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Sleek and pretty, skin the color of blushing rose petals, her well-toned legs swinging merrily, Cerise looked up. Her hair was jet black, its carefully groomed waves blowing in the breeze. She had a foxy, intelligent face and sharp green eyes. Just now, those eyes were soft and dreamy.
“Why, it’s Eve, isn’t it? Eve Dallas, the new bride. Lovely wedding, by the way. Really the social event of the year. We moved thousands of units with our coverage.”
“Good for you.”
“You know, I had research and data search busting butt to try to get the honeymoon itinerary. I don’t think anybody but Roarke could have managed a full media blackout.” She wagged her finger playfully, and her perky breasts swayed. “You could have shared, just a little. The public’s dying to know.”
She giggled at that, shifted, and nearly overbalanced. “We’re all dying to know. Whoops. Not yet. Too much fun, don’t want to rush it.” Straightening, she waved at the air vans. “Usually I hate the damn visual media. Can’t think why, just now. I love everybody!” She shouted the last, tossing her arms wide.
“That’s nice, Cerise. Why don’t you come back up for a minute. I’ll give you some data on the honeymoon. Exclusive.”
Cerise smiled slyly. “Uh-uh-uh.” The refusal was playful again, almost a giggle. “Why don’t you come down and join me? You can go with me. I’m telling you, it’s the ultimate.”
“Now, Ms. Devane,” the shrink began, “all of us have moments of despair. I understand. I’m with you. I hear your sorrow.”
“Oh stuff it.” Cerise brushed him back with a gesture. “I’m talking to Eve. Come on down, sweetie. But not too close.” She shook the spray and giggled. “Come on and join the party.”
“Lieutenant, I don’t recommend that you—”
“Shut up and go wait for my aide,” Eve told him as she swung a leg over the steel safety wall, lowered herself over the edge.
The wind didn’t seem quite so pleasant when she was dangling seventy stories over the street, nudged on a steel ledge barely two feet wide. Here it buffeted and swirled, aided by the backwash from the air vans. It plucked at the clothes and slapped the skin. She ordered her heart to stop jumping and pressed her back to the building.
“Isn’t it beautiful,” Cerise sighed. “I’d love to have some wine now, wouldn’t you? No, a big flute of champagne. Roarke’s Reserve forty-seven would go down smooth right now.”
“I think we’ve got a case at home. Let’s go open one.”
Cerise laughed, turned her head, and smiled hugely. And it was the smile, Eve realized as her heart lurched again, she’d seen on the face of a young man hanging from a homemade noose. “I’m already drunk on happiness.”
“If you’re happy, why are you sitting naked on a ledge considering taking the last leap?”
“That’s what makes me happy. I don’t know why you don’t understand.” Cerise lifted her face to the sky, closed her eyes. Eve risked shifting a few inches closer. “I don’t know why everyone doesn’t understand. It’s so beautiful. It’s so thrilling. It’s everything.”
“Cerise, you go off this ledge, it’s nothing. It’s over.”
“No, no, no.” She opened her eyes again, and they were glazed. “It’s just the beginning, don’t you see? Oh, we’re all so blind.”
“Whatever’s wrong can be fixed. I know.” Carefully, Eve laid a hand on Cerise’s. She didn’t grip, didn’t want to risk it. “Surviving’s what counts. You can change things, make things better, but you have to survive to do it.”
“Do you know how much work that is? And what’s the point when there’s so much pleasure just waiting. I feel so good. Don’t.” Chuckling, Cerise aimed the spray at Eve’s face. “Don’t spoil it now. I’m having such a nice time.”
“You have people who are worried about you. You have family, Cerise, who love you.” Eve strained to remember. Was there a child, a spouse, parents? “If you do this, you’ll hurt them.”
“Only until they understand. The time’s coming when everyone will understand. It’s going to be better then. Beautiful then.?
? She looked dreamily into Eve’s eyes, that beaming and terrifying smile on her lips. “Come with me.” She grabbed Eve’s hand, clutched. “It’s going to be wonderful. You only have to let go.”
Sweat snaked a line down Eve’s back. The woman’s grip was like a vise, and a struggle for freedom could doom them both. She forced herself not to resist, to ignore the twisting wind and the hum of the air vans documenting every movement. “I don’t want to die, Cerise,” she said calmly. “And neither do you. Self-termination is for cowards.”
“No, it’s for explorers. But suit yourself.” Cerise patted Eve’s hand, released it, and gave a long, trilling laugh to the wind. “Oh God, I’m so happy,” she said and, throwing her arms wide, leaned forward into space.
Instinctively, Eve grabbed. She nearly lost her perch as her fingertips brushed the trim line of Cerise’s hip. She banged onto her side, fought the roll forward as wind and space pulled at her. Gravity worked fast, mercilessly. Eve stared down into that wildly smiling face until it was only a blur.
“Jesus God. Oh, Jesus God.” Dizzy with reaction, she pushed herself up, leaned her head back, shut her eyes. Screams and shouts rained on her, and the air displaced by the media van coming in for a close-up struck her cheeks.
“Lieutenant. Dallas.”
The voice was like a bee buzzing in her ears, and Eve simply shook her head.
