Addicted to Mr Parks (The Parks Series #2)(87)

“Couple of hours. I hit the gym and had some work to get done.”


“Do you ever sleep?”

“Evelyn,” he was typing as he spoke to me, “I have over two hundred companies to check in with. I don’t have time to sleep.”

“Two hundred? I thought you just had the law firm and your hotels.”

His soft chuckle as he shut the lid of his laptop told me he thought I was adorably clueless. “I have my fingers in a lot of pies.”

“How many employees do you have?” If I was going to date one of the wealthiest men in the world, I had to have some knowledge of how he’s accomplished what he has.

“I don’t have employees per se. My companies have employees.”

Did I say I needed to know? Maybe not. “That’s so confusing. I have no idea about what you do and how you’re so bloody rich. Don’t you ever just want to give up?” All the strength in the world wouldn’t be enough for me to get up and do exactly what Parks did on a daily basis. I had to award him a huge amount of credit for that alone.

“Evelyn—” he smirked that cocky smirk that had my insides twitching, “—I am only just getting started.” With his body wearing only black boxers, he made his way towards me as I continued to blab.

“Why do you like working twenty-four-seven?”

He gave a slight shrug and settled at the end of the bed. “It keeps my mind busy. I need that. I need that routine. I need to keep myself disciplined.”

I began fiddling with the bedsheets. “Is there something you don’t want on your mind so you busy yourself?” Keep the mind busy and it has less time to think. It was a practice I used to do religiously, so Parks’s behaviour sounded all too familiar.

Parks ignored me, swiped the sheets from my body, and pulled on my hand. “Let’s go shower. Laurent is on his way.”

“Who’s he again?” I remembered the name, just couldn’t remember who he was.

“My tailor.” He rolled his green eyes playfully. Of course. The man who stocked my wardrobe back home. “Your dress has arrived, and I want him to make sure you don’t need any adjustments. He’s also bringing my suit along.”

Then I was utterly perplexed again. “My dress?” I was sure he didn’t mention a dress.

“For the ball tonight.” Pulling me out of the bed gave him easy access to wrap his arms around my body and cup my naked arse.

“I didn’t get to pick it myself?”

Parks gently kissed my lips. “I didn’t want you to have the worry of having to pick it yourself.”

Hmm. “I still would have liked a choice. What’s it like?”

“Wait and see.”

My pout was evident. I hated surprises. Only because I was so damn impatient.

After a relaxing bath and a full-body massage from the angel I called Parks, I sat crossed-legged on the bed in a coral satin slip when a knock came at the door.

“Laurent, it’s great to see you.” My ears pricked up as I heard Parks greet his tailor in the background. The door was around the corner from where the bed was, so I waited for them to come into view.

“Laurent, I’d like you to meet Evelyn.”

Around came a tall, skinny man with a great tan. His gorgeous, black hair was wavy and fell just above his shoulders. He was mature and handsome, even with his crooked nose. He showed off his slim body in a black shirt, and trousers that swayed just above his ankles to expose bare feet inside a pair of shiny, blue loathers.

I climbed off the bed and waltzed towards him. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you.” I felt extremely awkward saying things that like. Yes, it was nice to meet him, but it just didn’t seem me.

“Oh, Mr. Parks. Elle est` belle. No?” he gushed with his arms open dramatically as he eyed my body. Then he walked up to me and air-kissed me four times.

“Oui,” Parks agreed to whatever Laurent had said, and his French accent had me forgetting Laurent was in the room.

“You speak French?” I gawped.

“I do, baby.” He winked.

“Now you wait until you see your dress. It is spectaculaire.” Laurent kissed two fingers and hung up a huge dress bag on the doorframe, then turned to Parks. “You, out. It’s a surprise.”

Parks raised his brow. “I am fully aware of what it looks like. I chose it, Laurent.”

I watched, intrigued to see how this was going to go. Laurent seemed to know Parks extremely well and didn’t seem intimated by him at all. He was loud, fiery, and took no crap. Just the kind of person I loved. Parks also felt extremely comfortable around him. I could tell. Well, he was the man who kitted Parks out finely. But I knew he didn’t like getting told what to do.


“But you haven’t seen it on her. Now go.” Laurent ushered him out the door.

“Eyes to yourself, Laurent.” Parks chucked as he stepped out of the room.

“It’s okay.” Laurent winked for my benefit. “Vaginas are not my thing.”

I burst out laughing. “I didn’t think so.” It would also explain why Parks was comfortable with me being alone in the room with him to get undressed.

Shit. Undressed. My body froze as it suddenly registered that I’d have to undress in front of a stranger. Didn’t Parks remember my confidence issue because of my scars?