Page 26

“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, butshemissedSimon. 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 her, shoved beneath exhaustion, hunger, and the need to survive. Waiting.
Pulling the car door open, she slid into the front seat beside James, still wondering why she had never recognized her yearning for the company of a male.
Because it wasn’t there. Not until I met Simon. It’s him. I don’t want just any male.
Damn it, it was true. She knew it. There was something about Simon that called to her, beckoned her to bring him closer, so close that she may very well get burned. Nevertheless, the lure was there and it was seductive; Simon’s come-hither vibrations were enticing and impossible to ignore.
Why am I so drawn to him? We’re nothing alike.
Shaking her head against the supple leather of the seat, Kara admitted to herself that in some superficial likes and dislikes…they were different. But in many ways…they were so very similar.
After being burned by Chris, she was wary…just like Simon. The causes might be different and she was fairly certain that Simon’s were much more traumatic, but the two of them circled each other like frightened children, not quite sure if they wanted to be friend or foe, whether they wanted to trust or not.