`The X Factor` USA judge - who has been spotted on numerous dates with the TV presenter and model recently - has admitted he is smitten with the 40-year-old beauty but insisted she is not his girlfriend yet.

The 53-year-old music mogul opened up to Ryan Seacrest on 19.12.12 about their budding romance, saying: "She`s not my girlfriend. We`re people who date. She`s adorable, isn`t she?"

Carmen, who was once married to basketball star Dennis Rodman and rocker Dave Navarro, previously revealed she had fallen for the British millionaire after she filled in as a guest judge on `Britain`s Got Talent`.

She said: "He`s so cute. He is adorable. He`s actually a sweetheart ... I really liked him. I think he`s really cool. Now, obviously, he`s in [Los Angeles] with X Factor and we started to hang out and we became friends ... I think he`s a great guy."

Simon`s last relationship was with makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy, whom he broke off his engagement from last year.

Simon and Carmen were first spotted enjoying a flirtatious dinner at Los Angeles restaurant Cecconi`s in September.

An onlooker said at the time: "They were getting very cosy. They were holding hands and staring into each other`s eyes - and then they started making out.

"They were with other friends at the restaurant but didn`t seem to mind."
sections: Celebrities