Read Who's That Girl for Free Online Page B

either,' I add defensively. 'I'm intolerant.'
    'You don't say?' he replies, clicking his tongue sympathetically, but his eyes give him away. Yup, he's definitely laughing at me.
    Riled, I return my attention to Miles. 'What are you getting, darling?' I say pointedly, turning my back to the man at the bar. Honestly, it's not like I asked him to talk to me. He talked to me first!
    'Well, actually, I think I'm going to go for the Thai green vegetable curry,' he muses.
    'Ooh, yes, that sounds delicious,' I agree, a little louder than necessary. 'I'll have that too.'
    Huh, that'll show him. Feeling a beat of satisfaction that I'm choosing something entirely different to his suggestions, I try attracting the attention of one of the bar staff so we can order.
    'Gosh, it's really busy, isn't it?' I tut, waving futilely at someone pulling a pint while Miles sits next to me, waiting patiently. 'It's going to take for ever to get served.'
    'Well, lucky you for I've finished my break,' says a now-familiar voice. I turn sideways to see the man next to me getting up from his stool, empty plate in hand, and lifting up the hatch to access the bar. At the same time I notice he's wearing an apron. 'Go ahead,' he says, picking up a pad and pen.
    Oh, no. I feel a mixture of dismay and relief. He works here.
    'Well, I'd like the Thai curry,' Miles is saying pleasantly.
    'Righty-ho.' He smiles, scribbling it down. 'And for you?' He looks up at me and I could swear he's still got that amused expression in his eye.
    'I'll have the same. Please,' I say decisively.
    'You sure?' He cocks his head, eyes twinkling, pen poised.
    'Absolutely,' I say firmly.
    'OK.' He sucks air in through his teeth and writes it down.
    I watch him, feeling a tweak of irritation, but as he turns to ring it up at the cash register, I suddenly have a thought. 'Hang on a minute, does that have nuts in it?'
    He pauses from punching in the total and looks up. 'You're allergic to nuts too?'
    My earlier twinge of irritation now goes up a notch to fullblown annoyance.
    'Yes, very,' I snap, looking at him tight-faced. 'I could go into anaphylactic shock.'
    'She has to carry an EpiPen,' adds Miles, sliding his arm round my waist protectively. 'A single nut could be lethal.' He looks at me, his face suffused with concern. 'Couldn't it, darling?'
    I meet his unwavering gaze and for a moment I forget my annoyance and feel a rush of love towards him. Gosh, I am so lucky to have Miles as a boyfriend. He is so supportive and understanding.
    'Wow.'
    Unlike some men, I think, flicking my eyes back to the barman, who's just standing there, barely keeping a straight face.
    'Yeah, I know. Pretty scary, huh? It's life-threatening on a daily basis,' nods Miles, thinking he's being genuine and not hearing the sarcasm in the barman's voice.
    Blatantly ignoring the barman, I pick up the Evening Standard and pretend to be engrossed in an article about house prices. Hopefully he'll get the message.
    He doesn't.
    'That's terrible. Every meal must be terrifying.'
    'I manage,' I snap from behind the paper.
    'Yes, but we have to be extra vigilant,' confides Miles. 'Remember that time when we were having drinks at the Oxo Tower, darling? And you ate the pretzel that had been contaminated by salted peanuts…'
    I feel a clench of irritation. And now it's directed at Miles. Honestly! Does he have to tell this guy everything? Can't he just ignore him like I'm doing?
    '… and it was pretty scary there for a moment, I can tell you. Poor Charlotte's throat swelled up, her lips went all puffy, and she got this horrible rash.'
    Oh, God. Please. Shut up, Miles. I shoot him a sideways look to silence him, but he's so absorbed in telling his story and defending my honour that he doesn't notice.
    'Really? A horrible rash?' repeats the barman, pulling a face. 'Ouch.'
    And you can shut up too, I think, looking daggers at him.
    'I mean, can you imagine? Using the same bowl for pretzels that you earlier used for salted