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  This book is dedicated to everyone who’s ever fallen in love with the wrong person, especially those who stayed longer than they should have, trying to make it work.

  It’s Said

  That every soul enters

  this world an immaculate slate

  awaiting the imprint

  of parent and teacher,

  the scribbling of providence.

  But no truth is absolute.

  More often than supposed,

  a mind is born defective,

  hairline fractures

  spidering the native psyche,

  flaws invisible to the eye.

  Some cracks can’t be mortared.

  One

  As gyms go, this one is exceptionally clean. Hardwood gleams beneath the December sun flurrying down through the fog-misted skylight, and the place smells more like floor polish than the afternoon regulars’ liberal drips of sweat. Even the Pilates mats manage to shed the odor of perspiration, and that pleases me. I prefer to inhale the scent of exertion only during coition.

  Coition. Good word. Appears before “coitus” in the dictionary, and though they mean the same thing, the softer “shun” sounds chicer than the “tus” to my ear. Not that class is requisite to the act itself, but in conversation, tone is everything.

  “Tara! Concentrate. Your form is terrible. Straighten your back. Lift your chest.”

  I do as instructed but complain, “Squats stink. And anyway, I thought you appreciated my form.”

  Nick slinks closer, bends to lower his face close to mine, and I wait for his tongue to tease the pulse beneath my ear. Instead, he slaps my behind, hard enough to sting. “You told me your goal is perfection. You’re not there yet.” His words slap sharper than the gesture. “That’s why you need me.”

  Honestly, most personal trainers could accomplish the task. I’ve handpicked a half dozen over the years, trying them on for size, so to speak. I’ve kept Nick the longest because of ability above and beyond, not to mention outside of the gym.

  I do enjoy specialized service, and Nick has exceptional talents. Still, he has bruised my ego.

  “I don’t need you at all, Mr. de la Rosa. In fact, I think we’re finished . . .” The look on his face is priceless. I’m an excellent tipper. “With squats and thrusts and weights, at least for today. As for the postworkout workout, give me thirty to shower and I’ll meet you out front.”

  “You are a wicked, wicked woman. Almost scary, in fact.”

  “Almost? You underestimate me, sir.”

  Our little exchange did not go unnoticed, and envious eyes follow my retreat toward the women’s shower room. That’s correct, ladies. He and I are doing the filthy, and you’re right to be jealous. What Nick de la Rosa may lack in discretionary income, he more than makes up for in carnal creativity. Who needs to go out when one can have so much fun staying in, playing doctor?

  My locker is well stocked with aromatic soaps and lotions, but before I use those I take a few minutes to douche away feminine fragrance, heightened by the previous ninety minutes of effort. One of my exes called me fastidious. Another claimed I’m obsessively clean. But, as my late, great first husband once told me, “A sweet pussy invites the tongue to tango.” I plan on plenty of oral dance in an hour or so.

  Meanwhile, I run the water hot, perfume my hair with gardenia-scented shampoo, and soften my skin to silk with this fabulous vanilla-cedar shower gel. My eyes are closed against the final rinse of conditioner when a voice flutters softly within the tiled walls.

  “What is that amazing incense smell?”

  “It’s body wash from Kiehl’s.”

  “Expensive?”

  “Not too.” I blink away water, and when I identify the person on the far side of the conversation, I hope the showerhead’s splash disguises the serrated intake of my breath.

  Penelope teaches yoga, and while she’s something to see in a tank top and stretch pants, naked she is simply exquisite. In a side-by-side comparison, I can hold my own against pretty much any woman here. But Penelope is one of those rare young things whose obviously natural curves and fawn suede complexion rival anything my pricey plastic surgeon could accomplish. If I had hackles, they’d be bristling.

  “You can find the body wash online. Vanilla and cedarwood.” I grab a towel, cover my imperfect assets, and try not to stare at Penelope as she and I trade places.

  For the next twenty minutes, I work serums and moisturizer into my skin before applying foundation. Not sure why I’m bothering. It will all come dripping off in a little while. Oh well. At least I’ll look attractive until then and turn a few heads on my way to the door.

  December shrouds San Francisco in gray. I step out into the heavy, wet curtain and am happy I took the time to blow-dry my hair, which is long and thick and would stay damp otherwise. My stylist calls it problematic because it takes extra time to color. But I’m determined to keep it as close to its original fox red as possible. My sister is two years younger, and at not quite thirty-nine her hair has gone completely silver. It’s actually striking on her, but the look would be wrong for me.

  I stand back against the building beneath a wide awning, watching sidewalk travelers hustle by. Everyone walks quickly here, worried more about what’s behind them than the appointments waiting for them up ahead. It’s an eclectic stream—high school kids with prominent piercings, street dwellers of various ages and genders, a young black woman in short leather, an older white man in ankle-length mink.

  It’s quite the show, and I’m enjoying it well enough until it strikes me that I’ve been loitering here for a very long time. I look in through the big plate-glass window, beyond weight machines and treadmills. Oh, there he is, in loose jeans and a flimsy flannel shirt that doesn’t exactly hide all the lovely musculature I’ve almost memorized.

  Nick starts in this direction, but before he can take a dozen steps, Penelope cozies up behind him, pouts against the back of his neck, and lifts on her toes slightly, saying something into his ear. He spins and now his face is hidden. But I can see hers clearly. Her smile is more than flirtatious. It’s tinted with affection. And her eyes, locked on his, tell a story I really don’t want to know.

  I have hackles after all. Rage sizzles, white-hot, and my hands tremor. Unreasonably, it’s Penelope my inner bitch wants to maul. It’s not her fault Nick wants his steak and his cupcake, too. She must sense the devil’s gaze, because her head swivels, side to side. When she glances over Nick’s shoulder and notices me glaring through the glass, she gives him a playful shove. Does she realize he’s meeting me? Do they have some quirky arrangement?

  Nick turns his back on pretty Penelope, heads straight for the door, and when it opens a shock wave of anger hits him square. He looks at me, and I swear he has no idea why I’m pissed. “What’s wrong?”

  I force my voice low and level. “Why do you think something’s wrong?”

  “Well, I don’t know, Tara. Maybe it’s your body language.” He reaches for my elbow, tries to steer me clear of curious eyes on the far side of the window.

  I yank my arm away and hold my ground. “Do not touch me again unless I say it’s okay. Understand?” He nods, dumbstruck, and I continue. “Does she know we’re sleeping together?”

  “Does who know?”

  “Stop playing stupid! God, I hate when men play stupid! Penelope. Does she know? You two obviously have somet
hing going on.”

  Nick starts up the sidewalk, sure I’ll follow, or at the very least let him leave me standing here like an idiot. “You don’t own me, bitch.”

  I have no choice but to take the bait. But I’m not going to be gutted without a fight. I catch up to him and strike from behind, jabbing with words. “I’m sorry, Nick. I thought you liked our arrangement, that it was mutually beneficial.”

  He stops, turns to face me. “I do like it. But there was never any mention of exclusivity.”

  “You are seeing Penelope, then?”

  “Well, yeah. And others. It’s not like I’m engaged to any of you. Like I said, you don’t own me.”

  Maggot.

  “I believe you said, ‘You don’t own me, bitch.’ ”

  The smirk slips from his face. “Uh yeah, guess I did, and I’m sor—”

  “Shut up.” Damage control? I don’t think so. “No one talks to me like that, Nick, least of all hired help. And, make no mistake, that’s exactly what you are . . . uh, were. I do hope your ‘others’ are as generous as I have been, because there will be no more under-the-table supplemental income from me. Come to think of it, I might have to 1099 you.”

  My turn to smirk, and he doesn’t like it. “Go ahead and try. You paid me in cash and can’t prove a thing.”

  That makes me laugh. “Do you really think I wouldn’t take steps to protect myself, just in case you turned out to be the weasel you are? You know those nanny-cam things? So happens I have a boudoir cam. I don’t suppose you ever noticed I always paid you before you got out of bed?”

  Not completely true, but close enough. The camera covers the entire room. Anyway, it’s not like I’d really 1099 him, but it won’t hurt to make him sweat a little. Damn, I am going to miss his sweat. But I could never have sex with him again, knowing he might have just come from someone else’s bed. Who wants to sleep with a harem?

  “So, we’re finished?”

  Cheeky little bastard. “You needed confirmation of that?”

  “What about the gym?”

  “This city is crawling with personal trainers. I’m sure I can find another one as multifaceted as you. Meanwhile, I can handle my own workouts. I really don’t need you, or anyone, to tell me how to squat.” I start to walk away. Turn back. “You never did say if Penelope knew about me.”

  He stares at me stupidly for a moment. Then he dares, “I didn’t see the need to disclose the dirty details.”

  My hackles lower and I smile. “I think I should take up yoga. Don’t you?”

  I turn my back on him, and as I start to walk away he calls, “You say one word to her and you will be very sorry.”

  In a low, measured voice, I reply, “I hope that’s not a threat. This is a game you can’t win.”

  He changes tactics. “You don’t understand. I love her.”

  “Then why have you been fucking me?”

  I leave before he can answer. Wounded. Envious. I don’t even know what love feels like. It’s unfair an asshole like Nick should know. But if it’s even remotely like having sex on the side with whomever, all the while claiming your heart is taken, maybe it’s just as well that it’s outside my realm of experience.

  Two

  Traffic tonight is the absolute worst. I arrive at the Marriott twenty minutes late, decide to go ahead and pay the exorbitant parking fee, and pull in to valet. A decent-looking young man (very young!) rushes to open the door for me, semidrooling. But whether that’s because of my legs or my silver-over-midnight-blue Corvette, I really can’t say.

  I hand him the keys. “You will take very good care of her, won’t you? I don’t want to smell hot engine.” I pause for effect. “Unless it’s yours.”

  He cocks his head sideways, confused. Then it hits him and he laughs, cheeks flushing a furious red. “H-h-here’s your claim check,” he stutters. “And I’ll be careful with your car.”

  “I know you will.” To be certain, I hand him a twenty.

  The View Lounge is on the thirty-ninth floor. Cassandra is already here, and she’s managed to score us a table by the immense spoked window overlooking downtown, all the way to the water. “You’re late.”

  She is direct, and I like that. The last thing anyone needs is a backstabber in friend’s clothing. Speaking of clothing, hers is expensive. Impeccable. We frequent the same stores, preferring the sweet little boutiques on Chestnut or Fillmore to shopping-mall standards.

  “Sorry. I got delayed at the gym, and traffic was unusually ugly.”

  Cassandra sips her drink. “Delayed at the gym, or after?”

  She and I actually met at that gym, and we chose it for similar reasons.

  Cassandra was in the middle of a divorce and looking for no-strings play. When the dissolution was finalized, she moved to Pacific Heights and found a new place to work out, closer to home. The trainers, she tells me, are equally qualified. “Hold that thought. I need one of those.” I nod toward her drink and then signal a nearby waiter. “Blood-orange sidecar, please.”

  As I wait for my drink, I give her the lowdown on Nick, Penelope, and his possible others. I don’t inform her that when I got home I called the gym twice. The first time, I canceled my membership, due to inappropriate behavior on the part of my trainer. The second, I asked to talk to the yoga instructor. Our conversation did not include class times.

  “Ah well,” I finish as the sidecar arrives. “Nick was spectacular in bed, but not exactly husband material.”

  Cassandra looks at me incredulously. “Surely you’re not in the market for another husband?”

  “Why not?” I take a long swallow of deliciousness, which burns just enough to remind me my stomach is empty. “Hey, are you hungry? I haven’t eaten a thing since breakfast, and then it was only granola and yogurt.”

  “Go ahead and order something, but don’t change the subject.”

  “What was the question again? Oh, yeah. Husbands. I know ‘three’ is supposed to be the charm, but it didn’t quite work that way for me. Why shouldn’t I want another one?”

  “Are you kidding me? Your life is perfect: a brilliant home on Russian Hill; a BMW, Corvette, and whatever that big thing is—”

  “Escalade. For the snow, you know.”

  “Right. Your once-a-year ski trip or whatever.”

  “I try to get up there at least a couple of times a season,” I correct. “In fact, I’m leaving day after tomorrow for a week. December doesn’t reward the Sierra with this much snow very often, so I called Melody and she was free and—”

  “Stop avoiding the issue! It’s not like you need a husband for a satisfying ski trip, either. God, Tara. Your time is your own. Even your fund-raising stuff happens when you feel like putting in the effort. You have no problem getting laid when you want. And besides, the ink is barely dry on your divorce papers. I take it your attorney prevailed?”

  “Well, of course. Finn left me for the Barbie doll. I didn’t leave him. Besides, he’d do just about anything to avoid controversy right now. He founded his company on quote-unquote Christian principles, not that I ever once saw him go to church. It was just a way to tap into loopholes that freed him from certain government intrusions. He’s decided to go public. He stands to make a whole other fortune and the settlement was a drop in the proverbial bucket. Plus, now he can show off his token brat, legitimize his heir-to-be. Apparently the girl’s pregnant.”

  Cassandra looks amused. “Well, that’s something you weren’t ever going to be, right?”

  “Certainly not. I made sure of that a long time ago.” Allow some alien being to grow inside me, stretch my body into an unrecognizable shape, scarring my skin irreparably with fat silver marks? And as if all that isn’t bad enough, nurture that child (and perhaps a sibling or two) into adulthood? Call me selfish. Call me scared.

  But being a parent was never a goal.

  Since we’re talking offspring, I probably should inquire about her kid. “How’s Taylor doing? School going okay?”
<
br />   It’s a staccato conversation.

  New school, the Athenian.

  Expensive school but worth the tuition, especially since her ex is paying it.

  Boarding school, so she only sees the kid every other weekend and holidays.

  Competitive school, and so far he’s maintaining a 4.0.

  I do my best not to yawn.

  Finally, our waiter stops by, inquiring about a second round. “That gentleman over there would like to buy it for you ladies.”

  He points to a decent-looking man, sitting alone three tables away. When we glance in his direction, he lifts his hand as if saluting. I reward him with a smile and mouth a silent thank-you. He responds with a subtle flick of his tongue.

  “I think you’ve impressed him,” says Cassandra.

  “The cut of his trousers impresses me.”

  “Like you can see that from here?”

  “Have I never told you about my superpower? Able to discern the size of a penis across a crowded room.”

  It’s not that funny, but Cassandra laughs anyway, almost snorting out the last of her drink. Luckily, the waiter arrives with two more.

  “See?” says Cassandra. “Complete strangers buy you drinks. Bet you could sweet-talk him into dinner, too. Why on earth would you consider matrimony again when you can have the fringe benefits without giving up your independence?”

  It’s a fair question. “Companionship. I really hate living alone. But since a proposal is not on the table, I’ll settle for the fringe benefits.” My eyes settle on our benefactor, the invitation, I hope, apparent.

  “Get out! You’re not seriously considering hooking up with that man?”

  “Why not? He’s good looking, isn’t he?” Who needs Nick de la Rosa, anyway?

  “Serial killers generally come in attractive packages, you know.”

  I assess the man carefully. Expensive suit. Silk. Tailored. (Do creepers wear Armani?) Meticulously styled salt-and-pepper hair—he has an excellent barber. Perfect teeth, at least they look that way from here. Predatory eyes, but they meet mine straight on. I don’t think he has a whole lot to hide. Besides, I kind of like carnivores. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. Anyway, I hear serial killers give great head.”