The Man Who Has No Soul (Soulless 1)

He didn’t notice me because he was so focused.

I kept his food separated so the different items wouldn’t all taste the same. I added the dressing to the salad, shook it together, and then placed the salmon on top. He didn’t ask for it, but I’d also gotten him assorted nuts, a container of tropical fruit, hummus, and pita bread.

He must have smelled the food because he turned to look at me, subtly surprised to see me there.

I pulled out the utensils and placed them on the napkin. “Anything else before I go?”

He stared at the food for a few more seconds, as if he couldn’t believe he got to eat something he actually wanted. He grabbed the containers and pulled them closer, pushing aside his charts so he could eat. “No.”

I never got a thank-you from him, but I knew he appreciated everything I did.

“I’ll see you later, then.”

He lifted his gaze and looked at me, holding the eye contact for a few seconds, just staring at my face. “This all looks amazing.”

I smiled. “I’m glad you like it.” I gave him a gentle nod before I walked to the elevator. While I waited at the doors, I turned back to him.

His gaze was down again, and he dug into his food, eating quickly like he was starving. He was focused once again, as if our conversation never happened. He was oblivious to the stares he received from the women at their desks, the way they stared at his muscular arms, his thick hair. And the way they glared venomously at me.

I was alone in the office, always the first one there, the last to leave.

Footsteps sounded in front of me.

I looked up, expecting to see one of my clients who had stopped by to say hello before taking the elevator.

But it was Jake.

He was the last thing on my mind. Even after I got his divorce papers, I’d stopped thinking about him by the time I woke up the next morning. Our relationship lasted for months, but now it was like it had never happened.

Not for him, apparently.

He was in a white tee and jeans, like he’d just gotten home from something casual. With his hands in his pockets, he stared at me.

I sighed loudly, not hiding my annoyance. “Jake—”

“I’m not married anymore. I’m legally divorced. She packed up her shit and left.”

I dragged my hands down my face. “Jake, you’re missing the point here—”

“I told her I had an affair. I was straight with her about it.”

“You did what?” I hissed.

“I didn’t tell her it was you, alright?” he said. “But I told her the truth. It hurt, but she appreciated my honesty. We’re on good terms now…for the most part. So, there’s no problem. It’s you and me.”

“No, there’s no you and me,” I snapped. “Jake, we’re over.”

“Why? We’re great together.”

“No, the sex was great. But you were married—and that’s disgusting.”

He shook his head. “Lots of people have affairs—”

“Doesn’t make it okay. I’m ashamed that I’ve ever been with a married man. I know what it’s like to have a cheating husband, and it feels terrible.” My eyes smarted even though I tried to keep my emotions back. “I don’t want to be with you, Jake. I’m over our relationship. I’m seeing someone else.”

He sighed quietly, like that hurt. “Then dump him and be with me.”

“I don’t want to, okay? I’m not acting this way because I’m mad at you. I’m over you.”

He sighed again, like that stung.

“I was hurt in the beginning, but I got over it. I moved on. I’m really tired of us still talking about this…” My words trailed away when I noticed Deacon standing near the elevators, staring at us like he knew something wrong. “Shit…”

Jake glanced at Deacon before he turned back to me.

“This is over, okay?” I whispered. “Let’s both move on.”

Deacon walked toward us, still in his scrubs after the long day he’d had. His satchel was over his shoulder as he approached us. He must have seen the emotion in my eyes because he stared for several heartbeats before he sized up Jake. “Cleo, is he bothering you?”

This man took me by surprise again, coming to my defense when he’d probably never done anything like that in his life. He didn’t understand social situations, didn’t understand how to talk to people, but he had no problem understanding I was in distress, and he had no problem confronting another man if he thought he was hurting me.

I took a deep breath before I forced a smile on my lips, doing my best to defuse the situation. “Deacon, we’re fine. Mr. Patterson and I were just resolving a misunderstanding. I delivered the wrong dry cleaning and gave him someone else’s groceries.” I shifted my look back to Jake. “I’m so sorry about that. It won’t happen again.” I hoped Jake would play along with it instead of throwing me under the bus because he was emotional right now.