Honor Under Siege

provoked many messages asking for a sequel. Safe Harbor

was the second. Many of you recall me saying I wasnt going to

write more of either one. This year I will publish number six

in the Honor series and number five in the Provincetown

Tales. Obviously, what do I know? Ive discovered that writing

multiple works in a universe of characters I and the reader are

familiar with forces me to stretch as a writer in ways that

stand-alones dont. Each has its unique chal enges - neither is

easier or harder or more rewarding. Just different. A series

demands both continuity and new directions - consistency and

change. We want to see more of the characters we love, but we

also demand that they grow and evolve in the face of their

personal struggles and in relationship to others.

Thank you to the readers who assured me that they really

did want to read more of these characters and the world they

inhabit. I have learned a great deal in the telling.

My thanks also go to my first readers: Diane, Eva, Jane,

Paula, and RB for insightful comments and unfailing faith; to

the editors who brought their special talents to making this a

better book: Jennifer Knight, Ruth Sternglantz, and J.B.

Greystone; and to the generous proofreaders at Bold Strokes

Books for their painstaking devotion to duty. All the credit goes

to these dedicated individuals and the responsibility for any

shortcomings to me.

Sheri, as always, says it all and constantly says it better with

every cover.

To Lee, for never ever saying write it later - Amo

te.

DEDICATION

For Lee To The Last Word

Chapter One

Monday, October

8

B lair Powel walked along the oceans edge just after dawn, watching

the sky segue through a palet e of colors she had yet to capture on

canvas. Thankful y, she wasnt a landscape artist, because she feared she

would be doomed to an eternity of frustration and disappointment.

Her life held more than enough chal enge as it was, especial y now,

less than a month after the terrorist attacks on New York City and

Washington, DC. Less than a month after four men shed never met had

tried to kil her.

Sliding her hands into the pockets of her dark navy windbreaker, Blair

sheltered in the shadow of a tal , windswept dune and let the cold

sea breeze and the force of natures power drive the lingering

melancholy away. Crisp, salty air fil ed her chest, and for an instant, she

felt only the promise of a new season and the inner contentment of

being in love. Despite the horror of the last month, shed just spent one

of the best weeks she could remember in seclusion on Whitley Island.

At least two Secret Service agents fol owed her everywhere she went on

the remote, sparsely populated island of the coast of Massachuset s,

but she was out of the public eye and nearly alone with her lover. She

cherished this rare privacy and feared that pleasure was about to change.

As much as she loved the island, she couldnt just disappear. And

after the events of the last few weeks, she discovered to her surprise that

she didnt want to. Al her life shed sought anonymity. Being her

fathers daughter had forced upon her a notoriety she had not chosen,

and she had done al she could to escape the constraints it imposed.

Yet sometime in the last year, that wild, furious need to break away

had al but vanished. She wondered how much that sea change was due

to the woman who walked toward her in the gathering sunlight.

Secret Service agent Cameron Roberts, Blairs one time chief of

security and now her lover, was a few inches tal er, dark-haired, lean

and handsome. Her jaw was a lit le broader, her nose a lit le stronger,

and the hol ows below her cheekbones a lit le deeper than the dictates

of classic beauty demanded, but what Blair saw when she looked at her

went beyond beauty. She saw strength and passion, and above al ,

honor.

“Youre supposed to be in bed, she chided as Cam approached.

Recovering.

Cam grinned. “Bed was

cold.

“Its a hel of a lot colder out here. Blair wrapped her arms around Cams

neck and kissed her, ruf ling the short, almost wavy black hair that

ended just above her col ar. The almost casual brush of mouth on

mouth turned unexpectedly more fervent. She stroked her tongue along

the inside of Cams lip, and delved deeper for an instant before leaning

back. “Whew. Just got warmer.

“Lets see if we can get it up to August. Cam slid one arm around Blairs

waist and underneath her jacket. She stroked Blairs back and nuzzled

her neck. “Although, we probably shouldnt tamper with Greg

and Haras body temperatures quite so much.

Blair jerked and pushed away. “God, I cant believe I forgot about them. I