“Right.” I lean my forehead against his jaw, closing my eyes for the briefest moment, savoring the intoxicating feeling of being a part of something, of belonging somewhere, of belonging to someone.
When I open my eyes, I catch the open hostility in Diane’s gaze and I don’t look away. I return her measured stare, secure with Rhett by my side, his arm around me, my hand on his chest.
After all, she’s the one with the messy secret.
I sneak off to the bathroom after dinner. Yes, I have to pee, but really I wanted to escape the tension still lingering in the dining room. It feels like a hostile environment, and for once in my life, I’m not one of the key players. Park’s shooting visual daggers at his dad, or at Diane. Trent’s shooting daggers at Park. Addie’s shooting daggers at Diane. Rhett’s shooting daggers at Park.
Parker? He’s oblivious. I pretend to be, but I know what was going on. And I want out, at least for a little while.
The moment I exit the bathroom, I find Park waiting there for me, that rotten smirk on his face, his arms crossed in front of his barrel chest as he leans against the wall. He eyes me up and down, making me vaguely uncomfortable and thankful I wore jeans and a sweater versus a dress.
“Déjà vu,” he tells me, like we’re sharing a private joke. “Remember the last time we met at this bathroom?”
“Not one of your finer moments,” I practically snarl, ready to push past him and make my way back to the dining room, but he stops me, his fingers curling loosely around my upper arm. I glance down at his fingers clinging to my sleeve. “You should let me go.”
“Talk to me for a moment.” He releases his hold on me. “Please?”
I doubt he tosses that word around easily.
“Come on, Jensen. Just give me two minutes.” The pleasantness is gone, replaced by total exasperation.
Taking a step back from him, I lean against the closed bathroom door and wait for what he has to say.
“You told Rhett. About our interview.”
“Of course I did. I couldn’t keep that a secret from him.” I’ve already kept enough.
“Yet he didn’t run off and tell my father.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Is that because of you? Did you tell him to keep his mouth shut?”
I slowly shake my head. “Your brother is loyal to a fault.”
“And I’m—thankful for that.” Park runs a hand through his thick hair, messing it up. He reminds me so much of Rhett in so many little ways, but the way he acts, the things he says, are nothing like Rhett whatsoever. They have similar features, but not exact. Similar builds, but not quite. And they definitely don’t have similar personalities. Park is a snake.
Rhett is thankfully not.
“I didn’t ask him to keep quiet, if that’s what you’re trying to find out,” I say. “But if you really think I could go to that interview, find out it was you, and not mention it to Rhett afterward? Then you don’t know me very well.”
“You’re right. I definitely don’t know you very well. I took a major chance, contacting you like that, trying to get you to work for me.” He flashes me a rueful smile. “Too bad it didn’t work out.”
“Park, it would’ve never worked out. I can’t cross your father like that. I like him too much,” I say, my voice soft.
His face turns red and I realize he’s angry. “He’s nice to you just to get under Diane’s skin. You do realize that, right? It’s his way of flirting, of showing his wife he can be with whoever he wants and there’s nothing she can do about it.”
I’m surprised by his words and the passionate anger behind them. Parker has been nothing but nice to me. He doesn’t flirt. He’s just friendly. He seems genuinely pleased to see Rhett and me together.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I start to walk away, but he stops me again, his fingers gripping my elbow tight.
“I’ve seen him do this shit before. He’s done it to me and one of my ex-girlfriends. I was serious about that girl. I was in love with her.” Park’s grip goes so tight, it starts to hurt. “Until I found her naked and in bed with my father. That was the end of that relationship.”
“Park, let go of me.” I jerk out of his hold, rubbing my elbow.
He doesn’t even acknowledge what I say. His brown eyes have grown so dark, they appear almost black. “Just watch out, Jensen. My father can be very persuasive when he wants to be. He likes them young and pretty, so I’m sure he’s already got you in his sights.”
His words disgust me. Why does everyone’s accusations and warnings have to do with sex? Why can’t Parker Montgomery like me for who I am to his son? Surely he can look at me as a possible future daughter versus a future conquest.