“That’s not the half of it. I had to get my nails done. You have no idea what that’s like. They come at you with these little scissors and probes and files and smelly bottles, and they talk to you about their boyfriends and ask personal questions about your sex life. And you have to act like you’re just enjoying the hell out of it. I almost had to have a facial.” She shuddered with complete sincerity. “I don’t know what they’d have done to me, but I said I had to get home and fix dinner.”

“A narrow escape.”

“If I really had to go to a beauty parlor once a week for the rest of my life, I think I’d slit my throat.”

“Buck up, Sutherland.”

“Right.” She sighed, feeling better. “Well, it wasn’t hard to start spreading it around how I had this wonderful husband and this great new house and how we’d been trying for years to have a baby. They just lap that kind of stuff up. I went on about how we’d had all these tests and had been trying these fertility drugs, and how long the lists were at adoption agencies. They were very sympathetic.”

“Good job.”

“Better, I got the name of two lawyers and a doctor. The doctor’s supposed to be some miracle gynecologist. One of the lawyers was the manicurist’s cousin, and the other was supposed to have helped the sister-in-law of this lady getting a permanent to adopt two Romanian babies last year.”

“I believe I follow that,” Sebastian said after a moment.

“I figured we should check it out. Tomorrow I’m going to the health club. While they’re pummeling me, I can go through the routine.”

“There’s no law that says you can’t enjoy a sauna and massage while you’re at it.”

She hesitated, and was grateful that the roomy pockets of the evening pants made a home for her hands. “It makes me feel … I know you’re putting a lot of your money into this.”

“I have plenty.” He tipped a finger under her chin. “If I didn’t want to use it this way, I wouldn’t. I remember how Rose looked when you brought her to me, Mel. And I remember Mrs. Frost. We’re in this together.”

“I know.” She curled her fingers around his wrist. “I should be thanking you instead of complaining.”

“But you complain so well.” When she grinned, he kissed her. “Come on, Sutherland. Let’s gamble. I’m feeling lucky.”

*  *  *

The Silver Palace was one of Tahoe’s newest and most opulent hotel casinos. White swans glided in the silvery waters of the lobby pool, and man-size urns exploded with exotic flowers. The staff was dressed in spiffy tuxedos with trademark silver ties and cummerbunds.