Oath of Honor

from underneath the sleek counter. “But you’re here, so why don’t you

start with what got you here.”

“I just got back from a detail. It was a little crazy. One of my team

members got into trouble.” Just saying that much made her faintly sick.

The recurring image of Wes sinking deeper into the water came back

sharp and clear. Adrenaline surged through her blood and a coppery

taste filled her mouth.

Louise glanced over her shoulder and paused in her food prep.

“You sound like it was really bad. I’m sorry.”

Evyn sucked in a breath. “She’s fine now. It was just tense there

for a couple of minutes. That sort of thing happens. It’s part of the

job.”“I guess it probably is. I got the sense you never really wanted to

talk about it, so I never pressed. If you want to tell me more—”

“Sorry. I guess I’ve never really shared much of anything.”

“And I never asked you to. So we’re okay on that score. Go

ahead—you just got back from a tough assignment. And?”

“And there’s this woman…”

Louise smiled. “Isn’t there always? Sometimes they really turn

your head around, don’t they?”

Evyn laughed. “You’d think I was new at this.”

Louise regarded her thoughtfully. “Maybe you are?”

“I think you might be right.” Where Wes was concerned, she sure

felt like a first-timer. All hormones and insanity and hungry for more of

everything. She’d kept praying Wes would lean back into the cab and

kiss her good night. Yeah, right. Nuts. “Anyhow, that’s kind of what

this is about. This woman I’m not really involved with—not that way,

I mean.”

“I think I almost understand. You need to think about some

things.”

“Yeah—I’m sorry.”

“I know. Me too—but it’s okay. Really.” Louise pointed a wooden

spatula at the vegetables piled on the cutting board. “So—will you

stay?”“Yeah. I’m starved. And thanks.”

Louise put the utensils down, motioned Evyn closer, and kissed

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Evyn’s cheek. “You’re welcome. I like friends with benefits, but friends

without benefits is okay too.”

“That’s good to know. Thanks.” Evyn wasn’t sure what she’d just

done or why, but it felt right. It felt almost as good as the night she’d

spent with Wes, which felt more than right. And she had no idea what

to do about that.

• 203 •

RADCLYfFE

chapter twenty-five

You need plants,” Doris Masters said, standing with her hands

on her hips in the center of the small galley kitchen, surveying

the adjacent living area. She pointed to the bay windows overlooking

Nineteenth Street. “That window seat gets enough sunlight. A planter

or two right there—”

“Mom,” Wes said, “I kill plants.” Behind her, Denny snickered

and mumbled something about understatement.

Giving the impersonal apartment a 360-degree glance, Doris said,

“A cat would be good.”

“You have to feed cats,” Wes said.

Her mother pointed a finger at her. “That’s why your plants die.”

“Better plants than a cat,” Wes muttered. Her mother smiled, but

Wes could tell by the glint in her ocean-green eyes she wasn’t finished.

Looking a decade younger than her age, with the same green eyes and

brown hair shot through with burnished gold, she could have been

Wes’s older sister—and was sometimes mistaken for one of the sibs

when they were all out together. Wes hadn’t known Denny and her

mother were coming, but when they had shown up a few minutes after

the delivery truck brought her belongings from Maryland, she’d been

glad for more than the help. Their bright, sure love helped chase away

the shadows that plagued her. She’d slept poorly since the night she’d

spent with Evyn. The hotel bed was big and empty and cold, and every

morning she awoke lonely. She went through the days, splitting her

time between exercises with PPD and clinic duties, with an empty ache

inside. Evyn was friendly but reserved, and Wes didn’t think it was an

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accident they hadn’t been alone together since their return from Kitty

Hawk. Evyn was avoiding her.

“Wesley,” her mother said, “this isn’t a temporary billet. You’re

going to live here for the next few years, and it shouldn’t look like a

hotel room.”

Denny finally cut in and saved her. “Mama, give her a break. She

didn’t invite us down here to help, after all, and—”

“Mother’s prerogative.” Doris perched on the wooden arm of the

tan canvas sofa. “We’ll miss you at Christmas.”

Wes sat next to her mother and took her hand. “I know, I’m sorry.

I’d be there if I could.”

“We’ll miss you,” her mother repeated, “and we’re so very proud

of you. Your other sisters wanted to be sure you knew that.”

“I know. I love you. All of you.”

Denny flopped down beside her and bumped her knee against

Wes’s. “So—on the personal front—”

Wes groaned. “Come on, Denny. Don’t start.”

Doris stroked the back of Wes’s head and feathered the locks along

the back of her neck, as if she were still ten. “There’s more to life than

work, Wesley.”

“And there’s lots of life ahead, Mom. I’m fine. Just really busy

right now.”

“Yeah,” Denny said softly, “but are you happy?”