Addicted to Mr Parks (The Parks Series #2)(68)

“Oh, it’s no bother. We’re thinking about going out for dinner. Would you join us?” I loved how my auntie’s accent suddenly turned posh around Parks. She was as posh as a dusty old doorknob.

“I’d love to.” Parks smiled widely, making Cheryl’s legs almost buckle. Kevin entered the room moments later in a hideous stripy shirt, which made Cheryl roll her eyes. Obviously, it wasn’t her husband’s best look. For Kevin’s sake, I quickly introduced him to Parks to divert Cheryl’s attention.

“Kev, this is Wade. Wade, my Uncle Kevin.”

Kevin only then noticed Parks was standing in the living room with us. He never paid attention to anything.

Parks gave him a firm, strong handshake, making Kevin look awkward. “Nice to meet you, mate.” Kevin nudged his head to Cheryl. “You’re all my wife seems to talk about.”

“Nonsense,” she faffed, her cheeks glowing.

Kevin made a face towards her. “Why are you talking funny?”

I burst out laughing, because Cheryl’s face burnt red.

“I’m not.”

The attention of Parks summoned Darcy. She came skipping into the room, eying him up suspiciously. “Are you Mr. Parks?”

Parks chuckled, giving me a clueless look when she said his name. Oops.

“I’m afraid I am.” He smiled.

She pointed a cross finger at him, her other hand on her hip. “Evey told me you don’t like Peppa Pig.”

Parks smiled affectionately. “Well, she knows very little. I love Peppa Pig.”

I laughed when Darcy turned to me and poked out her tongue. Then she pulled at my dress, making me bend down so she could whisper in my ear. “Is he your prince?”

“I think so,” I whispered back.

Darcy skipped to her mother’s side. “Mr. Parks is Evey’s prince, Mummy, and he likes Peppa Pig. So there.”

Kevin questioned Darcy playfully. “Does that mean I’m mummy’s prince?”

Darcy giggled hysterically. “No, silly. You’re just my daddy who has a big belly.”

“Hey.” Kevin patted his stomach. “It’s taken me years to perfect this round belly. Taking of which, ready for some tucker?” He slapped his hands together. Good food was Kevin’s specialty.

“Tucker?” Parks mouthed to me, clueless for once.

“Food,” I whispered for his benefit.

“It’s a beautiful evening. Let’s go to The Royal Oak,” Kevin suggested. The Royal Oak was one of his favourite pubs. It wasn’t the biggest of pubs, but the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the food was to die for. It was also near the beach, so that’s another reason he and Cheryl loved it.

“I’m sure Wade would prefer somewhere like The Browns Restaurant or—”

“Cheryl, I’d love pub grub.” Parks was charming my aunty, and it made her giggle like a child. She never giggled. I laughed because I knew he didn’t mean it. Pub grub was a British favourite. Hearty, traditional meals cooked just how we like. But Parks was used to organic foods, healthy cuisine, and sushi. That’s everything British pub grub was not. And I loved it for that.


When Kevin’s mother came to babysit the kids, we walked out onto Cheryl’s driveway only to see Parks’s Ferrari parked there.

“Bloody hell.” Kevin stood back, shocked to see such a car on his drive.

“I apologise,” Parks said. “I can move it if you like?”

“No,” Kevin told him sharply. “Steve, next door, will have a heart attack when he sees this. She’s a beaut.” Kevin began walking around the car like he was admiring a work of art, smoothing his fingers along the bonnet.

Parks began to tell him all about the car as Cheryl linked arms with me. “Boys and their toys.”





Chapter

Twenty-One





“I’m gagging for a drink. A pint of ale, mate?”

Parks waved his hand slightly. “Not for me. Let me get these.” He didn’t have to tell Kevin twice. Kevin put away his wallet and slapped Parks on the shoulder.

“Good lad.”

“You’re a tight sod.” Cheryl scowled at her husband, then glanced at Parks as he waited for her to tell him what drink she’d like. “A G and T, please.”

I accompanied Parks to the bar to order our drinks and quickly spotted the barmaid. She couldn’t have been much older than twenty, and her top showed way too much cleavage. Her neat blonde hair with light pink at the tips tumbled down her back, and her dark eyelashes fluttered over big, brown eyes.

“Hi, what can I get you?”

“A pint of ale, two waters, and a gin and tonic. Thank you.”

“American?” Her doe-eyed expression made me smirk.

“Yes.” Parks tried to dismiss her with a one-word answer, but she carried on talking as she pulled the pint.

“Which part?”

He kissed my lips before he replied, making her wriggle her nose bitterly. “California.”

She passed over the pint and was about to grab our waters until she spotted something. “Wait.” She narrowed her eyes slightly and tilted her head just a little to the left. “Are you…Wade Parks?”