The Man Who Has No Love - Victoria Quinn Page 0,2

horrid taste. So, I tried to keep a few things, that way, he wouldn’t grow hungry.

He cooked for me all the time—it was the least I could do.

He texted me. Have you eaten dinner?

I was too tired to eat. The second I came home, I plopped down on the couch, in my panties and blouse. No. Are you on the menu?

He picked up on my joke, even through text. Not the dinner menu. Just the dessert one.

I smiled. Are you coming by?

I’m taking my mom to dinner. I want you to come.

I’d already met the woman, but I immediately grew nervous. We shouldn’t go out together.

It’s a big city, Cleo. If anyone asks, I’ll lie.

We’d been out together before, but I hadn’t worried about it. If someone asked me, I could just tell the truth…and that was enough for me. But I was a terrible liar, so if someone asked me now, I wouldn’t know what to say.

I want her to know about us.

My heart was still racing. What if she tells someone?

Who?

Her assistant?

Then I’ll ask her not to. Problem solved.

I was still nervous—and not about my secret coming out.

Baby?

Yeah?

I feel like you aren’t telling me something.

I stared at his words on the screen, feeling guilty for not being upfront. I wrote a couple responses, deleted them, and then started over.

He must have grown impatient because he called.

I sighed before I answered.

He was quiet, not asking anything because his intent was perfectly clear.

“I’m just nervous to meet your mom…”

“You’ve already met her.”

“Yeah, but this is different.”

“Baby, she’s going to be happy. And if she weren’t, I wouldn’t care. You’re the woman I want, and if she can’t be supportive, I really don’t give a damn.”

“Everyone wants the approval of their parents.”

“Yes. I want my mother to like you. But it’s not going to change the way I feel about you if she doesn’t.”

I sighed into the phone.

“You’re confident. It’s one of the things I first noticed about you. But you aren’t confident now. Why?”

I was quiet.

“I asked you a question.” He was more direct than he used to be, comfortable enough to speak his mind.

I liked it because it was a turn-on. But right now, it worked against me. “Deacon, you’re a brilliant billionaire…”

He was quiet, like he didn’t understand my point.

“And I’m…you know…a servant.”

“You are not a servant.”

“I’m not stupid. I know I’m not good enough for you.”

He sighed loudly into the phone.

“And I’m just afraid she’s going to think that too, think I’m after your money or something. That I’ve taken advantage of my position to get closer to you, to have an opportunity to get into your bed.”

“No offense, but I’ve never heard you sound so stupid.”

I went quiet.

“A person’s worth isn’t determined by their wealth. Take my money away, and I’m the one not good enough for you, Cleo. You’re kind, compassionate, passionate… You have a heart that I’ll never have. You bent over backward for me when I was less than kind. So, don’t sit there and say I’m better than you. You’re better than that.”

My heart melted in my chest for the millionth time.

“I’m not sure what kind of impression you have of my mother, but she’s not like that. She would never think those things, Cleo.”

“I don’t think she would either. But you’re her son, and you’ve been burned in the past. She’ll be protective of you, because she should.”

He was quiet for a long time.

“I’m sorry…”

“Whether she likes you or not, this is going to happen. If you don’t want to do it tonight, we can do it another time. But I’m not keeping this a secret from her. I’m not going to pretend that I’m not in a serious relationship with you. I had to lie to Valerie because it was necessary, but I’m not doing that shit with anyone else.”

This man had such a tight grasp on my heart…and he had no idea. “I’ll go.”

“So, you’re going to stop all this bullshit about not being good enough?”

I smiled. “Well, my opinion won’t change, but I’m not going to say that to your mother.” Maybe he didn’t understand just how special he was, took himself for granted. Most people in the world only cared about being rich. That was the least of his concerns. He’d dedicated his life to making the world a better place. He was totally out of my league…and not just because he was gorgeous.

“Just be yourself.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll pick you up, and we’ll meet her there.”

“Alright. And Deacon?”

“Yes, baby?”