Free Dangerous to Know by Merline Lovelace

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. “Now you listen to me, Mr. Take-Charge-Stone-Face-Macho-Man! I don’t know who you think you are or where you got the impression that I’m some kind of windup doll you can play with when it suits you, then set conveniently out of the way when you’ve got better things to do. But we’re going to correct that impression right here and right now.”
    â€œCalm down, Paige.”
    â€œDon’t ‘Paige’ 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 what’s going on here.”
    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 hadn’t 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 wasn’t giving an inch, Maggie realized with a start of surprise.
    â€œIt’s all set,” she announced, drawing their reluctant attention. “A helicopter will pick Paige up at the heliport atop the Carlton in thirty minutes. She’ll fly to the U.S. air base at Ramstein, in Germany, then take a transport to the States.”
    â€œI’m not going.”
    Her eyes widening in surprise, Maggie glanced from Paige’s set face to David’s thunderous one, then back again.
    â€œSomeone thinks I’m you,” the younger woman said belligerently. “Or rather that I’m the person you’re obviously pretending to be.”
    â€œWhat makes you think I’m pretending?” Maggie asked sharply.
    Paige waved an impatient hand. “I admit I don’t 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,” she said acidly, “but he’s not the kind of man to become involved with…with prostitution.”
    Doc didn’t look particularly pleased with her somewhat backhanded vote of confidence.
    â€œBesides,” Paige added, with a cool look in her forest green eyes, “a call girl doesn’t just whisk a person out of a foreign country aboard military transports. Who do you work for? Military intelligence? The CIA?”
    Maggie and Doc exchanged silent looks.
    â€œIf you two do that one more time,” Paige stated through clenched teeth, “I’m going to throw something.”
    Her mind racing, Maggie assessed the situation. Obviously, there was more to Paige Lawrence than the shy, somewhat timid young woman she’d met in the boutique this morning. She was intelligent, too intelligent for her own good. She’d 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 wasn’t 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 didn’t object immediately.
    David, however, did.
    â€œAbsolutely not.”
    Paige ignored him, addressing herself to Maggie. “The driver thinks I’m Meredith Ames. I never