"I suppose so," Blair's tone was weary, but when she glanced at Cam, she smiled. "It was about what I expected. I'm just a little tired."

Cam reached across the space between them and took Blair's hand, squeezing gently. "I love to hear you speak. I know it's hard for you, but I can tell that you reached the audience. You accomplished something important this afternoon, Blair."

Surprised and touched, Blair whispered huskily, "Thank you. Thank you for reminding me of what matters."

"I'm sorry about the abrupt change in plans earlier—"

"Are you?" Blair asked, more curious than critical.

"Well—yes and no." Cam shrugged. "I'm sorry to have upset you, but I would do the same thing again under similar circumstances."

"Of course you would." Blair's mouth lifted into a half-smile as she shook her head in fond resignation. "I don't know why I'm surprised every time you behave exactly as I should expect you to. I've never met a woman whom I have so consistently failed to influence."

Cam's brows rose in shocked amazement. "Then you haven't been paying attention, Ms. Powell. Because you've changed my life."

"You shouldn't say things like that under the circumstances. It makes me want to kiss you...among other things."

"See what I mean?" Cam grinned. "My judgment is clearly impaired."

"Hardly that,"Blair murmured, thinking about how effortlessly Cam slipped from her role of lover into that of security chief. That transition both frustrated her and made her feel incredibly loved. Both emotions gave her pause. "That was just the opening bell with the reporters, you know."

"I know," Cam acknowledged grimly. And I hate what that does to you.

"It would probably be better if I gave some kind of press conference and just got the questions out of the way."

Cam shook her head. "I'm not so certain about that. It would simply put you at their mercy and there's no guarantee that the questions would stop. You're the news of the hour and will be until something else comes along with a higher popularity rating. Until then, I think you should continue with business as usual and try not to engage the subject"

Blair rubbed her temples and sighed. "I'll have to think about it. God help me, I suppose I'll have to talk to Lucinda as well."

"All right. If that's what you feel you must do." Cam moved closer on the seat and slid her arm around Blair's waist, "But not tonight, okay? Let it go for tonight."

For just a second, Blair allowed herself to rest her head against Cam's shoulder before straightening up and inching away. "With pleasure."

"Do you have plans for tonight?"

Blair regarded her quizzically. "I had hoped to spend the evening with you."

"I need to make some calls when we get back to the hotel, and then I'll come by and we can discuss it."

Intrigued by the ambiguity in her usually straightforward lover's voice, Blair only nodded as the vehicle pulled to a stop in front of the hotel. "That sounds fine. I'm going to take a couple of aspirin and lie down for a few minutes."

"Good." Cam touched Blair's cheek briefly. "I'll see you in an hour or so."

It was closer to two hours later when Blair answered the knock on her door. Cam waited on the threshold in casual dark chinos and polo shirt under a light blue blazer. Blair motioned her inside and cocked her head, studying her lover appreciatively.

"I like you when you're relaxed."

Cam grinned and took in Blair's soft cotton slacks and scoop-necked silk tee. "You look pretty relaxed yourself." She caught Blair around the waist and kissed her. "Mmm. Smell really good, too."

"That's what a power nap and a hot bath will do for you." Blair leaned back, her hands on Cam's shoulders. "What's on your mind, Commander?"

"This." Cam nuzzled Blair's neck and kissed the base of her throat.

"Besides that"

Cam laughed. "Grab your jacket and let's take a ride."

"Where are we going?" Blair asked.

"Out."

"Like on a date?"

They were both painfully aware that dating was not a real possibility for them.

"Something like that."

"Tell."

Slowly, Cam shook her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Nope."

Blair narrowed her eyes. "I am not fond of power plays, Cameron."

"Really?" Cam pulled her close again and nipped at her earlobe, prompting a sound halfway between a moan and a snarl. "I never noticed that."

"And I thought you-were so observant." As she spoke, Blair slid a hand between Cam's thighs and squeezed.

Cam gasped, her legs suddenly weak, "Christ."

"I'm sorry—what was that?"

"If you don't stop that," Cam managed through gritted teeth, "I won't be able to walk, and you won't find out where we're going."

"Hmm," Blair mused, stroking her fingers softly over Cam's crotch. "Tough choice."

"Please. I want to take you out." Cam kissed her lover's ear. "Later you can torture me as much as you want."

Laughing, Blair removed her hand. "Now that's a deal."

One of the things Stark found so appealing about Paris was that it stayed light later into the evening than she was used to, even when compared to summer evenings back home. When she entered the lobby of Renee's hotel shortly after 8:00 p.m., the sky was bathed in the warm golden glow that preceded the purple dusk. The team had been in Paris a little more than four days, but Egret's schedule had been so full that there'd been little downtime other than the rest periods between shifts. This was the first full evening that she'd had off, and even that had come as a surprise when the Commander had unexpectedly taken her aside and told her she was free until the next afternoon. When she'd started to protest that she was due on rotation again at 0700, the Commander had merely repeated, "Take a break, Stark. Tomorrow night I want you on point."

She'd had the good sense not to argue any further, but had hurried back to the room she shared with Felicia Davis.

"Where's the fire?" Felicia asked as Stark hurried into the two-room suite.

"There s been a change in assignments, and I 've got the night off."

Felicia arched her brow. "Really? Good for you. I was just about to go out for a stroll. Want to join me? "

"Uh..."

Laughing, Felicia shook her head* "Never mind. I take it you have plans."

Discussing her personal life was a new experience, primarily because she 'd never had much of one to speak of before. She liked Felicia, a lot. Still, added to her natural reticence was a small degree of uncertainty about discussing her relationship with Renee. It was one thing to admit her own involvement with another womanwhen it could conceivably have professional repercussions, but quite another to make that statement for Renee.

"I'm sorry," Felicia said quietly. "I didn 't mean to put you on the spot."

"No, I'm sorry. "Stark reminded herself of how critical Felicia had been to the successful completion of their last operation, and more importantly, how personally supportive she 'd been when Renee was in the hospital and Stark was pretty much a basket case. "I'm going to spend the evening with Renee. "

"Of course, I should have realized that. I hope you have a great night."

"I don't have much experience with friendships or relationships," Stark said quietly. "It's not personal...my not talking about it."

Felicia settled onto the sofa and crossed her legs, one long elegant arm resting across her bent knee. "I don't think this work is particularly conducive to friendship. There are so many secrets we must keep that we forget how to open up to other people. "

Nodding, Stark pulled out the desk chair and sat, regarding with new interest the woman she spent numerous hours with every day. "I've never thought about that very much, but you 're right. We spend all day with a handful of people, week in and week out. But we never really talk about anything other than the job. It gets kind of...lonely."

"Yes. It does. " Felicia sighed. "I think Renee is a wonderful woman. I hope you two have a chance for something together, if that's what you want."

Stark blushed even as she grinned. "That's what I want... more than anything."

"You 're a sweetheart. I can see why it would be easy to fall for you."

Stark's brows shot through the roof and her mouth dropped open. "Uh~ "

"Oh, you 're perfectly safe, " Felicia pronounced, laughing. "I'm not in the market for a relationship, and if I were, although you 're terribly cute, I'm afraid my tastes run to men. "

"I sort of thought you and Mac... " Stark lifted a shoulder. "Is that off-limits? "

Felicia's dark eyes grew somber. "No, not off-limits. It's just not in the realm of possibility. For me, workplace relationships just aren 't a very good idea. "

"It gets complicated."

"Yes, and, as you know, when you're a woman trying to advance in this hierarchical business, it doesn 't help to be sleeping with a man who's your superior. "

"So it's not that you don't like him?"

"Quite the contrary, " Felicia said softly, almost as if speaking to herself. "I like him quite a lot."

"You know, I haven't called Renee yet—to tell her I'm free. We don't have any specific plans...so you're welcome to join us for dinner or something."

"Oh no, I don't think so. " Felicia gave Stark a fond smile. "Go see your girlfriend and have a great evening. "

Riding up in the elevator, Stark was a mass of nerves thinking about what the evening held in store. A great evening. How could it be anything else? I'm going to see Renee,