Radclyffe - Honor Guards

"Then we're even." Cam rubbed the bridge of her nose and then ran her hand through her hair. In a calmer voice, she said, "If Lucinda Washburn or anyone else is going to dress you down for your relationship with me, I want to be there. We need to deal with that together. If we're a couple."

If we 're a couple. A couple. Blair regarded Cam intently, searching her eyes for the answer to the question she was afraid to ask. This time it wasn't enough to see the determination and the caring in Cam's eyes. This was something so essential to her soul that she needed to hear the words. "Is that really what we are? What you want?"

Nothing ever defused Cam's temper faster than the slightest hint of insecurity in Blair's voice. The moment they'd met, she'd fallen in love with Blair's strength and her indomitable will. To know that anything, but most especially something about their relationship, could shake that certainty was like a fist in the gut. She extended her hand and took Blair's. "I love you. You're my life."

For an instant, Blair closed her eyes. When she opened them, even the dim light inside the vehicle could not hide the shimmer of tears. "I can't say no when you say something like that. No one has ever been able to reach inside me the way you do."

Cam lifted Blair's hand to her lips and kissed it gently before rubbing the backs of Blair's fingers against her cheek. "That's because I'm the only one who belongs there."

"It's true, and it still scares me to death." Blair spoke softly, almost to herself. Then she straightened and fixed Cam with a steady gaze. "You'll have to be careful with Lucinda. She's used to chewing out the Joint Chiefs and assorted cabinet members before breakfast."

"I shouldn't think she'd be any worse than the president's daughter before coffee."

Blair laughed out loud. "You do like to live dangerously, don't you, Commander?"

"Let's say I enjoy living life with you." Cam merely grinned as she pushed open the door and stepped out before extending her hand to Blair. "Shall we?"

With you, anything. Blair slid from the Suburban and linked her fingers with Cam's as she gazed up at the White House. Another fragment of her life slipped into place as she walked up the stairs to the entrance with her lover.

"Just one minute while she finishes this call," Lucinda's harried assistant said to Blair as he fielded three other calls at once. "She wants to be interrupted for you."

Three minutes later, he waved Blair and Cam into the chief of staff's office. Lucinda was behind her desk, her reading glasses hanging on a colorful braided cord around her neck. She looked up at the sound of their entrance and then regarded Cam with an intense stare before turning her attention to Blair. "You might prefer that this meeting be private."

"No, I don't prefer that." Blair reached out and took Cam's hand once again. "You know my lover, Cameron Roberts. Cam, Lucinda Washburn."

Cam quickly squeezed Blair's fingers before stepping forward to extend her hand across the desk. "Pleased to meet you, ma'am."

Lucinda, a formidable woman in her mid-fifties wearing an impeccably tailored suit and just the right amount of expensive but understated jewelry, stood and returned Cam's handshake. Then she walked around the side of the desk, gesturing to the small seating area. She took the chair opposite the sofa, allowing Blair and Cam to sit together. Then she once again focused on Cam.

"Are you interested in marrying the president's daughter, Agent Roberts?"

"Lucinda, what the hell?" Blair sat forward indignantly, her eyes blazing.

The chief of staff gave a nonchalant shrug. "Just one of many questions I have."

"Our private life is none of your business." Blair had known Lucinda Washburn since she was a child, and she'd often been intimidated by Lucinda's power and status, not only within her father's political machine but also within the small social circle of family friends. She rarely had occasion to argue or take issue with Lucinda, even though she sometimes resented the woman's central position in her father's life. A position that she never seemed to occupy.

"First of all," Lucinda said mildly, "you don't have a private life. Not for at least the next three—God willing, the next seven — years. Secondly, even if you did, it is my business. Everything that impacts on your father's position is my business."

"I fail to see—"

Cam's deep voice interjected quietly, "A year ago I never could have imagined loving anyone the way I do Blair. I haven't thought about marriage, but I believe in it as an institution. And I love the president's daughter, so the answer to your question is yes."

While Lucinda studied Cam speculatively, Blair regarded her with stunned astonishment. Finally she spoke, her voice thick with emotion. "Cameron, are you proposing?"

"Not at the moment." Cam's expressive mouth quirked into a grin as she met Blair's eyes. "When the time comes, I'd like to do that in slightly more intimate surroundings."

"When the time comes," Blair repeated, still trying to absorb the concept of that kind of commitment. After the first wave of surprise, she felt a flush of pleasure, and she leaned her shoulder gently against Cam's.

"Interesting answer, Agent," Lucinda allowed. "It's just one of many questions that our press secretary has had to field so far." She looked down at the sheaf of papers she had carried with her from the desk. In a matter-of-fact tone, she read, "Will President Powell support legalizing gay marriage? Does Blair Powell plan on having children? How does the president's daughter plan to become pregnant? How many of her security staff has she slept with?" At that, Lucinda shook her head in disgust. "Some of these fools have no sense of propriety at all." She looked up from the papers, her expression guarded. "There are a dozen more like this, and worse. You need to review them and formulate answers."

"Why?" Blair snapped. "I'm not obligated to respond to this kind of interrogation."

"No, you're not," Lucinda agreed in a surprisingly calm voice. "But these questions are going to keep being asked, and it's better that we all know what the answers are going to be. Then I can handle—"

"You mean spin, don't you?" Blair's tone dripped sarcasm.

Lucinda shrugged. "In politics, image is still one of our most important assets. You may call it anything you desire. I can't afford to be taken by surprise, so I need to know if you're going to answer one of these questions someday in a manner that puts us all on the defensive."

"Our private life is our own business."

Cam gently placed her right hand over Blair's left. "Surely you can't expect Blair to answer such intrusive and inappropriate questions." Her tone suggested fact rather than query. "Blair has already made it clear that we are romantically involved. If that requires further explanation, then feel free to say that we are in love, monogamous, and planning a long-term relationship."

"You're remarkably astute for a federal agent, Commander."

Cam held Lucinda's gaze steadily. "As I'm sure you know, I grew up in Italy where my father was this country's ambassador. No one practices politics quite like the Italians."

Lucinda laughed with reluctant pleasure. "Are you sure you want to waste away in obscurity toiling for the Treasury Department? I can put your talents to much better use."

"I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing. But thank you."

"Give me the questions," Blair said sharply, reaching for the papers that Lucinda still held. "I'll look them over and if there's something I feel is pertinent and appropriate, I'll give you our response."

"What am I missing?" Lucinda eyed Blair curiously. "You might be in love, but that's hardly cause for a sea change."