Miranda's Big Mistake Read Online Free

all this effort,’ Greg drawled, gesturing at her dress. ‘Oh, I get it now. Slap on a bit of make-up, dig a garter belt out of the back of your knicker drawer, and that’ll do the trick. One flash of stocking-top and you’ll have me at your mercy, gibbering, “Darling, how wonderful, you’ve made me the happiest man in the world, of course I want a baby.”’
    Chloe looked away.
    Well, yes.
    Basically it was what she had hoped would happen.
    â€˜Sorry, Chloe. I can’t do it. I told you before we got married how I felt about children, and I’m not about to start changing my mind now. See?’ Greg waved an arm in the direction of the window. ‘No flying pigs.’
    No, thought Chloe, just one two-legged one right here in the living room.
    â€˜I can’t get rid of it,’ she whispered, ‘I just couldn’t.’ Hating herself for being so feeble, knowing it was a waste of time even saying the words, she begged. ‘You might change your mind.’
    â€˜No.’ Greg picked up his car keys, his grey eyes cold. ‘No, no, no. By the way,’ he added dismissively as he made for the front door, ‘don’t worry about saving my dinner for me. I’ll eat out.’

Chapter 3
    â€˜Look, I’m really sorry about yesterday,’ said Miranda. ‘I got into all kinds of bother with a customer and ended up having to work through my lunch break, otherwise I’d have—’
    â€˜It’s okay, doesn’t matter. You don’t need to apologize.’
    Miranda blinked icy rain out of her eyes and rummaged through her bag. If her fingers were frozen she couldn’t imagine how his must feel.
    â€˜Ham and tomato today, is that all right? And I thought these might come in handy.’ Digging deeper, she unearthed a pair of tan leather gloves and a black knitted scarf.
    â€˜They’re great. Thanks very much.’ He smiled up at her. ‘Did you knit this?’
    She rolled her eyes.
    â€˜God, no, picked it up in Oxfam. I couldn’t knit to save my life.’
    â€˜Well, thanks anyway. Very warm.’
    He had a nice voice. Miranda watched him wrap the scarf around his neck and slide his fingers into the gloves. She ruffled her own hair, unexpectedly embarrassed. All of a sudden she felt like a bossy maiden aunt forcing her nephew to try on his least favorite Christmas present.
    And be suitably grateful.
    Damn, she wished she hadn’t given him the stupid things now.
    â€˜Better get back.’ Hurriedly, she consulted her watch. ‘Don’t want to get into any more trouble.’
    â€˜These are expensive gloves.’ He was peeling one back at the wrist, reading the label. ‘Harvey Nichols, it says here.’
    â€˜I didn’t buy them,’ said Miranda, anxious to get away. When his dark eyebrows went up, she added, ‘Don’t worry, I didn’t steal them either.’
    ***
    The phone rang in the salon an hour later. Miranda, busy sweeping up hair, dimly heard Bev, at the desk, exclaim happily, ‘Oh hi, yes we do have them, we wondered who they belonged to!’
    Another two minutes elapsed before Bev tapped her on the shoulder.
    â€˜Miranda, that was a client on the phone. Any idea what’s happened to those gloves that were left in the cloakroom? He’s dropping by this afternoon to pick them up and I can’t find them anywhere. D’you know if Fenn put them in his office?’
    â€˜Oh hell.’ Miranda straightened up and let out a groan. For three and a half weeks the gloves had lain unclaimed on a shelf in the cloakroom, and now…well, sometimes life was just too unfair.
    â€˜What does that mean?’ Bev was instantly suspicious. ‘Oh hell what?’
    â€˜They went to a deserving cause.’
    â€˜Don’t tell me, you gave them to that tame tramp of yours.’ Bev guessed at once from the look on Miranda’s face. ‘Oh, you are