Reunion in Death

«He was a big guy,» she remembered, turning her head a little to study her profile. It wasn't any better than the full-on view. «I hate getting punched in the face. People are always staring at you and making moronic comments: Oh, ran into a wall? Wow, gee, does it hurt?»

He had to laugh. «Only you would be more pissed off about that than the blow.»

«He was goony. Didn't know what he was doing. Bitch set me up, then didn't have the balls to come at me herself.»

«As you'd hoped.»

Her eyes met his in the mirror. «When I take her down, she's going to pay for this.» Eve tapped fingers lightly over her jaw. «And she won't look so fucking pretty when I toss her in a cage.»

«Girl fight? Can I watch?»

«Pervert.» She stepped away, into the shower, and ordered the jets on full at a blistering temperature.

Because he was concerned she might get dizzy and fall, and because he enjoyed it, Roarke eased a hip on the sink and watched her wavery silhouette behind the patterned glass.

He turned his head when Louise came in. «Your patient's up and about.»

«So I see.» Setting her bag on the counter, Louise walked around the enclosure. «How are you feeling this morning?»

Eve let out a yip, spun with her wet hair dripping. In defense, she crossed one arm over her breasts. «Jesus, come on.»

«Let me point out that I'm a doctor, have already seen you naked, and am also a member of the species that has the same equipment as you. Are you in any pain?»

«No. I'm trying to take a shower here.»

«Carry on then. Light-headedness?»

Eve hissed, then dunked her head under the pumping spray. «No.»

«If you're dizzy at all, sit down. Just sit down wherever you are. It's better than falling. Range of motion in the shoulder?»

Eve demonstrated it by raising her arms and scrubbing shampoo into her hair.

«Hip?»

Eve wiggled her butt and made Louise laugh. «Glad to see you're feeling frisky.»

«That wasn't frisky. I was mooning you, which is supposed to be insulting.»

«But you have such a cute little butt.»

«So I've always said,» Roarke added.

«Jesus, are you still in here? Go away, everybody go away.» She flipped back her hair, turned, and let out a thin scream when Peabody walked in.

«Hey! How're you feeling?»

«Naked. I'm feeling naked and very crowded.»

«The face doesn't look half-bad.» Peabody looked around. «She's in here, McNab, doing a lot better.»

«He comes in here,» Eve said ominously, «and somebody's going to die.»

«Bathrooms veritable death traps,» Roarke added. «Why don't I just take Peabody and McNab, and Feeney,» he added when he heard the EDD captain's voice join McNab's, «up to your office. Louise will stay until she's satisfied you're fit to return to duty.»

«I'm fit to kick righteous ass if one more person sees my tits this morning.»

She turned away again and tried to bury herself in water and steam.

«You're very lucky,» Louise told her a bit later as she closed her medical bag. «You could easily have fractured your skull instead of bruising it. Even so, it's a small miracle you're back on your feet this morning. Sam's very gifted, and was a great deal of help.»

«I owe him.» Eve buttoned up a shirt. «Owe both of you.»

«And here's my bill. There's a fundraiser on Saturday night to drum up money for three new med-vans. You've already been sent an invitation, which you, or I imagine Roarke, has accepted. But I know you often find a way to wiggle out of these things. This time, be there.»

Eve said nothing. She'd have to pay Louise back another time, another way. Roarke wasn't going to any public functions until Julianna Dunne was locked in a cage.

Louise glanced at her wrist unit. «Gotta go. I told Charles I'd pick him up at the airport. He's coming back from Chicago this morning.»

«Okay.» Hesitating, Eve reached for her weapon harness. «Louise, it really doesn't bother you? What he does?»

«No, it doesn't bother me. I think I'm falling in love with him, and it's just lovely.» Her face seemed to radiate happiness. «You know what it's like when there's just the two of you, and that rush inside you?»

«Yeah. Yeah, I guess I do.»

«The rest? It's just details. Don't overdo it, Dallas. When you get tired, sit. When you feel shaky, lie down, and don't be a hero. Take something for the discomfort.» She angled her head as she paused at the doorway. «A little makeup would cover most of that bruising.»

«What's the point?»

Laughing, Louise headed out the door, and Eve for the elevator.

*** CHAPTER 16 ***

Eve smelled coffee and baked goods the minute the elevator doors opened into her office. Both were being consumed with apparent enthusiasm by her team. Roarke seemed to be content with coffee.

«You've got a nine o'clock conference via 'link,» she reminded him.

«My admin's handling it.» He handed her his cup of coffee. «Updated schedule's on your desk. Have a muffin.» He chose one, bursting with blueberries, from a tray.

«Whatever your schedule, you should get to it. I have my own.»