Addicted to Mr Parks (The Parks Series #2)(95)

“Now, let’s dance.”

Dance? Suddenly, it was him giving me whiplash.

As he playfully led me to the dance floor, I got ready to kick my dancing shoes into action but was stopped halfway there by the twin.

“Jasmine. How are you?” He reluctantly let go of my hand and pulled his sister in for a hug when she purposely walked in front of us. It was the only loving gesture I’d ever seen from him with someone other than me.

“I’ve missed you.” Her full, pink lips pouted as she acted the devoted sister. “Why do you stay away so long?”

Taking my hand back in his, he became stiff all of a sudden. “You know why.” I didn’t quite catch the expression Parks made, but Jasmine did, and she retreated.

“So.” She crossed her arms as she shifted her focus to me. “This is her.” She cocked her head to the side, studying me. “Could’ve done worse.”

“Jasmine,” Parks scolded her, but I wasn’t offended. It gave me ammunition.

“He could have done,” I agreed. “But now he’s stuck with me.” My malicious grin pissed her off, so I leaned over and planted a long, sexual kiss on Parks’s lips to add more fuel to the fire. When I pulled away and caught her disgust, it was mission accomplished. However, Jasmine found something to equally piss me off.

Looking down at my dress, she examined it, then paid close attention to my necklace. “Michael Costello dress, a necklace that’s worth half a million. You’re already spending his money, I see?”

Half a f*cking million? I almost choked on her words, the shock stopping me from a comeback. She made me feel cheap, even with a half-a-mill piece of jewellery around my neck.

“Jasmine, don’t f*cking start. What I choose to spend my money on is none of your concern. Apologise to Evelyn. Right now.”

“Ha.” She contorted, turning on her heel, but her action was aborted as Parks grabbed at her arm and spun her around. “I mean it.” He glared.

Jasmine bit her lip aggressively, her stony eyes callous. She was silently warning me to back off but played nice for her brother. “Sorry.”

It was bitter for her but sweet for me. However, Jasmine apologising was not an instant pass for my kindness. Neither was the fact that she was Parks’s twin.

“Shove your sorry up your arse.” I spun around on my heel and took myself away from the bitch before I walloped her one.

“Evelyn, wait.”

I didn’t stop. I carried on bristling through the crowds of people. “Why would you spend that amount of money on a necklace for me?”

Catching up, he curled his arm around my waist and pulled me to a stop. “It’s not about the f*cking money. If I like it, I buy it. I want to make you happy.”

“You do make me happy,” I insisted. “But buying me all this stuff is going to make everyone think exactly what Jasmine just said.”

“I don’t give a f*ck,” he spat bitterly. “I will buy my girlfriend whatever the f*ck I like. Let them talk.”

He was right. Why should Jasmine make me feel cheap? But knowing Parks could, and would, give me everything always made me wonder what I could give him.

Not enough, I thought.

Suddenly feeling drained and exhausted, I walked into his open arms. Everything was happening so fast, not just because he’d taken me to a swanky party, or introduced me to his family, but because my feelings for him were growing. It was like I needed him as much as I’d once craved a drink. Panic would also rush through me when I stopped to think about that for a second. Whenever I started feeling happy, or anything at all, I’d been conditioned to believe someone would take it away from me.

A combination of apprehension and exhaustion washed over me again. I knew I couldn’t let his sister get the better of me. I’d never let anyone get the better of me. Strangely, though, being around Parks’s life, around his family and acquaintances, I had slowly become an object. On the arm of a greatly admired man, behaving perfectly because she was expected to. Like a f*cking escort. I briefly glanced around the room, seeing the hundreds of people draped in diamonds and expensive garments, all chatting away, dancing, and looking so at ease. Ease was not what I felt. Out of place and out of touch was what I felt. Well, I was not an escort, and I refused to be censored. If those people didn’t like me as I was, then f*ck the lot of them.

My gaze drifted back to Parks. I caught him frowning, as if he was wondering what the hell I was thinking.

“Evelyn? Looks like you’re about to run out on me.”

“I’m just…” I sighed, making Parks uneasy.


“Just what?” He frowned, brushing his thumb over my knuckles.

“Absorbing,” I chose, not really knowing what else to say.

“Absorbing?” He was back to being curiously intrigued. Worried even.

“Yeah, all of this.” I waved my hand in the air, meaning the whole event. “It’s different. That’s all.”

His sigh was short-winded, and he held out his hand. “Princess, listen—”

“Ladies and gentlemen.” A man’s strong voice boomed out of the speakers, interrupting our conversation. “Would you please welcome on stage Mrs. Harriet Parks.” Every head present turned to the stage, then the room erupted in applause a Harriet came on and gracefully positioned herself in front of the mic.