Mine for Now - The Billionaire's Obsession #2 Read Free

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 sta tement, 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