Honor Under Siege

“As al right as can be expected. A smal , impatient sigh filtered down

the phone line. “Come home. Wel talk.

Home. The White House would never feel like home to Blair, because it

wasnt, even though her father and Lucinda were there. True, she had

no other family home. Her father had sold the house she had grown up

in when her mother died. Blair was twelve at the time, and after

that she had lived in the governors mansion or whatever other

house came with her fathers political position. Lucinda had always

been like family. Shed been a close friend of both Blairs parents before

Blairs mother died, and shed been a constant figure in Blairs life ever

since. Not a mother figure, but strong and capable and comforting, for al

her demands. But Blairs home was her loft in Manhat an, and that

had been nearly destroyed in an at ack that had come at the same time as

the devastation at the World Trade Center. She didnt have a home now,

and the memories of terror and death chil ed her. She glanced at Cam,

who watched her pensively. Cam. Cam was home.

Blair pushed the images of loss away. “It wil take us a while to

arrange transportation to the airport.

“I can get State Troopers to escort

you.

“God, no, Blair said with barely suppressed horror. “Ive got al the

protection I

need. Just tel the pilot he may have to

wait.

“Al right then. Il see you this

afternoon.

Blair ended the cal and handed the phone back to Paula. “Were

leaving.

“Il let the teams know, Paula

said.

“Il cal Tanner and arrange for drivers. Cam hesitated, casting a

questioning look in Starks direction. “If thats al right with you.

“Its fine. Thanks, Stark answered on her way out the back door.

Cam set her tea aside and slid her arms around Blairs waist.

“Whats up?

“I dont know. Blair kissed the tip of Cams chin. “But Lucinda wants

to talk.

“Uh-

oh.

Blair sighed. “I know. She rocked her hips lightly against Cams.

“Have you heard anything from Stewart?

Cam shook her head. Assistant Director Stewart Carlisle was her

immediate superior in the Department of the Treasury, but since shed

most recently been on special assignment reporting directly to the

president, she hadnt been under Stewarts command for some time. “I

dont actual y know who Im reporting to anymore. She glanced through

the back door to the guest house visible partway down the slope to the

beach. Blairs security team was there. The nerve center of al that went

into protecting Blair was there. And she wasnt. “Especial y since Im not

on your security team anymore.

Blair leaned back, hooking her thumbs in the loops of Cams jeans. “It

bothers you, doesnt it. That Stark is in charge now.

“Starks a good

agent.

Blair laughed. “Cameron. Dont even

try.

Cam forced herself to unclench her jaw. “Yes, it bothers me.

I didnt want to be switched from investigation to protection

when they first assigned me to your team last year. But you

know what? She kissed Blair lightly. “Im good at it. And Im

motivated. I like She shrugged. “looking after you.

“Oh, darling, Blair murmured. “You do look after me. In all

the ways that mean the most to me. You love me, and thats

what I really need. I dont need you throwing yourself in front

of me if some crazy person decides they dont like the color of

my dress.

“I know thats not what you need. Cam ran a hand through her

hair. “But its kind of what I need.

“I know. Blair hugged her tightly. It was rare that she could

touch Cam without being aroused, for which she was

pleased and grateful. She hoped that never changed. She

couldnt imagine not wanting her. Just at the moment, though,

she wanted to comfort her because it was so unusual for

Cam to be unsure about anything. And she could sense Cams

unease and uncertainty. “We all need time to get adjusted to the

changes, Cam. But Im always going to need you.

Cam smiled and rested her forehead against Blairs. “And

Im always going to need you.

* * * * *

Paula hurried down the twisting path to the guesthouse.

Under other circumstances she would have taken a second to

appreciate the unseasonably warm early October morning, but

her mind was totally consumed with the myriad details of her

job. She felt the full weight of her new responsibilities

intensely, but beneath the low-level hum of nerves, she was

also aware of the surge of excitement that always accompanied

any operation when Egret, as Blair was official y cal ed, was on

the move.

“Listen up, she said as she pushed through the front door into

the living room. “Egret is flying. She shed the windbreaker

shed grabbed earlier on her way down to the beach and rol ed

up the sleeves of her white button-down col ar shirt. She headed

straight for the dining room where theyd set up their