The entrance to the Golden Sands Casino was bustling with activity as the long, black limousine came to a halt. David and Sara stepped out and followed the uniformed bellman with their bags into the lobby. Sara felt her excitement mount as she took in all the sights and sounds around her. The lobby was an oasis of opulence. The carpet was a rich dark green and the walls were covered in gold fabric. Potted palms stood in every corner and in the center of the room was a fountain where gilded cherubs spouted water high into the air. A huge crystal chandelier hung over the fountain, just high enough to miss being sprayed by playful sprites.
Sara was so enthralled that she failed to see the disheveled young man heading directly in her path. His head was bent as he rifled through his pockets looking for loose change, which scattered on the floor when the inevitable happened: they collided.
"Look what you've done!" exclaimed the man angrily.
"I'm terribly sorry," apologized Sara as she bent down to retrieve the fallen coins.
"Why don't you just look where you're going ..." He was just about to add an expletive to emphasize his agitation, when Sara stood up to face him. His mouth hung open stupidly as he stared into her bright blue eyes. She handed him the coins she had picked up and hurried away.
Jack Hogan let out a low whistle of appreciation as he watched the blond beauty make her way across the lobby. Now that had class, he thought, hardly able to keep his eyes off her. She joined a tall, dark haired man at the reservation desk. He envied the man. She was probably his mistress-not a hooker. Jack could tell a hooker a mile away. He'd had plenty of practice during his short career as a vice cop. Ha! What a mistake that had turned out to be. Bitterly he thought back to that fateful day ...
"Stella! I'm home."
"Jackie!" Cried Stella as she rushed out of the kitchen, still in her pink bath robe, and her bright red hair up in pink foam curlers. "What are you doing home, what's wrong?" Concern showed in her innocent green eyes.
Jack smiled and shook his head. "Nothing's wrong, doll face. In fact, everything is just right." He produced a dozen roses from behind his back and watched his wife's serious expression change to one of delight.
"Oh Jackie, they're beautiful, but aren't they too expensive?"
"Nothing is too good for you doll face. Now go on and get dressed. We're going house hunting. It's about time we got out of this dump."