Oath of Honor

on silent wheels and to officers standing post, motionless but intently

alert. Suddenly craving the norm, a refuge from the chaos of her life,

she detoured at the last moment and headed to the clinic area. A middle-

aged man she hadn’t met was making notes in a chart at the desk in the

AOD’s office. She recognized him from his file photo. She tapped on

the door. “Evening, Colonel Dunbar.”

He finished a notation, put his pen aside, and closed the file before

looking up. He wore a dark blue button-down-collar shirt, a navy-

and-red striped tie loosened at the neck. His expression morphed from

questioning to friendly and he stood quickly. “Captain, glad to meet

you finally. Sorry our paths haven’t crossed before this.”

• 194 •

Oath Of hOnOr

“Good to finally meet you. Sorry for the circumstances.”

“Damn shame about Len,” he said, shaking his head. His wiry

iron-gray hair was clipped military style, and his steel-blue eyes were

clear and sharp. “I was on leave—my oldest daughter just got married.

Couldn’t believe it when I heard the news.”

“I didn’t know him personally, but I know it’s a loss.”

He took a breath. “Well, new order of the day. Anything I can help

you with?”

“I think I’ve got things in hand, but I appreciate the offer. Anything

you think I need to know, problems, questions—stop by my office or

call me, anytime.”

“I’ll do that.”

“I’ll let you get back to those charts.”

He gave them a morose look and sank back into the chair behind

the desk. He’d already pulled the next from the stack and opened it

by the time she reached the door. Halfway down the row of patient

cubicles, she nearly ran into Jennifer coming out of one of the treatment

rooms. Tonight she wore olive green pants, tapered and just form-fitting

enough to accentuate her hips and thighs. Her shirt was cream silk and

unbuttoned a tasteful distance at the throat. Her glossy dark hair was

caught back at her nape with a simple gold clip. She managed to look

professional and sexy at the same time. Her lips parted in a wide smile.

“Captain! I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.”

“I just came in to get some paperwork done,” Wes said. “How are

things going?”

“Very well. I was just restocking after our last walk-in left.” As she

spoke, she brushed her fingers over Wes’s arm. “Just the usual today—

seasonal illnesses, a sprained knee from a stumble on the grounds, run-

of-the-mill aches and pains.”

“Sounds like a good day to me.”

She laughed. “I guess you could say that. I prefer something with

a little more action.” She accentuated the last word with a squeeze to

Wes’s forearm.

“How did you come by this duty, then? Somehow, I see you as a

field medic.”

“Thank you.” She colored, her eyes sparkling with pleasure. “I

volunteered, actually. I thought the job was an important one, and the

• 195 •

RADCLYfFE

experience of being this close to the president is a once-in-a-lifetime

thing.” She moved an inch closer and her hip brushed Wes’s. “And of

course, I get to work with the best medical team in the world.”

Wes leaned back, wanting to telegraph her lack of interest without

insulting someone she’d be working with every day. She wasn’t put

off by Jennifer’s not-too-subtle feelers—workplace assignations were

common enough, even between individuals prohibited by rank. But

even if she’d had a sliver of interest, she’d know better than to act on

it. Yet as attractive as Jennifer was, Wes was unmoved. The memory of

Evyn’s body curved into hers, of Evyn drawing her close in the dark, of

Evyn devastating her with pleasure was too fresh in her consciousness.

She’d just sent away the only woman who’d ever made her wish she

didn’t always have to stand alone. She backed up, putting space between

her and Jennifer. “It was good to see you again. I hope the rest of the

night is quiet. Enjoy the holidays.”

“I’ll see you Christmas Eve.” Jennifer’s tone made it sound as if

they’d run into each other at a party.

Wes frowned, calling up an image of the duty roster she’d reviewed

several days before. “I thought you had leave.”

“Oh, I did,” Jennifer said dismissively. “But at the last minute my

sister couldn’t get away, and she’s my only family. I’d just as soon work

than spend the holiday in my apartment. I’d only end up cleaning.” She

laughed. “And my apartment isn’t all that big.”

“Well, I’m sorry to hear your family plans were disrupted.”

“I’m not—I saw the new roster and the substitutions. I’m looking

forward to working with you.”

“I’ll let you get back to work, then,” Wes said.

“Have a nice night.”

Jennifer gave a little wave and walked away. Wes went the opposite

way toward her office, mentally shaking off the disquieting sensation

left by their conversation. Maybe her read was off—maybe Jennifer

was just friendly and outgoing. Wes didn’t quite trust her assessment—

she’d been off target for days. Apparently, she wasn’t nearly as good at

interpreting personal signals as she was at evaluating trauma.

She’d ended up in bed with Evyn Daniels and still wasn’t sure