Was he really changing? He was aloof at times, and a little bit insular, but Kara didn’t think she could ever imagine him as uncaring or completely solitary. There were some things that were just…Simon.
Gruff…check.
Cranky…check.
Bossy…check.
Controlling…sometimes.
Kind…definitely check! Beneath his rough exterior he had a very good heart.
Sexy…check, check, check.
He was also witty, smart and completely irresistible in more ways than she could count.
“Hopefully, he’ll tell me what happened some day.” Kara whispered to herself.
“I hope he does. He needs to talk about it and leave it in the past.” Helen replied quietly.
Oh, hell. Simon’s mother had heard her comment. In addition to eyes in the back of her head, Helen must also have supersonic hearing.
“Do you know what happened?” Kara asked her friend curiously.
Looking uncomfortable, Helen replied, “I know the event. He nearly died. But I don’t think I know everything.” Helen’s expression was grim.
“It’s a painful memory for you. I’m sorry.” Kara vowed to never take her friend down this road again. She hated seeing the woman who was like a second mother to her looking so forlorn.
“There are a lot of memories in the distant past that are painful. I can’t always avoid them. My boys went through a childhood that they never should have had. That no child should ever experience. I should have done more, protected them better.” Helen’s eyes were filled with pain, as though remembering that painful past and the toll it had taken on them all.
“Stop. Right now. Simon and Sam both turned out fine. They’re sons to be proud of, Helen. You did your best and it shows.” Kara hated that mournful expression on Helen’s face. “You don’t have to have a perfect childhood to grow into a terrific adult. Look at me.” She smiled broadly, trying to cheer Helen up with humor.
Helen smiled weakly. “Sometimes I forget how hard you’ve had it, sweetie. You’re parents left you alone too young, but they raised you right.”
“And you raised your boys right. I don’t know Sam, but I do know Simon. He’s a wonderful man,” Kara told her friend honestly. Hoping to change the subject and see Helen smile again, she was determined to change the topic. No good could come out of Helen wishing that she had raised her children differently. Kara knew Helen, and that her friend had done her best to raise her two boys, whatever the circumstances might have been. “Simon invited me to Sam’s party tomorrow.”
Helen laughed. “Simon’s annual birthday bash, hosted by none other than his brother, Sam. You are going to go, aren’t you?”
“Yep. Simon wants me to go. Are there going to be a lot of people there?” Kara couldn’t keep the apprehension from her voice. How in the world was she going to blend in with a bunch of wealthy guests at Simon’s birthday party?
She had been surprised when Simon asked her attend the event. Not only had she not known that he had a birthday coming up, but her own birthday was the day after Simon’s.
“Are you nervous?” Helen lifted her brow, giving Kara an inquiring look.
Damn. Was there anything that Helen couldn’t get out of her? “A little. It’s not exactly a crowd that I’m used to mingling with.” That was an understatement. Things done for pleasure or relaxation weren’t events she attended at all. Between work and school, she had never had the time.
Helen’s delighted chortle filled the air around them. “One thing I’ve learned over the years is that rich people aren’t really that much different than normal folks. Some are nice. Some are not so nice. You’ll be fine. Having money doesn’t make any of them better than you are, sweetie.”
Rationally, Kara knew that. Still, she was nervous. Her anxiety wasn’t caused so much by the wealth as the idea that she didn’t want to disappoint Simon in front of his friends, business acquaintances and family. Her social skills were sadly lacking from years of neglect, her only practice her customers at the restaurant and very young college classmates.
Kara’s phone beeped, startling her back into reality. She pulled the phone from her pocket. “Simon,” she informed Helen with a smile as she glanced at the text message.
RU done talking about me yet?
Really? Like she and Helen had nothing better to do than talk about him? Her fingers flew as she flipped back a message.
Your name hasn’t even come up. Arrogant much?
A reply came almost instantly.
No. But I know my mom. If you don’t come home soon, I’m cooking dinner.
“Oh my God, I have to leave.” She gave Helen a grin and an expression of mock horror.
“Why?” Helen asked, her expression perplexed.
“Simon’s threatening to cook if I don’t get back to the condo.”
Helen’s tinkling laugh shimmered around Kara, making her chuckle along with the older woman. Helen sucked in an amused breath and replied. “An ominous threat coming from Simon. He’s likely to hurt himself.”
“Yep. He’s a culinary disaster if he tries anything except sandwiches or microwave dinners.” Kara answered Helen as she typed.
I’ll head that way soon. Please, do not cook.
“Sneaky, manipulative man.” Kara whispered fondly as she slid out of the booth.
“He’s obviously missing you. It’s romantic.” Helen sighed, a dreamy look in her eyes as she stood up beside Kara. “Just don’t let him get away with too much.”
Kara hugged her friend with an amused expression. It was more likely that Simon was hungry and didn’t want a sandwich, but she didn’t want to squash Helen’s lofty ideals about her son. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Kara answered, heading for the door.
She searched for James and the Mercedes with eager eyes, ready to be back at the condo with Simon. He might not be truly missing her, but she missed Simon . The best part of her day was evening, spending time with him, talking about what had happened during their day, throwing around opinions and ideas. They could talk about important things, or just little things. It never seemed to matter.
Oh God, I’m pitiful.
Spotting James, she picked up her pace to get to the car, realizing with shock that she had been incredibly lonesome before she had met Simon. Strange, but she had never felt alone. Every day, she had been surrounded by people, customers, students, crowds. Yet, the loneliness had been there, buried deep inside of her, shoved beneath exhaustion, hunger, and the need to survive. Waiting.