Like always, she had managed to turn triumph into misery.

Fucking bitch!

He came down to the public office—an enormous space that included an entertaining area made up of brown, instead of black, leather couches, tables, TVs, a gaming system, and a professional built-in wet bar. There was a wall facing a view of the mountains. A door led to a private business office. His secretary worked in the main area in an open-plan design. Talia was in her mid-thirties: nice-looking with blond curls that trailed down her back, round brown eyes, and a slim figure, as well as big boobs and a fine ass. She had been adequate as an intimate companion, but when he decided to break it off for business reasons, it was as if it never happened for him. For her, who knew? Who cared?

She was working at her desk and smiled when she saw him.

He didn’t smile back. “Coffee, please. Then come into my office and we’ll go over scheduling.”

Talia stood up. “Right away.”

Sitting at his desk, the door ajar, he dropped his head in his hands.

Terry had cheated on him. Big deal. He had dozens upon dozens of women—and men—while they were married. He could have forgiven that. He had been a shitty husband. She was entitled.

But to get knocked up after two months?

Six times?

Humiliation coursed through his veins. All his conquests, and he couldn’t even manage the most basic of male functions with his own wife.

Talia came in and laid the coffee mug on his desk. “I brought you a biscotti.”

“Thank you.” He exhaled forcibly and shook his head. “It’s been a while. What’s on the agenda?”

“You have that bankers meeting at three. You know that, right?”

“No, I don’t know a thing. Are we meeting here?”

“Yes.”

“How many people are we talking about?”

“Three—Northwest, Central Nevada, and Silver.”

“Okay. What else?”

“Pearson and Groger called. They want to know whether to continue the ad campaign.”

“What’s our capacity?”

“I think over ninety percent. I’ll talk to Ann and get you the exact figures for the month.”

“That would be helpful. Over ninety is pretty good for summer. I’ll call Barry and see where we’re at pricewise with them. Pearson is good, but expensive.”

“Speaking of Barry, he called. He wants to set up something.”

His accountant kept good tabs on what was going on. Donatti said, “Give me some dates. Anything else?”

“Gambling commissioner for the county … you said you wanted to set something up with him? When should I do that?”

“Any time.”

“You haven’t been around much. Is one time better than another?”

“Talia, just set something up and I’ll work around it. Jesus!”

She stared at him. Then she said, “She’s been in your life less than a month and already you’re miserable.”