Honor Under Siege

matter.

“Iuhhow are you doing? Paula asked as Blair poured their cof

ees.

Everyone knew how private Blair was, and it wasnt real y her place

to ask personal questions. But since September 11, the world as they

knew it was gone and some of the old rules no longer seemed to apply.

Paula understood the necessity for viewing the subjects she protected as

critical y valuable individuals, while at the same time avoiding any

kind of personal involvement, even friendship. But theyd al been

through so much together that the usual professional detachment

seemed impossible, especial y when Blair had been the

object of a nearly successful assassination at empt in her own heavily-

fortified home. What was once considered inconceivable now fel within

the realm of the probable. It could happen again, and Paula had to see

that it didnt.

“Sometimes I stil cant believe that any of it real y happened, Blair said

quietly.

“I know. Paula took a deep breath. She was stil trying to understand her

new role as Blair s security chief and what the boundaries were. Most

of the time when she wasnt certain, she fol owed her heart. That

probably wasnt the way the commander did things, but she would never

be the commander. “We werent prepared for what happened in the

Aerie, but we wil be now. They failed, which just shows you how

good your security was, even against the unexpected. Now it wil be

even bet er because we know the game has changed.

The

game

has

changed.

Blair suppressed a shudder. Yes, the rules of engagement had

definitely changed, and she was an unwil ing player in a game

where the stakes were higher than shed ever imagined. She glanced

toward the door as Cam walked in. Her black hair was wet and slicked

back, making the sharp planes of her face stand out even more. Even

in a loose black T-shirt and blue jeans, her body looked taut and

fighting ready. Blair could tel from the set of her jaw that shed heard

the last part of the conversation; she had that intense, hard

expression she always got when the subject of Blairs vulnerability came

up.

“Im not worried. Blair said, “We have the winning

team.

Cam leaned down and brushed a kiss over her cheek, then regarded

the tea with a raised eyebrow. “Is that for me?

“Yes, Blair said with exaggerated seriousness. “And theres honey

on the counter. Put some in. It wil help your throat.

“I think cof ee wil do

fine.

“Cameron.

Blairs

eyes

glit ered

dangerously.

“But tea is probably bet er, Cam amended as she retrieved the jar of

honey. Paula watched the exchange with apparent interest, then looked

quickly away as

Cam gave her a pointed stare. She rose without finishing her cof ee. “Il

be in the

command

center.

“Wait, Paula. Blair kept her gaze on Cam, thinking how much she loved

going to sleep with her every night and waking up with her in the

morning and having her around during the day. Just being with her. Not

being guarded by her, not being worried over. Just being in her

company. But this week had been an anomaly, and they both knew it.

Softly, she said, “Ready?

Cam

nodded.

“Paula, Blair said. “I think we bet er make that

cal .

Chapter Two

I just sent a transport plane to Lexington for you. In her usual

rapid-fire fashion, Lucinda Washburn continued, “It should be there in

two hours. Come on over to the of ice when you get in.

“Hi, Luce, Blair said sarcastical y. “Hows your day

going?

“About the way theyve al been going for the last

month.

Blair was surprised by the weariness in Lucindas voice. She couldnt

remember ever seeing her tired. In fact, she wasnt certain shed ever

known Lucinda to actual y sleep. “Is everything al right?

“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.