Free Rekindling Love (British Billionaires Series) by Sorell Oates Page A

sweethearts reunited.”
     
    “ What on Earth makes you think we were high school sweethearts?”
     
    “ I,” she stopped.
     
    “ You never mentioned the musical,” said Rupert.
     
    “ No. I didn't. I knew Nikki fancied you like mad. It's only, I'd come back from Saturday shopping leave one afternoon and outside the auditorium, I saw you and Susan dancing in the rain. When I think back, it was picturesque. At the time, I thought from the way you looked at her, the way you held her, you'd found love.”
     
    “ I was with Nikki.”
     
    “ Yes, I knew that. It's only, when I went to see you in the show, I never saw that dance – the one I thought you were rehearsing in the rain. It wasn't part of the show's choreography. I kept watching and waiting and the next thing I knew you were taking curtain calls. You were dancing with her in the rain because you wanted to, not because you had to.”
     
    “ I was. I did.”
     
    “ Something changed dramatically in you when you met Susan. At long last I saw a side of you that was free of everything. Free of the eldest child syndrome. Free of that in-built need to always protect me. Free of your efforts to ensure mum and dad stayed married. It was like when you were rehearsing for that show you were able to explore yourself.”
     
    Rupert was unable to meet his sister's eyes.
     
    “ Then these ugly rumors emerged, courtesy of Nikki. I never believed you'd ever treat another person like that. Not you. Not my big brother. He would never hurt a fly. He would fight anyone's battle if they needed protection. You were in Susan's corner. They were lies weren't they?”
     
    “ I'd ask if you've ever done anything to betray the moral fiber of your being, gone against everything you believed, but you couldn't say yes could you Imogen? That's not something you'd ever be able to relate with. You wouldn't allow anybody to lower the standards you set yourself. You wouldn't put your own needs in front of another.”
     
    “ It was true, wasn't it Rupert?” her voice filled with sadness.
     
    “ It was true. I sat there knowing how awful I was behaving, how hurtful the words were, how untrue it all was and I lied. On the promise of sex, I lied.”
     
    “ In that case, Susan was remarkably restrained when you met at the gallery opening. She went after you when you got in a tizzy.”
     
    “ We met before.”
     
    “ What?”
     
    “ At the gym. We met on Monday at the gym. I didn't recognize her. She gave me a number and then came to the Radmacker exhibition.”
     
    “ Did you call?”
     
    “ No, I was—”
     
    “ Not the three-day rule,” lamented Imogen.
     
    “ It's there for a reason,” said Rupert, relaxing at in his sister's unconditional love despite his questionable behavior at times.
     
    “ What now?”
     
    “ I don't know. I don't know where my head’s at. One minute my life is merrily rowing along, the next I have the most beautiful woman in the entire galaxy in front of me, who I deliberately crushed as an ignorant, selfish teenager. I don't know what's going on. I wanted to take her to dinner. Treat her properly. Let her know I changed. If I'm honest, my motives weren't entirely honorable. I fancy her. But then I always have.”
     
    “ You're not alone there.”
     
    “ Meaning?”
     
    “ Meaning she's a top, hot Broadway diva. She was gorgeous at school. It's only that everyone felt the need to judge her on her weight.”
     
    “ Except you,” he murmured.
     
    “ I know what it's like to be an outsider. More importantly, I know how love can change a person's life. You and mum and dad taught me that. It's a priceless lesson I learned because of my birth parents abandoning and my real mum and dad taking me in. I know its importance, of course, it's one I try and exercise daily.”
     
    They sat in silence. Unlike his sister who was happy to lounge in her pajamas whatever time of day, Rupert preferred to keep bed-wear restricted to the