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goodbye at all.”
    She’d misread him. Her flattened hopes filled with air, became buoyant with possibilities. They’d only spent one night together, true. But now at least they’d have a chance to get to know each other, to find out if they really clicked.
    A smile lit his face. “Brunch, then?”
    Her own lips curved. “That sounds wonderful.”
    “Terrific.” He patted his back pocket. “I’ll need my wallet.” He gestured to the items he’d placed on the dresser last night. “Would you mind?”
    “No problem.” She picked up his watch and wallet in one hand, but somehow fumbled while handing them over. The wallet fell to the carpet and spilled open.
    “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m such a klutz, always dropping things.” She stooped to gather the wallet along with the bills and paper stubs that had fallen out, but froze when the glint of gold caught her eye. A plain gold wedding band touched the tip of her shoe. As Blaise picked it up, all her hopes imploded and her silly little dreams turned to dust. Her skin turned clammy. Her gut churned with disappointment and disgust.
    She stood, the ring between her thumb and forefinger, leaving the rest of his garbage on the floor. She didn’t so much as glance at Guy. If she took one look at his lying, cheating face, she’d either punch him or puke all over the expensive carpet. Maybe both. Wordlessly she flicked the ring away. It landed with a clatter on the dresser. If he didn’t respect it, why should she?
    “It’s not what you think.” His voice barely penetrated the roar of blood in her ears.
    Of course not. It never was. But she wasn’t about to stand here and listen to his excuses.
    She whirled on him, her jaw so tight it ached, her eyes hot with rage. “Don’t. Say. A word.” She grabbed her bag from the Tattered Page. She already felt as though her gift to Ashlynn had been defiled by his lies and her own stupidity. But there’d be plenty of time to hate herself later.
    Blaise stormed down the hall to the elevator, furiously punched the down button, but was too angry and impatient to wait. Instead, she found the stairwell, pounded down three flights of stairs, stalked through the lobby and out onto the sidewalk. Other pedestrians gave her a wide berth, her bitch face warning all who passed don’t mess with me .
    It was ten blocks to home. She could have hopped a bus but couldn’t face Larry and her other friends in her present state of mind. Besides, fury gave her energy, and she had to do something with it.
    “It’s not what you think,” he’d said. What was it, then? That his wife didn’t understand him, that he didn’t sleep with her anymore, that he only stayed with her for the sake of the children?
    Children. Jesus. Did he have kids? He never mentioned them, but he never mentioned being married, either. Who did he think he was, dragging her into his dirty game? He didn’t know her. How did he know she wouldn’t go psycho on his ass, like that chick in Fatal Attraction ?
    She should have torn him a new one. Damn it, why did she always think of the right thing to say, the perfect zinger after the event? She imagined herself back at the hotel, her shoulders thrust back proudly, her voice steely. “For future reference, have the decency to let your next conquest know you have a wife. At least then she can make an informed decision. There are plenty of women out there who have no objection to sleeping with married men. I don’t happen to be one of them.”
    Ha! That would have told him.
    Too late now.
    She was more than halfway home when her pace slowed and her feet dragged. Her anger had stewed into a sludge of disillusionment and bitterness.
    She blinked back tears. Her disgust was no longer with Guy but with herself. What kind of fool hooks up with a man and forgets the very first question she’s supposed to ask: “Are you married?” Who doesn’t think to check for a wedding band or a white line where a band should be? How could she