Mine for Now - The Billionaire's Obsession #2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

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 Hele n, 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.”