Read Online Dangerous to Know by Merline Lovelace - Free Book Online Page B

startled.
    â€œYou’re flying out of Cannes in forty-five minutes—sooner, if Meredith can arrange it.”
    â€œLeaving? But what about my purse? My passport? I don’t have any papers, or money.”
    â€œYou won’t need any,” the other woman assured her, moving toward the bedroom with a confident stride. “I’ll take care of everything.”
    â€œLet’s go,” David said, tugging her to her feet. “I’ll write out your itinerary for you as soon as it’s confirmed and make you a list of contacts at each stop, in case you need them.”
    Her forehead creased as she rose, still wrapped in the soft wool of his suit coat. “How can you get me out of France with no papers?”
    His mouth firmed in an effort to control his impatience as he tugged her to her feet. “I can’t explain it to you. Not right now. But you don’t have to worry. I’ll make sure you’re safe. Someone will be covering you every second until you walk in your front door. When I return,” he added firmly, “we’ll work through this matter of our engagement.”
    It was that firm, no-nonsense tone that did it.
    At that moment, Paige decided she would not walk out of this hotel room like a chastened child, to be sent home to wait and wonder and worry. If there was any hope for her and David at all, if he was ever going to share this private part of his life with her, it had to be now.
    Digging in her one bare and one shod heels, she resisted his efforts to escort her to the suite’s door. “I’m not leaving.”
    â€œI know this is confusing for you,” he said, in that even voice that made Paige’s back teeth grind together. “I’ll explain what I can when I get home.”
    â€œI’m not leaving,” she repeated, folding her arms across her chest. “I want to know what’s going on.”
    His jaw squared a bit at that. “We don’t have time for this.”
    â€œThen we’ll just have to make time.”
    His blue eyes hardened for an instant, and he gave her slender form a quick, assessing look that suddenly made Paige just a little nervous. How ridiculous, she thought, dismissing the shivery sensation that darted down her spine as the product of overstretched nerves. David would never use his physical strength against her. He was always so careful with her, so solicitous of her comfort. The thought reassured her, yet somehow depressed her at the same time.
    â€œYou weren’t listening before,” she told him, with a tilt to her chin. “I was trying to say that marriage has to be an equal partnership. All the strength can’t be on one side, nor all the sharing.”
    â€œWhat about all the trust?”
    â€œI trust you. I trust you enough to believe you’re not one of Meredith’s customers.”
    â€œThank you for that much, at least.”
    Paige’s back stiffened at the hint of sarcasm in his voice. She tossed her damp hair over her shoulders in a gesture that held an uncharacteristic rebelliousness.
    â€œSomeone has mistaken me for Meredith, correct?”
    â€œCorrect. And we’re getting you out of here before they discover that mistake.”
    â€œWhat happens if they do discover Meredith isn’t me? Or I’m not her?”
    â€œThat’s not your concern.”
    There it was again. The closed door. The sealed chamber. The locked part of himself that he refused to allow Paige into. Her mouth settling into mulish lines, she met his look.
    â€œI’m not leaving, David.”
    â€œIt’s not your choice,” he told her, his face hardening.
    â€œIs that right? Just what are you going to do? Drug me and carry me unconscious aboard the plane?”
    â€œIf I have to.”
    Paige’s jaw dropped. Shock held her immobile for long, silent moments. Then the welter of emotions that had weighted her down for so many weeks exploded.