Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [68]
Honestly, it was as bad as Bev's hopeless infatuatioi with Greg. Worse even, because at least Bev was single I've already got a boyfriend, thought Miranda, and I'm stil doing it.
Then again, it was a harmless enough hobby. Wasn't the world full, after all, of happily married women fantasising harmlessly over George Clooney?
`Could you get my bag?' Daisy's voice broke into he daydream.
Miranda abruptly stopped shampooing.
`Sorry?'
`My phone's ringing.' Calmly Daisy nudged the black Prada bag next to her foot. `I can't reach it. I'm expecting an important call.'
From Miles!
Miranda launched herself at the bag, almost knocking herself out on the basin as she jerked upright again. Her imagination, working overtime, galloped through the ensuing phone call from Miles:
`You're where? The Fenn Lomax salon? Hey, is there a pretty girl working there… gorgeous eyes, spiky blue hair? You're kidding, that's fantastic! Put her on, will you, let me speak to her!'
The trouble with actual phone conversations was, they were always a big let-down compared with imaginary ones.
`Oh, hi, Suze.' Daisy gestured behind her for Miranda to turn the water off and pass her a towel. `No, nothing much, just getting my hair done, then off to some music awards thing tonight with Ritchie.'
Ritchie?
Miranda, giving the sink a brisk scrub-down in order to look busy, wondered who the hell Ritchie was.
Luckily, so did Suze.
Daisy giggled into the phone.
`Ritchie Capstick, he's a video-jock with MTV. My agent set it up… God, you must be joking, he's really ugly and really gay… definitely no comparison with Miles!'
Whoever Suze was, she was having a truly miraculous effect on Daisy. Her whole face had lit up and she was laughing and joking like an actual human being. Miranda,energetically polishing the lined-up bottles of shampoo and conditioner, heard the tinny squawks emanating from the phone but was unable - disappointingly - to make out what was being said.
`No, he's still in Montreal, training for the Canadian Grand Prix. Bloody boring.' Daisy pulled a face. `Still. can't be helped, and it's only for another ten days.'
More tinny squawking from Suze's end of the line.
`Well of course it's dangerous, did you think that hadn't occurred to me?' Daisy rolled her eyes. `But that's his job, Suze, it's what makes him exciting! D'you think I'd look at him twice if he was a sheep fanner?'
Tinny squawk, tinny squawk.
`Yeah well, if it happens it happens.' Daisy shrugged. `Still, great publicity, eh? Think how sorry for me everyone would be… the whole world loves a tragedy, not to mention a grieving girlfriend!'
`I have to rinse you now,' Miranda said stonily. `Fenn's waiting.'
Daisy ignored her.
`Yeah, like Thingy Winslet in Titanic.' She grinned intc the phone. `And I've always looked bonza in black.'
Chapter 28
Greg met up with Adrian in the bar of the Prince of Wales for an early-evening drink.
`You've asked her to move in with you?' Adrian spluttered into his pint. `Bloody hell, you're a sucker for punishment, aren't you? Out with one bird, in with the next! What have you got in that new flat of yours, revolving doors?'
Greg had expected nothing less from Adrian, who spent all his time noisily slagging off women but who was secretly miserable and desperate - like most divorced men - to meet the right girl and settle down.
`I never expected it to happen like this. It's not the kind of thing you plan,' he said with a shrug. `But it's happened and we want to be together. So why shouldn't she move in?'
Adrian tried not to look envious. How could he blame Greg, anyway, when he'd fancied Miranda himself?
`She isn't bothered about the business with Chloe and the baby, then?'
Greg took a careful gulp of his lager.
`That's the great thing about Miranda, she hates kids too. You should have heard her the other day, going on about her landlady's grandson. Complete monster, apparently, kicks like a mule. Miranda can't stand him.'
Adrian raised his eyebrows.
`So you still haven't told her about Chloe and the baby.' `Oh