Addicted to Mr Parks (The Parks Series #2)(16)

“Did he hurt you?” She edged towards me.

“Just threatened me. Don’t worry. I can handle myself against Gabe.”

“Who’s Gabe?”

Both our heads shot up to see Parks standing in the room with his arms crossed. I quickly shook my head to Cheryl as a warning. She acted quickly. “Oh, no one to worry about.” I was grateful for her lie. Parks did not need to know more of my dark past.

After studying us carefully, he clasped his hands. “Okay, if you’re good to go, I will take you straight home.” Then he turned to Cheryl. “Cleaver will gladly take you home if you so wish.”

Cheryl flapped her hand. “There’s no need for that. I quite like the train journey. Gives me some peace from the kids.” He nodded on a smile, which made her smile and cup his cheek. “I don’t know you, Wade, but I have a good feeling about you. Evey kept you quiet, but then she keeps everything quiet.” She scowled at me before focusing back on Parks with a pointed finger. “I want you to promise me you will look after my niece or—”

Parks placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Cheryl, you have my word. As long as Evelyn is with me, she is in safe hands.”

She patted his hand that was resting on her shoulder, then walked over to where her handbag had been placed. “Right, I need to head off, Evey. I will call you tonight, okay?” She kissed my forehead, then turned back to Parks. “Maybe we could get to know you a little better. How about dinner at mine next weekend?”

I butted in hastily. “That’s not necessary.” Was she insane? I couldn’t go to her house with Parks and pretend we were a happy couple. I’d hoped Parks felt the same, but I was wrong.

“Thank you for the offer. It’s one I couldn’t refuse. Just let me know a time and day, and myself and Evelyn will be there.” Parks smiled wryly, and Cheryl chuckled like a girl.

“I’ll call you.” She smiled and left us alone.

“What are you doing?” I hissed.

He shrugged a shoulder. “Being courteous.”





Chapter Eight





I walked to Parks’s red sporty Jaguar that was parked outside the hospital with Parks’s hand firmly clasped around my waist. I told him I could walk just fine, but as always, he didn’t listen.

“No Cleaver?”

“He’s getting a few things for me.” His chivalry rules were still intact as he opened the door for me to climb in. He made sure I was settled, helping me with my seat belt.

The air inside the car sizzled with tension when he climbed in. Tension from unspoken words, uncomfortable silence, and sexual need. I could still feel the sizzling heat that radiated between us. If possible, it had turned up a thousand notches and was apparent as ever.

“Where have you been staying?” he asked as he pulled out and headed into traffic.

I sighed heavily. “With my parents, but please, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You don’t want to, but we will at some point.”

“So we’re clear, I’m just staying with you until I get back on my feet, yes?”

I watched his hands tighten around the steering wheel. “We’ll see.”

I rolled my eyes. He was impossible. “Am I staying at your hotel?”

A wry smirk tugged at his deliciously full lips. “We will both be staying in Kensington.”

My eyes shot to his. “Both?”

He nodded once. “That’s what I said.”

He thought we could both haul up in the same space? “We can’t live together.”

“Why not?”

“Because…we’re not a couple. I mean, not properly. And even if we were, isn’t it a bit soon?”

“You and Steph weren’t a couple.”

“We were friends. That’s different.”

“Didn’t you refer to me as a friend at one point? Besides, I thought we’d surpassed friendship.”


“That was until you left me,” I mumbled, crossing my arms petulantly and staring out the window.

“I didn’t leave you.” His growl was a warning. “I needed time to think.”

“That’s what it was.” My sarcasm was back, and I loved it.

“Yes. And I promise I will make it up to you and pass the stage of friend zone.”

“You’re such a douche.” I chuckled, watching his legs shift and his hands on the steering wheel as he controlled the car.

“So you’ve said.” He smirked.

Parks drove into the underground car park at his apartment, and we were promptly met by Cleaver pulling up beside us. I unbuckled my seat belt and stayed in position, waiting for him to open my door.

“Hi,” I greeted Cleaver with a smile, and he gave a warm one back.

“Evey, how are you feeling?”

“As rough as a badger’s arse.”

He chuckled huskily. “I do love British phrases.”

I smiled along with him, then we both glanced towards Parks, who was watching us impatiently.

“Finished?”

Clever cleared his throat. “Wade, I have your order in the trunk for you.”

“Thank you. Would you bring them up?”