Uncertainty, wrenching unhappiness, insecurity and a debilitating sense of inadequacy all erupted into searing anger.
Planting her hands on her hips, she glared at David. âNow you listen to me, Mr. Take-Charge-Stone-Face-Macho-Man! I donât know who you think you are or where you got the impression that Iâm some kind of windup doll you can play with when it suits you, then set conveniently out of the way when youâve got better things to do. But weâre going to correct that impression right here and right now.â
âCalm down, Paige.â
âDonât âPaigeâ me. And do not, do not ever, use that patronizing tone of voice with me again. Assuming I allow you to speak to me at all, that is. I want to know whatâs going on here.â
They faced each other like two combatants, arms crossed and bodies tense. Neither one heard Meredith walk back into the room.
Maggie could see at a glance that the course of true love hadnât run smooth during her brief absence. David and Paige stood toe-to-toe, looking for all the world like a sleek, well-muscled California brown bear squared off against a delicate gazelle. He towered over Paige, his face set in hard, unyielding lines. Chin lifted, eyes flashing with a surprising bravado, sheglowered up at him. The gazelle wasnât giving an inch, Maggie realized with a start of surprise.
âItâs all set,â she announced, drawing their reluctant attention. âA helicopter will pick Paige up at the heliport atop the Carlton in thirty minutes. Sheâll fly to the U.S. air base at Ramstein, in Germany, then take a transport to the States.â
âIâm not going.â
Her eyes widening in surprise, Maggie glanced from Paigeâs set face to Davidâs thunderous one, then back again.
âSomeone thinks Iâm you,â the younger woman said belligerently. âOr rather that Iâm the person youâre obviously pretending to be.â
âWhat makes you think Iâm pretending?â Maggie asked sharply.
Paige waved an impatient hand. âI admit I donât know anything about call girls or pimps or this particular line of work. But I do know David. He may be overbearing and obnoxious and entirely too arrogant in his own quiet way,â she said acidly, âbut heâs not the kind of man to become involved withâ¦with prostitution.â
Doc didnât look particularly pleased with her somewhat backhanded vote of confidence.
âBesides,â Paige added, with a cool look in her forest green eyes, âa call girl doesnât just whisk a person out of a foreign country aboard military transports. Who do you work for? Military intelligence? The CIA?â
Maggie and Doc exchanged silent looks.
âIf you two do that one more time,â Paige stated through clenched teeth, âIâm going to throw something.â
Her mind racing, Maggie assessed the situation. Obviously, there was more to Paige Lawrence than the shy, somewhat timid young woman sheâd met in the boutique this morning. She was intelligent, too intelligent for her own good. Sheâd guessed enough to put herself in danger if those on the yacht managed to connect her with this operation. OMEGA would have to send her to a safe haven for the duration of the mission.
Assuming the mission wasnât already hopelessly compromised, Maggie thought with bitter honesty. She and Paige were close enough in appearance to be mistaken for each other at first glance, but not close enough to carry off the deception if the driver, or anyone else, had gotten a clear look at either of them.
Which was why, when Paige suggested a few moments later that she stay in Cannes and meet with whomever had sent the Rolls, Maggie didnât object immediately.
David, however, did.
âAbsolutely not.â
Paige ignored him, addressing herself to Maggie. âThe driver thinks Iâm Meredith Ames. I never
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley