A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell Read Free Book Online Page B

vigorously, like a washcloth, all over her face. Don’t think about Joel, don’t think about the wedding you’ve walked out of, just sing along to the music on the radio and block everything else from your mind.
    Bellowing along to a Madonna track, she heard a sharp knocking noise and slid the wet wipe down from her eyes. She jumped at the sight of an unamused male eyeing her through the glass.
    Evie buzzed the window down. “Yes?”
    â€œYou can’t park here.” He looked faintly horrified when he saw her face, which would normally have been mortifying but today just made her irate.
    Instead of launching into the usual groveling apology— dammit, would Madonna apologize and grovel? —Evie said, “There weren’t any other spaces. We won’t be long.”
    Ooh, that felt quite liberating, actually. Channeling Madonna had its perks.
    The man’s eyes narrowed. “You shouldn’t have parked here in the first place.”
    â€œI didn’t. I wasn’t driving the car.” Ha, outfrosted him.
    â€œIt can’t stay here.”
    â€œAre you the hotel manager?” In his late thirties, with his uncombed hair, rugby shirt, and ripped jeans, he looked more like the gardener. “I don’t think so.”
    He looked even more annoyed. “I can still ask you not to park in a reserved space.”
    â€œFor crying out loud, will you stop giving me grief? Look at me!” In disbelief, Evie gestured wildly at her dress, her veil, her pink shiny face. “Do I look like I’m in the mood to be hassled by some petty jobsworth who thinks he’s—”
    â€œRight, all sorted, let’s go.” The trunk of the car swung up and Lara’s case landed inside with a thud. She beamed at the angry man and said, “Did I park in the wrong place? Sorry! We’re off now.”
    â€œDon’t do it again.” He shook his head as Lara jumped into the driver’s seat.
    â€œI won’t! Not while you’re watching anyway.” Lara said this last bit under her breath, then smiled again and gave him a cheery wave as she reversed out of the space. “Shame he’s so grumpy. He’s got a nice bum. Were you two having a fight?”
    â€œSome people need to get a life. I just ran away from my own wedding.” Evie slid down in her seat and shielded her face as they drove past Emily Morris and her glamorous friends being photographed. “I’m obviously not having a good day. Yet he decides to have a go at me about a stupid parking space. While I’m wearing my wedding dress. What kind of a moron does that?”
    â€œA miserable one.” Lara swung the car out through the gates. “Never mind him now. Are you sure you want to do this?”
    Ahead lay the road junction. Turning right would take them back into Bath. Turning left meant hitting the motorway. Evie experienced a fresh wave of panic; talk about empty-handed. She’d be leaving without so much as a spare pair of knickers and a toothbrush.
    Sod it. What would Madonna do? Apart from sending out a minion to buy new everything ?
    â€œLet’s go to Keswick.”
    â€œGood girl.” Lara reached over and gave her knee a pat. “You’re going to get through this.”
    â€œYou haven’t even asked me yet what happened.”
    â€œWell, I’m sure you had a good reason. You didn’t just wake up and decide you weren’t happy with the way he squeezed the toothpaste. Anyway,” said Lara, “we’ve got five hours before we get to Keswick. There’s plenty of time to tell me everything.”
    And that was it. As if some inner key had been turned, the whole story came pouring out. Without censoring anything, Evie voiced all the secret doubts and uncertainties she’d kept quiet about for so long. The fear that Joel was settling for her because she was no trouble, easygoing and grateful enough to have him as