Page 67 of Entranced
“A pleasure. Are you guests of the hotel?”
“No, actually, we’ve just moved to Tahoe.” Sebastian sent an affectionate glance to Mel. “We’re taking a few days as a kind of second honeymoon before we get back to business.”
“Welcome to the community. Now I definitely must replace that champagne.” He signaled to a roving waitress.
“It’s very kind of you.” Mel glanced around approvingly. “You have a wonderful place here.”
“Now that we’re neighbors, I hope you’ll enjoy the facilities. We have an excellent dining room.” As he spoke, Gumm took stock. The woman’s jewelry was discreet and expensive. The man’s dinner suit was expertly tailored. Both of them showed the panache of quiet affluence. Just the type of clientele he preferred.
When the waitress returned with a fresh bottle and glasses, Gumm poured the wine himself. “What business are you in, Mr. Donovan?”
“Real estate. Mary Ellen and I spent the last few years in Seattle, and we decided it was time for a change. My business allows me to be flexible.”
“And yours?” Gumm asked Mel.
“I’ve put my career on hold, at least for a while. I thought I’d like keeping a home.”
“Ah, and children.”
“No.” Her smile wobbled as she looked down at her glass. “No, not yet. But I think the weather here, the sun, the lake … would be a wonderful place to raise a family.” There was a trace, just a hint, of desperation in her voice.
“I’m sure. Please enjoy the Silver Palace. Don’t be strangers.”
“Oh, I’m sure we’ll be back,” Sebastian assured him. “Nicely done,” he murmured to Mel when they were alone.
“I thought so. Do you think we should go back to the tables for a while or just wander about looking moon-eyed at each other?”
He chuckled, started to pull her close for a kiss, then stopped, his hand on her shoulder. “Well, well … sometimes things just fall neatly into place.”
“What?”
“Drink your champagne, my love, and smile.” He turned her gently, keeping his arm around her as they wandered toward the roulette table. “Now look over there, to the woman Gumm is speaking with. The redhead by the staircase.”
“I see her.” Mel leaned her head against Sebastian’s shoulder. “Five-five, a hundred and ten, light complexion. Twenty-eight, maybe thirty years old.”
“Her name’s Linda—or it is now. It was Susan when she checked into the motel with David.”
“She’s—” Mel nearly took a step forward before she stopped herself. “What’s she doing here?”
“Sleeping with Gumm, I imagine. Waiting for the next job.”
“We have to find out how much they know. How close they are to the top.” Grimly she finished off the champagne. “You work your way, I’ll work mine.”
“Agreed.”
When Mel saw that Linda was heading for the ladies’ lounge, she shoved her empty glass into Sebastian’shand. “Hold this.”
“Of course, darling,” he murmured to her retreating back.
Mel bided her time, sitting at one of the curvy dressing tables, freshening her lipstick, powdering her nose. When Linda sat at the table next to hers, she began the process all over again.
“Shoot,” Mel said in disgust, examining her fingers. “I chipped a nail.”
Linda sent her a sympathetic glance. “Don’t you hate that?”
“I’ll say, especially since I just had them done this morning. I have the worst luck with them.” She searched through her bag for the nail file she knew wasn’t there. “Your nails are gorgeous.”
“Thank you.” The redhead held up a hand to examine. “I have a marvelous manicurist.”
