Radclyffe - Oath of Honor

happen.”

Wes’s hand was so warm, so damn perfect in hers. Evyn wanted

to reverse the clock—start the last few days over. She wanted to keep

Wes safe, she wanted to take her out to dinner when they weren’t both

exhausted, she wanted to make love with her when they weren’t hurt or

displaced or scared of losing their fragile connection. Hell. She wanted

to date her, maybe more—something she hadn’t wanted with anyone,

possibly ever. “I think I fucked this up.”

“No, you didn’t,” Wes said. “You gave me everything I needed.”

The lights of the tower flashed red across the sky. The runway

lights glowed brighter by the second. Another minute and they’d be on

the ground. Evyn willed time to slow. She needed a little more time—

when had everything gotten away from her? “We’ll have to get a cab—

the team will have taken the SUV back to the House. We can share one

as far as your hotel, and then I’ll go pick up my car.”

“That’s okay,” Wes said. “We can head straight to the House. I want

to spend a few hours at the office. I’ve been away more than I’ve been

there since I’ve arrived, and it’s time I got some things organized.”

“Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” Evyn wouldn’t mind the few extra

minutes together, but Wes was pale. “You’re still looking pretty beat.”

“We’re coming up on the holidays. We’ll be working doubles

between now and after New Year’s so everyone can have time off. I

need to review the duty rosters and the travel schedules—and about a

dozen other things.”

The plane touched down and the engines whined into their

deceleration.

Please remain seated until the captain has taxied to the gate and

turned off the seat belt sign.

“What are you doing for Christmas?” Evyn asked.

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RADCLY fFE

“I’m the new guy, remember? I’m working.”

“You’re also the boss.”

“Half the team has kids—they need to be with family.”

“What about yours?”

Wes smiled. “They’re used to me being away for holidays. They

understand. You?”

“Ah—I volunteered to take the holiday shifts too. Good overtime,

plus my sibs and I gave my parents a cruise for Christmas. They’ll be

gone until after New Year’s anyhow.”

“So we’re in the same boat again,” Wes said.

“Seems to happen a lot.” People around them began standing and

opening the overhead bins. Evyn realized she was still holding Wes’s

hand. She had to let go, and when she did, last night would really be

over. She slipped her fingers free. The cabin lights came on full and she

blinked. Passengers filed past. Wes released her seat belt and searched

Evyn’s eyes, questions in hers.

“So what’s next?” Wes asked.

“More of the same.”

“Hopefully no more water exercises.”

“No.” Evyn grimaced. “We’re done with those. Probably keep the

sims to half-days and finish up this week.”

“How am I doing?” Wes didn’t really expect an answer.

Evyn hesitated. “You’re doing fine, Captain.”

“Thanks.” Wes grinned wryly at the formality. “Seems I now have

quarters in a residential hotel off Dupont Circle, so I can use the extra

time to move. Got the text while I was in the shower earlier.”

“Need help moving?” Evyn asked.

“I’m fine—I don’t have much. But thanks.”

“Well, if you change your mind, let me know.” Evyn said.

“I’ll be in my office this evening if anything comes up.” Wes

pointed to the aisle as the last passengers streamed off, averting her

gaze. She was a little too tired and a little too sore at heart to hide her

sadness, and she didn’t want Evyn to misread sadness for regret. She

didn’t regret a moment of their time together. “Time to go.”

“Right. Don’t stay up half the night working,” Evyn said,

stepping out into the aisle and pulling Wes’s bag from the overhead

compartment.

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Oath Of hOnOr

“I won’t.” At Evyn’s skeptical look, she laughed. “Word of

honor.”

“I might call you to remind you of that.”

“No need,” Wes said, her pulse racing despite her best intentions,

“but feel free to call anytime.”

Evyn paused, her expression growing intent. “I’ll do that.”

• 193 •

RADCLY fFE

chapter twenty-fOur

The cab stopped at Fifteenth and E streets, and Wes passed bills

to the driver for the fare and opened her door. Evyn had spent

the ride from the airport downloading mail and answering texts, and

Wes had been grateful not to make small talk. She couldn’t think of a

thing to say that wouldn’t ring false after the last thirty-six hours. “I’ll

see you. Take care, okay?”

“Yeah. I will,” Evyn said. “You too.”

“’Night.” Wes stepped out and dragged her go bag out after her.

The cab pulled away to take Evyn to her car. Wes didn’t watch it go,

although she wanted to. Instead, she hurried to the gate, showed her

ID to the officer, and made her way through the quiet halls toward her

office. The night had a surreal feel to it—everything was too quiet after

what seemed like a constant bombardment of emotional and physical

explosions for days. She nodded to the occasional valet pushing a cart

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.”

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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 •

RADCLY fFE

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

how she’d let that happen. Oh sure—extreme circumstances often

made people act out of character, but that was a convenient excuse

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Oath Of hOnOr

and she knew it. She’d wanted to be close to Evyn and she’d enjoyed

Evyn taking care of her. She’d wanted to kiss her—wanted more than

that, and she’d made the first move. Evyn had put it very clearly—brief

physical interludes on the job were common, and then it was back to

business as usual. Maybe for Evyn that was true.

Nothing wrong with two adults sharing a few hours of pleasure

and then moving on. Too bad that didn’t seem to be the case for her.

Even now, she couldn’t forget the pleasure that filled her from having

Evyn near, from knowing Evyn cared. She wanted to touch her again,

wanted to be touched. She wanted the peace and certainty that steadied

her when she thought of Evyn. She’d learned long ago not to want that

kind of comfort, and Evyn had made her forget those hard lessons.

Evyn scared her, and that was the real reason she was headed to her

office alone.

v

At the tap on her partially closed door, Wes expected to see one

of the WHMU staff. She half rose when she recognized Cameron

Roberts.

“Sorry to bother you, Captain,” Cam said.

“No—please come in.” Wes walked around her desk and extended

her hand. Roberts, dressed casually in gray trousers and a black sweater,

entered and shut the door behind her. Her dark eyes bore the same

intense focus Wes had seen in every photo of her. Remembering her

from the wedding, Wes suspected the only time her gaze ever softened

was when she looked at Blair Powell. A flare of envy caught her by

surprise and she quickly doused it. “Wes Masters.”

“Cam Roberts. Do you have a moment?”

“Of course. Have a seat.” Wes indicated the chairs in front of her

desk and sat down.

“What do you make of O’Shaughnessy’s autopsy report?” Cam

asked.Right to business. This was ground she understood, and after the

upheaval on the personal front, welcome ground. She needed to get

her head back where it belonged. “On the surface, there aren’t any red

flags.”

• 197 •

RADCLY fFE

“He was fifty-one. His last physical exam four months ago included

a stress test. That was normal,” Cam said.

“Yes. That bothers me too.” Wes frowned. “On the surface

things look straightforward. An arrhythmia, on the other hand, could

account for sudden death, and there are often no precipitating signs or

symptoms.”

“And no way to tell on the postmortem?”

“Exactly.”

“Could an arrhythmia be drug induced?”

“Of course—although the most effective way would be by

injection, and he’d likely be aware of that. You suspect his death was

a homicide?”

Cam shrugged. “I don’t like coincidences. Len’s unexpected death

happening when we have a security breach is a little too convenient to

ignore.”

“What would be the goal? The WHMU has other capable medical

team members.”

“Could be something as simple as disrupting the flow so any move

against POTUS would be handled less than efficiently.”

Wes had used much the same reasoning when she’d agreed with