The Man Who Has No Heart - Victoria Quinn Page 0,3

hair until it was smooth, redid my makeup entirely, and finally erased the shitshow that was on my face before. After a quick spray of perfume and another application of deodorant, I went back into the living room.

He was exactly where I left him, sitting straight and unsupported, his knees apart with his hands resting on his lap. He wasn’t on his phone.

I moved to the couch beside him, crossing my legs and keeping space between us. The pizza was forgotten because I was embarrassed enough already. “The flowers look great there.”

He stared at them for a while before he shifted his gaze to me.

I stared back, unsure why he lingered. He’d showed his gratitude so well. He didn’t need to waste any more time in this filthy apartment. Thankfully, he didn’t ask for a tour because I would have denied him. If he saw the pile of old dishes in the sink, he’d probably be disgusted. I mean, I was disgusted by my own apartment. I just had no time to clean it.

He continued to stare.

I stared back.

“Can you not talk?”

My eyebrow immediately rose at the rude thing he’d just said.

“I want to say something…”

My fire died away when I understood.

“Everybody wants something from me.” He continued to stare at me as if he hadn’t noticed the way I grew offended at the first thing he’d said. “Valerie wanted my money. The world wants my mind. Derek wants a father to take care of him. Never in my life have I had someone who does so much for me…who has my best interests at heart. My parents raised me and they were good to me, but it’s not the same.”

I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t sure if he was finished.

He looked at the flowers for a second before he turned back to me. “Thank you for everything. I don’t know how else to say it. I don’t know how else to show it. Because my words, flowers, and dinner don’t truly reflect my gratitude.”

My insides melted like butter, and my heart grew wings. “Sometimes gratitude isn’t conveyed with words or gifts. Sometimes it’s conveyed with emotions. And you’ve shown me how much my gesture has meant to you.” I rested my hands on my knee, looking at the clean shave on his face, the little bones in his jaw visible when there was no hair covering them.

“How did you get Valerie to agree?”

I shrugged. “I told her she should be grateful that her ex-husband wants a relationship with her son at all. Most men don’t care that much. And if she wants you guys to be on good terms someday, the best way to do that is by giving you what you want.”

He shook his head. “I still can’t believe you did it.”

“I know how to handle difficult people.”

He sighed deeply. “Yeah…like me.”

I crinkled my eyes. “No, Deacon. You aren’t difficult.”

He looked at the flowers again. “I called her yesterday.”

I hoped this story had a happy ending.

“I thanked her for letting me have Derek for the weekend.”

I nodded. “That was a good move.”

“I read that book you gave me…”

I smiled. “I’m glad it was helpful.”

He rubbed his large hands together slightly.

“Did you ask if you could see him again?”

He shook his head. “I thought it was best to leave it alone.”

“Yeah…”

He stared down at his hands. “But saying goodbye was so hard. It’s like having your heart exist outside your body…and he takes it with him.”

My eyes softened.

“I don’t want it to be this way. I don’t want to have him for a little bit…and then give him back.”

“I know…”

“I don’t know what to do,” he whispered. “I don’t want to be a father who’s not there. I can’t be that kind of father…”

“Maybe we can convince her to move here.”

He lifted his gaze and looked at me.

“It’ll take some time, but we might be able to pull it off.”

“I’d ordinarily say no, but I don’t underestimate you anymore.”

I smiled. “I think if we give her an incentive, she might do it.”

“She’s always liked the city.”

“Really?” I asked. “Then maybe I can think of something to get her here.” The one thing she wanted was Deacon, but she would never have him. Deacon gave up everything to get out of that marriage. There was no way he would try again, not when he would never love her. “What does she like?”

He was quiet for a long time. “Expensive things.”

Then maybe Deacon could buy her a beautiful place to