A Perilous Eden by Heather Graham Page B

late for his appointment.
    He quickened his pace, and moments later hurried down the steps to Astors. Toni was already there, alone as he had requested. He was supposed to be a tourist, and tourists always saw their relatives. They partied, they had a good time.
    And in this case, Uncle Sam would pick up the check.
    â€œAdam!”
    His cousin, radiantly smiling, threw herself into his arms before he reached the table. He returned the embrace, then set her from him. She was too slim, he thought, but that was the way Toni liked to be. She was healthy, anyway. Her cheeks were nice and scrubbed pink, and her dark eyes were brilliant. Her hair was chopped short, blow-styled, chic. Very New York, Adam thought with a grin tugging at his lip.
    She’s already ordered his Scotch, neat. It was on the table.
    â€œAdam!” she said again, sitting across from him. He knew that she was studying him. She didn’t say that he looked good; she gave him the same curious gaze the prostitute on the street had given him. Except that her smile didn’t fade.
    â€œHow are you?” she asked anxiously.
    â€œGood,” he told her, taking a sip of his Scotch, then idly running a finger down the glass. He gave her a smile. “And you. I saw the play—you were great.”
    â€œOh, Adam! It was off-, off-, way off-Broadway. But you came, you really came? You saw it all?”
    â€œHeard every word!”
    â€œThanks,” she said softly. Then, “What are you doing here?”
    He shrugged and pulled out a cigarette and lit it slowly, casually. “Just visiting,” he said at last.
    â€œYou should have warned me! I would have planned more than a late-night drink. How long are you staying?”
    â€œI leave tomorrow morning—caught one of those cheap charter rates to Paris. I thought I’d tour around a bit. Maybe catch a few of the Greek Islands.” He didn’t want Toni to know that he might be back in the United States. Toni didn’t know anything about Michael Adams. With any luck, she never would.
    She breathed a little sigh as if she were relieved. “Oh, God, Adam, I’m so glad to see you doing things. That’s what you need, you know. Are you really okay?”
    He forced a smile into his features. “Sure.”
    â€œYou’re—over it?”
    â€œOh, come on, Toni! You know people never really get over things like that. Am I stable and functioning? Yes—can’t you tell?”
    She laughed and stirred her drink. “Yes, I guess so, Adam. I just wish—well, I wish your mom had never left the States. I wish you’d never gone to Israel. God help me, because I loved Sonia, but I wish that you’d never met her.”
    He lowered his lashes, staring at his glass. She was treading on dangerous ground—ground he never entered himself.
    â€œDon’t say that, Toni,” he warned.
    She might have blushed; he couldn’t really tell. “Of course, I’m sorry. You really were such beautiful people, she so dark and lovely, you so gloriously blond and tanned and muscled! But don’t you see, Adam? I think that’s half your problem. You’re trying to replace Sonia—”
    â€œToni!” he admonished in exasperation, looking at her, and even she quailed a little at his glance.
    She tossed back her head and picked up her drink a little belligerently. “Sorry, Adam. What are you going to do—shoot me?”
    â€œToni—”
    â€œOh, Adam! I really am horribly sorry!” There was true regret in her tone; Adam edged his teeth together. Maybe the subject could be changed now. “Forgive me?” she said softly.
    â€œToni, of course—”
    â€œI’m just going to say one more thing, Adam, and then I’ll promise to keep my mouth shut. You’re looking for a goddamned heroine, and they just don’t come in packages, you know!”
    â€œToni, leave it.” He paused,