Sebastian saw the husband—Jerry was his name—hesitating over hitting fifteen. He gave him a little push. Jerry signaled for another card and went pop-eyed when he pulled a six.

With a subtle and enjoyable magic, Sebastian had young Jerry doubling his stake, then tripling it, while the young couple gasped and giggled over their astonishing luck.

“They’re sure raking it in,” Mel commented.

“Mmm.” Sebastian sipped his wine.

Oblivious to the gentle persuasion, Jerry began to up his bets. Word spread, as it does in such places, that there was a winner at table three. People began to mill around, applauding and slapping the baffled Jerry on the shoulder as his winnings piled up.

“Oh, Jerry!” His new wife, Karen, clung to him. “Maybe we should stop. It’s almost enough for a down payment on a house. Maybe we should just stop.”

Sorry, Sebastian thought, and gave her a little mental nudge.

Karen bit her lip. “No. Keep going.” She buried her face against his shoulder and laughed. “It’s like magic.”

The comment had Mel looking up from her own cards and sending Sebastian a narrow-eyed look. “Donovan.”

“Shh.” He patted her hand. “I have my reasons.”

Mel began to understand them as the nearly delirious Jerry hovered at the ten-thousand-dollar mark. A husky man in a tuxedo approached the table. He had a dignified bearing to go with smoothly tanned skin, a sun-tipped mustache and expertly styled hair. Mel was certain he was the kind of man most women would look at more than twice.

But she took an instant dislike to his eyes. They were pale blue, and, though they were smiling, she felt a quick chill race up her spine.

“Bad business,” she muttered, and felt Sebastian’s hand close over hers.

The crowd that had gathered cheered again as the dealer lost to Jerry on nineteen.

“This seems to be your lucky night.”

“Boy, I’ll say.” Jerry looked up at the newcomer with dazed eyes. “I’ve never won anything before in my life.”

“Are you staying at the hotel?”

“Yeah. Me and my wife.” He gave Karen a squeeze. “This is the first night we tried the tables.”

“Then allow me to congratulate you personally. I’m Jasper Gumm. This is my hotel.”

Mel slanted Sebastian a look. “Pretty sneaky way to get a look at him.”

“A roundabout route,” he agreed. “But an enjoyable one.”

“Hmm … Have your young hero and heroine finished for the evening?”

“Oh, yes, they’re quite finished.”

“Excuse me a minute.” Taking her glass, Mel got up to stroll around the table. Sebastian had been right. The young couple were already making noises about cashing in and were busily thanking Gumm.

“Be sure to come back,” Gumm told them. “We like to think that everyone at the Silver Palace walks away a winner.”

When Gumm turned, Mel made certain she was directly in his path. A quick movement, and her champagne splattered.