“Were you friends?” Simon asked curiously, looking at Maddie expectantly.
“No! Not really!” Maddie answered abruptly, her face turning as red as her hair.
“Ah…I see,” Simon answered. Not ready to let the subject drop he added, “Bad experience with my brother?”
“He’s a complete and total snake.” Maddie reached up to rake the curls from her face. The wind was brisk and errant spirals were whipping around her head.
Kara jumped as a harsh bark of laughter escaped from Simon’s mouth. “Believe me, you aren’t the first woman to feel that way. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault that your brother is a slimy reptile. I just hope the two of you aren’t similar in some regards,” she replied awkwardly. “Take care of Kara.”
“With pleasure, Maddie,” he replied smoothly, reaching out his available hand. “Bad circumstances, but nice to meet you.”
“You too. I think,” she answered as she grudgingly shook Simon’s outstretched hand. “I know I can’t judge one brother by the other, but I hate anything that reminds me of Sam Hudson.” Shuddering, she released his hand and hugged Kara. “Take care of yourself. I’ll call you. Don’t do anything stupid,” she warned Kara fiercely in a whisper low enough that only Kara could catch her adamant advice.
Kara threw herself into Maddie’s arms and hugged her tightly, well aware of the danger that both she and her friend had been in and how easily things could have turned out differently. She loved Maddie to death. Although she could be prickly on the outside at times, her friend was a complete marshmallow on the inside. “You too. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Simon reclaimed her, slipping his arm around her waist and leading her to his car as Maddie crossed the parking lot to her own vehicle.
God, what a horrible day.
Tired, shaken, her mind on of the events of the day, she didn’t even balk as Simon led her to his ridiculously expensive Veyron and seated her in the passenger side before climbing behind the wheel himself.
They were both silent, lost in their own thoughts, as they made the journey home.
*****
Chapter 2
Simon didn’t take them straight back to the condo. He pulled into a parking lot close to home and whipped the small sports car into a vacant parking space.
“We need to eat. This place has the best Italian food in the area, but it’s nothing fancy.” He hopped out and jogged to the other side of the car, opening her door and taking her hand to pull her out of the vehicle.
“Uh…I’m not exactly dressed for fancy.” Still in her jeans and sweater that she wore for the clinic, she knew that she was a mess. Both physically and emotionally.
“You look beautiful. But I know it’s been a tough day. Is that okay?”
“It’s great. I love Italian and I’m starving.”
Surprisingly enough, what she told him was true. She had skipped breakfast because she had gotten up late, and lunch had come and gone while they were at the police station.
Simon held the door for her, guiding her through it with a hand at the small of her back. God, the man had great manners. She’d have to remember to compliment Helen later for raising her son to be polite. Kara couldn’t remember the last time a guy had actually run to open her door. Probably…never.
The interior of the restaurant was dim, each table lighted with a large, fat candle in the middle. It wasn’t fancy, but it wasn’t exactly a dive either.
“Mr. Hudson. How lovely to see you again.” The leggy, beautiful blonde who greeted them showed them to a corner table, gracing Simon with a smile straight from a toothpaste commercial.
After they were seated, Simon ordered a beer on tap and Kara asked for an iced tea. She breathed a sigh of relief when the fawning female finally left to get their drinks.
“Flirty woman.” Kara wanted to bite her tongue immediately. What business was it of hers if a woman flirted with Simon? Maybe he liked it.
“You mean Kate?” Simon’s expression was puzzled as he closed his menu, obviously already decided on what he wanted.
“Is that her name? She didn’t introduce herself to me. She seemed much more interested in you.” Shut the hell up, Kara. You sound like a jealous girlfriend.
“She wasn’t flirting. I’m a regular customer. She has to be nice.” Simon shrugged.
Oh Lord, the man was clueless. She studied the menu, trying to let the subject drop. “You’ve been here before. Any recommendations?”
“It’s all good. I’m having the chicken parmesan.”
Kara looked at the menu like a kid in a candy store. It had been so long since she’d had so many choices or eaten in a restaurant as an actual customer. “It’s so hard to decide.”
Simon was grinning when she finally looked up from the menu. “You look like you’re trying to solve a major problem.”
“Do I look like I don’t get out much?” she asked with a light, self-mocking laugh.
His eyes grew stormy as he shot her a look so intense, she could feel heat wash over every inch of her body. “You are the loveliest woman I’ve ever seen sitting across a table from me. No one else even comes close.”
She blushed, actually flushing rose-red from the I-want-to-fuck-you look in his eyes and the heat of gaze. No man could drive her crazy like Simon did. One word, one statement, one look…and she was flustered like a freaking teenage girl.
Kara was actually grateful to see an older, dark-haired waitress coming to deliver their drinks and take their food order. She decided to make things easy and have the same thing Simon was having. As the waitress left, Kara picked up her drink, puzzled. “I think they made me an alcoholic iced tea.”
Simon chuckled as he glanced at the beverage in her hand. “It’s definitely an alcoholic iced tea. I didn’t know you wanted the real thing.”
“What’s in this?” she asked, staring at the glass of liquid that was actually pretty close to the same color as conventional iced tea, but it was in a stout drink glass and topped with a cherry. None of the restaurants where she had worked were equipped with a full bar and she wasn’t really an expert on drinks.
Simon grinned wickedly. “Rum, gin, tequila, vodka, triple sec…and a splash of cola and sour mix.”
Oh, crap. She’d be doing a happy dance on the table. A glass of wine made her tipsy. Holding her alcohol well wasn’t a talent she had ever perfected, probably because she seldom imbibed. “Promise you won’t let me dance naked on the table when I’m done.” She cocked a brow at Simon, waiting for his agreement.