Oath of Honor

“Peter Chang was working out with Len the day he died. He would

also have been Len’s most likely successor if Lucinda hadn’t insisted

on going outside for a new chief.”

“I didn’t know that.” Wes tried to see Peter Chang as a traitor.

She couldn’t, but she didn’t see anyone in the WHMU as capable of

betrayal. “This is ugly.”

Cam’s mouth hardened. “We just have to see it doesn’t get

uglier.”

v

“You can pull over here,” Evyn told the cabbie, pointing to a spot

up the street from Louise’s. She paid the fare and got out, jumping over

• 199 •

RADCLYfFE

a mound of slush at the curb. The snow had stopped but the streets were

still a mess. The wind was wet on her neck—the miserable weather

fit her mood. Her life had gone from orderly and uncomplicated to

confusing and crazy-making overnight. Literally. Hell, she’d gone to

bed with Wes Masters. Worse, she wanted to again. Right now. Her

body hummed like a live wire looking to ground out on the nearest

surface. If she so much as brushed a hand over herself, she’d probably

come. That was a first. She’d always had great control—being sexually

in charge was like being captain of the team. Calling the game, knowing

just when to pull the trigger for the perfect score.

Not so with Wes—all Wes had to do was look at her and she

was ready to explode. The whole airplane ride had been torture—the

sweetest torture she’d ever experienced. Wes had slept on her shoulder,

something Gary had done a million times. Andrea too—a smoking-hot

blonde who usually worked a different shift. Andrea had also slept in

Evyn’s bed a few times, when they’d been coming off a detail in the

ass-end of nowhere and killing time until they could get home. She

didn’t get hot and sweaty and ache to come in her jeans when Andrea

nestled her cheek against her shoulder. She didn’t long to slide her arm

around Andrea and run her fingers through her hair either. Hell, she

didn’t want that with Louise, which was maybe why she was standing

in the foyer of Louise’s building right now.

She pressed Louise’s buzzer. Louise opened the door and gave

Evyn a curious look. “Hi. Come on in.”

Feeling just a little bit foolish, Evyn followed her inside. “Sorry

to drop by like this.”

“That’s okay. I was just about to open a bottle of wine. Are you

hungry?”

“No, I don’t want to put you out—”

“Don’t be silly. It’s no bother.” Louise walked through the

apartment to the kitchen, and Evyn followed, wondering why she had

come and realizing what she was about to say was completely unlike

her. Louise looked great in dance leggings and a tank top. She was

barefoot, and her hair was loose. She was everything Evyn liked in a

woman—smart, accomplished, great sense of humor, super body, and

generous in bed. To make it even better, she was undemanding and

independent.

So what was she doing here?

• 200 •

Oath Of hOnOr

“Listen, before you pour that wine, I should probably tell you I

stopped by to break our date.”

Louise turned, the wine bottle in one hand and a corkscrew in the

other. She leaned back against the counter and gave Evyn an appraising

look. “Okay. Usually people just call.”

“And I guess the excuse that I was just in the neighborhood really

doesn’t fly,” Evyn said ruefully. She rested her shoulder on the doorjamb

and ran a hand through her hair. “So, I’m feeling a little dumb here. You

want me to go?”

Louise laughed. “No. I want you to stay and have a glass of wine

and something to eat. How does stir-fry sound?”

Evyn’s stomach rumbled and she blushed. “Well, it sounds great,

but—”

“Evyn,” Louise said, crossing the small space between them and

kissing her on the cheek. “I think you’re great. We have a wonderful

time together. But we never promised anything, and I don’t have any

expectations.”

“It’s just that—” Evyn was more confused now than she had been

a few minutes before. Louise must be even more bewildered. Time to

stop dancing around the issue. “I’m thinking we might not be intimate

again.”

“Ah.” Louise studied her. “It’s not something I said or did, is it?”

“No, you’re great,” Evyn said quickly. “I’m being a total ass,

aren’t I? I’m not explaining anything really very well. I’m not even

sure why I’m here.”

“Don’t apologize.” Louise smiled a little sadly. “That you would

come here to tell me this, face-to-face, is one of the reasons I’m sorry

we have to stop at friendship.”

“Ah hell—”

“But there’s no law against two people who like each other being

friends, is there?” Louise brushed her fingers over Evyn’s shoulder. “I

like you, aside from the great sex.”

Evyn blushed. “It’s official. I am an ass.”

“Quite possibly.” Louise laughed and poured a glass of red wine.

“Have some of this while I cook and tell me what’s going on.”

Evyn sipped wine and started to relax. “I don’t know what’s

going on. Nothing, really. That’s what makes this whole thing sort of

ridiculous.”

• 201 •

RADCLYfFE

“Uh-huh,” Louise said, taking food from the refrigerator and pans