Addicted to Mr Parks (The Parks Series #2)(57)

“Where?” Jesus Christ. He wanted to know every aspect of every minor detail.

I gave a shrug of my shoulder, playing with his tie gratuitously. “Just a restaurant. Nothing major.”

He rolled his shoulders back as if he was trying to ease tension. I dropped my hands from his tie and stepped back to put some distance between us. “You don’t want me to go out?”

Watching his jaw tense, I knew the answer wasn’t going to be positive. “Quite frankly, no.” Well, at least he didn’t beat it around the bloody bush. But domineering or not, he was not going to keep me inside.

“I’m going out, Parks. You have no say in the matter.”

He picked up my briefcase and rounded me to open the glass door for me to exit. “We’ll see.” His voice was low, his tone threatening.

“We will see,” I hissed, sashaying past him and banging my first on the button to call the lift.

For a man of his calibre, he sure did act like a f*cking child.


The ride home was ridiculously silent. Just for something to do, I started skimming through my photographs on my smartphone, finding it inwardly amusing that Parks was discreetly tilting his head to see what I was doing.

When we got home, I showered alone, then got dressed into a beautiful mustard-coloured Balmain dress. It was skin-tight, which meant it accentuated my curves tight and snug. My shoes were black, my hair was up in a ponytail, and I was clipping my way towards Parks’s office where he’d stayed since we’d got home. Leaning against the doorjamb, I called to Parks, who was sitting at his desk. “I’m going now.”

His frown was firm as he tapped at the keyboard, and his tie had been loosened around his neck. After a beat, his green eyes glanced up over the edge of the laptop screen, and he halted his hands mid-type. “Beautiful. Bit much for a restaurant, though. Don’t you think?” He was being extremely inquisitive and cold.

“I like it,” I told him, straightening out the long sleeves just for something to keep my eyes from looking into his and giving myself away.

“Let me drive you to Steph’s.” He pushed off his chair, but I held my palm up to stop him.

“I’ve called a taxi.”

The top of his cheeks rose a touch as he narrowed his eyes. My heart was racing as I wondered if he could see right through me. I wanted to prove to myself that I could go out like normal people. But I knew the way Parks would see it. He thought I wasn’t ready. I saw it as “better now than later.” Why should I stall my recovery process? Nia told me to walk through a problem and not hide from it. So if a place where alcohol was served was the problem, then why shouldn’t I face it head-on?

“A taxi will cost you. Here, take my card.” He turned and reached into his suit jacket that was thrown over the back of the chair, then walked towards me. He was about to give me his bank card. It was gold with ‘Wade Parks’ in fancy writing splashed across the top. “You and Steph have whatever you like.”

My hands automatically pushed up like I was surrendering. “Thank you for the offer, but I can I pay my own way.”

He groaned, pulled at my shoulder handbag, and shoved in his card. “You will offend me if you don’t accept.”

“Then I’ll have to offend you.”

He grabbed hold of my shoulders, pulled me into him, and forcefully pressed his lips into mine, his tongue delving deep and sweeping through my mouth. “Don’t start,” he warned, leaving me breathless and a little dizzy.

“Fine,” I barked after getting over the kiss attack. Letting him think I was going to use it was fine by me, but like hell was I going to.

“What restaurant are you going to?” he quickly asked when I turned my back on him to leave. Halting in my heels, I did a quick rack of my brains.

“Nando’s.” What the f*ck? I instantly winced at my own stupidly.

“Nando’s?” His voice was perplexed, and I knew he was frowning, more curious and getting suspicious.

“Not Nando’s.” I shook my head, trying to act like my mind wasn’t with it. “Nobu. See you later.”

“What time shall I expect you home?”

“I don’t know, me and Steph can talk forever,” I called over my shoulder and almost legged it to the lift.

I hated that I was lying, but this experiment was for me, not him.





Chapter Nineteen





Arriving outside Tabby’s was a shock to my system. She lived in a worse-off estate than the one I’d grown up in. Her attitude, her clothes, and everything else about her screamed that she was a wealthy, model-type woman. Maybe everything was not as it seemed. I was living proof of that, and judging a book by its cover was not what I did.

Her flat was on the ground floor, and I had to walk through an eerie-looking alleyway to get to her door. The flats were dreary and the walls covered in endless graffiti. It was dark, it smelt, and I really didn’t feel comfortable. My heels took me anyway, and I passed a vicious-looking dog on a lead with his young, hooded owner while his friend bobbed his head to the music they were listening to.

“Oi, sweet cheeks,” one of the lads called as I passed. I rolled my eyes and carried on walking. “You want some of this?”

I turned my head and saw that the guy was grabbing at his dick. I scoffed. “I like my men to be well hung. Sorry.” I turned, leaving his friend laughing hysterically. Seriously, I needed my head tested. Even in a dangerous situation, my mouth still wouldn’t obey my mind.