raising her eyebrows, said, `Is she on drugs?'
`Either that or she has something to hide.' Danny was calmly counting his own money. `It could be a desperate attempt to distract us, so we won't notice she's landed on somebody else's property-'
`Yes! Bond Street!' Chloe cried. `Hooray, that's mine!' `Bastard.' Miranda glared at Danny, who was trying not to smile.
`Actually,' he said to Chloe, `would you take seven hundred pounds for Fenchurch Street Station?'
Chloe, who was turning into quite the wheeler-dealer, promptly said, `Make it eight.'
Florence said, `He only has seven.'
Danny looked at Miranda.
`Pay-up time, I'm afraid. I need that extra hundred.'
`I don't have it! Chloe's just cleaned me out,' Miranda protested. Danny could take a hike, he wasn't getting his hands on her emergency fund.
`Give me my hundred.'
`I can't.'
`Oh yes you can.'
`Look, how can I give you something I don't have?' Florence said, `Where are you going?' as Danny leapt to his feet.
`Don't you know? I'm a debt collector in my spare time.'
Miranda, who was on her knees, began to shuffle rapidly backwards away from the table. Ow, carpet burns, carpet burns
No!' She let out a howl of outrage as Danny made a grab for her. `You can't do that!'
A brief and not very dignified grappling contest ensued on the Persian rug. Miranda screamed as warm fingers burrowed expertly under her T-shirt and slid - eek - beneath the waistband of her skirt.
`Sorry,' said Danny, emerging triumphant within seconds and clearly not sorry at all. `Had to be done.'
Grinning, he waggled the crumpled fifties under Miranda's nose, then whisked them out of reach before she could grab them back.
`I hate you,' Miranda sighed. Now I'm really, really skint.'
`Cheer up, I might land on Old Kent Road in a minute.' Danny rolled his eyes. `Then I'll owe you… phew, two whole pounds.'
`That wasn't gel I put in your hair, by the way.' Miranda tugged her T-shirt down over her midriff. `It was superglue.'
`You two, stop sniping,' Florence instructed as the telephone began to ring. `At least while I answer the phone.'
`Maybe I should check your bra,' said Danny. `You could have thousands stashed away.'
Miranda gazed up at him from the floor, flushed and out of breath.
`You wouldn't dare.'
`Want to bet? Oh, sorry, you can't, can you?' Danny flashed her his wickedest grin. `I forgot you don't have any money left to bet with.'
`Pig,' wailed Miranda.
`Miranda!' said Florence.
`What? Why can't I call him a pig?'
`I think Florence is talking about the phone call,' Chloe put in helpfully.
`Oh.' Lifting her head from the rug, Miranda saw Florence holding the receiver out to her. `Who is it?'
`Richard Branson, ringing to ask if you want to borrow a couple of grand.' Florence cackled and blew pretend kisses in the direction of the phone. `Who d'you think?'
Chloe passed the receiver across to Miranda and wriggled out of her way.
At the sound of Greg's voice, Miranda's stomach did an impromptu jump for joy.
`Sounds lively,' he observed. `What's going on?'
`I'm just losing at Monopoly. Mainly because I'm surrounded by cheats.' Miranda narrowed her eyes at Danny.
`How about you?'
`Lonely. Missing you,' said Greg.
`Oh!' Overcome by this admission, Miranda tried to shield her mouth so that Danny wouldn't be able to overhear. `I miss you too!'
`This is so romantic.' Danny sighed, clutching Chloe's shoulder and shaking his head. `Anyone got a tissue?'
`You may need one' - this time Miranda covered the receiver - `to mop up the blood.' Moving her hand away, she returned her attention to Greg. `Sorry about that. Some
people have the most infantile sense of humour. So where are you now, out somewhere celebrating the end of the conference?'
`Better than that. Newport Pagnell service station, on the M1.'
Miranda let out an earsplitting shriek.
`You're joking! What are you doing there?'
`Uh oh,' Danny leaned back on one elbow, `he's met someone else. He's ringing from Gretna Green to tell her he's just