"A toast," he declared, "to the second-luckiest man alive." "The second?" she said, and smiled in pretended shock. "Who's the first?" They looped arms and took a long, luxurious sip from the crystal glasses. "This farmer with two goats. I'll tell you later. "I have something for you," David suddenly remembered. He had already given her the perfect five-carat diamond on her finger, which he knew she wore only to please his folks. He went to his tuxedo jacket, which was draped over a highbacked chair, and returned with a jewelry box from Bulgari. "No, David," Melanie protested. "You're my gift." "Open it anyway," he said to her. "This you'll like." She lifted the top. Inside a suede pouch was a set of earrings, large silver rings around a pair of whimsical moons made from diamonds. "They're how I think of you," he said. Melanie held the moons against the lobes of her ears. They were perfect, and so was she. "It's you who pulls my tides," David murmured. They kissed, and he unfastened the zipper of her dress, letting the neckline fall just below her shoulders. He kissed her neck. Then the tops of her breasts. There was a knock on the door of the suite. "Champagne," called a voice from outside. For a moment, David thought of just yelling, "Leave it there!" All evening, he had longed to peel away the dress from his wife's soft white shoulders. "Oh, go get it," Melanie whispered, dangling the earrings in front of his eyes. "I'll put these on." She wiggled out of his grasp, backing toward the Mandarin's master bathroom, a smile in her liquid brown eyes. God, he loved those eyes. As he went to the door, David was thinking he wouldn't trade places with anybody in the world. Not even for a second goat.

Chapter 2

PHILLIP CAMPBELL had imagined this moment, this exquisite scene, so many times. He knew it would be the groom who opened the door. He stepped into the room. "Congratulations," Campbell muttered, handing over the champagne.