'Wow.'
Yes it had been.
'I had underestimated you.'
That was the trouble, thought Miranda. Everyone underestimated her. There was always a point where people wrote her off. It felt that no matter what she did, she was never quite good enough. She supposed that why she was warming to Max. He hadn't yet started to treat her like a liability. Sceptical, yes but never dismissive. She turned her head and noticed him looking at her. He was smiling.
'You are quite the surprise, Miranda Blake.'
'That'll teach you not to underestimate me. If you ever tell Inés about this, I'll give her a copy of your film debut.'
'Dammit Miranda, blackmailing me so soon?'
He pretended to look hurt but she could see that he was pleased that she had capitulated somewhat because they had been very good together. Why had he not thought of the desk before? They were lying across it, next to each other, feet sharing the chair. Just as well this hadn't been their office otherwise they would have some explaining to do.
'A girl's got to have a hobby.'
She hauled herself up on her elbows and looked around for her knickers.
'Looking for these?'
Max found them. Of course he did. He wouldn't let them go so Miranda made sure their tussle landed him in the chair. She had to give him an unsubtle push to get him there. He handed them over in delight once she got on top of him and he didn't speak another word for quite some time. His thoughts about this unhitherto layer to Miranda stayed in his head. Why waste the moment with chatter?