Rekindling Love (British Billionaires Series) (7 page)

“
Even so, she's in there by herself,” reiterated Dylan.

“
A quick word is fine. Callum and Jonathan will be taking care of her I'm sure,” appeased Susan.

Rupert walked with Susan two shops down from the gallery.

“
Can I still call you for a date?”

“
A date or friends having a coffee?”

“
I'd like a date, but if you prefer friends...”

“
I'd prefer not to become the next Liz or a Jasmine.”

“
You have my solemn word that won't happen.”

“
Where have I heard that before?”

Susan left him to return to Imogen and Dylan.

Rupert's legs pounded hard on the treadmill as he upped the speed to running pace. The quick-moving machine forced him to concentrate solely on not falling off and maintaining the speed. Breathing, staring straight ahead and running cleared his mind. Finally it was empty of Susan-Marie Thompson.

The gallery opening had been a complete and utter disaster. Imogen had thrown him into an unbelievably complex situation. Admittedly it wasn’t her fault directly, but why she had sent flowers to Susie was beyond his comprehension.

She did it because she's a nice person. She did it because she's proud of what Susie's achieved. She did it because she was worried Susie may be lonely. She did it because she wanted Susie to know, despite her early departure from Brighton College, she hadn't been forgotten. She did it out of the goodness of her heart. She didn’t do it to put a monkey wrench in my smooth, manageable social life, acknowledged Rupert. It may have been the end result, but it wasn't Imogen's fault. Putting her in the freezer and refusing to take her calls or answer her texts wasn't fair of him.

Rupert mentally promised himself to call her after the gym on his way to work.

As for Liz, Imogen was right. She did love Rupert. Elizabeth wasn't a stupid woman or naive. Upon hearing Rupert's broad range of extracurricular activities, she knew those that didn't include her meant he was engaging with other women as his companion for those specific sojourns. He'd taken her to his penthouse apartment. He'd let her cry. He'd tenderly refused her imploring to have sex. But he had held her through the night. Holding his hands up, he could genuinely say he had no idea she was thinking long-term. Telling him how she felt and what she wanted, Rupert couldn't continue the friendship. It would be cruel and unfair. He hadn't pitied her when she'd wept saying he might learn to love her if given the chance. It hurt his heart to have wounded such a lovely lady. He could only wipe her tears away.

“
I thought you were a late gym attendee. If I'd known you did mornings, I'd have slept in.”

Rupert frantically pressed the button to slow the speed of his tread mill, but slid off of it. Athletic and composed, he did nothing more than stumble shakily for a second or two before standing upright.

If that had been me I'd be flat on the floor, thought Susan. Stepping on the treadmill next to him, she walked slowly.

“
I didn't have you pegged as a morning person.”

“
I'm not,” said Susan shrewdly. “I was trying to avoid you.”

“
Oh. There goes my incentive to call for that date.”

“
I'm sure Jasmine or Liz will fill in.”

“
I don't want them to.”

For a second Susan could have been fifteen again. The easy way the Adonis was chatting to her was steady and secure. In his regular gym clothes he was unaware of how perfect he looked. His appeal wasn't limited to her. He caught the eye of every passing woman. In her mind she applauded Rupert. She could not think of any other person that could make exercise and building up a sweat sexy.

“
No one wants to play second fiddle, Rupert.”

“
I know. I didn't mean for Liz to feel she was second fiddle. Compared to you though, she is. My seeing her though wasn't based on that. Obviously not. We'd been friends a while.”

Susan wasn't sure she wanted to discuss Rupert's love life. The last time she had it ended disastrously. “It's easy to say that now.”

“
Easy or not, it's true. I felt awful yesterday and worse this morning.”

Anger flared in Susan. He didn't feel bad enough not to take Liz home to sleep with. “What was bad about last night?” she couldn't stop herself from asking.

Susan knew her heart was an accident waiting to happen. It was as if she was on the outside watching it happen all over again in slow motion.

“
I took her home to clear the air. Explain I thought we were friends. She told me she was in love with me. I didn't know what to do. I just held her, but I think maybe that was wrong. Maybe that sent out the wrong signals too.”

“
Is that all that happened?”

“
Of course. What kind of man do you think I am?”

Narrowing her eyes, Susan chose not to refer to the past. “How did you leave things?” she pumped.

“
Up in the air. I can't be friends with her if she's hoping there's a chance my feelings will change. But to hear someone say they don't love you must be crushing.”

“
It is.”

“
Susie?”

“
Rupert, don't.”

“
I never got a chance to.”

“
It's been fifteen years. You don't have to. I don't want you to. The moment has long gone,” she spat the words out bitterly.

“
For what it's worth, I kept an eye on your career. You were always going to go far.”

“
Thanks. And to think, I got my first lead on a national tour while I was still fat.”

Rupert was unsure what to say. His pained expression softened Susan. “Have you told her?” asked Susan.

“
Who?”

“
Liz.”

“
Told her what?”

“
The truth.”

“
God no,” exclaimed Rupert.

“
Then you should. If you have any affection or genuinely care for this woman, as you claim to, tell her the truth about how you feel. She might get upset and cry, but at least she won't be left hanging. It's better than her lying to herself for years, because she dreams of a happily-ever-after with you. Spending a night with her does not send out the signal that there's nothing there. Right now, she's probably talking to her mum or crying down the phone to her friends asking for advice, desperately hoping she can be the one to change you.”

“
But she can't.”

“
Exactly. And that's what you need to tell her. Otherwise, I promise you she won't let go. She'll cling on in the vain hope you'll notice her and fall for her. In the meantime, I guarantee you she'll put her entire life on hold for you and you'll never come through for her. If you don't want that for her, you need to tell her you'll never be there for her in the way she wants. Free her to find a man that can. Do it properly. None of this let's be friends business. Keep that up and you'll be in the same boat, leading her on. Tell her to find a man who isn't self absorbed.”

“
That's harsh.”

“
Harsh but true. How could you fail to notice she was madly in love with you?”

“
I didn't know.”

“
Because you were focusing on your needs and wants, not hers. She was there providing a service to you.”

“
I thought our friendship was mutually defined. I'm not that cold and calculating.”

“
No? My memory disagrees.”

“
Susie, a boy can grow up.”

“
You just said Liz couldn't change you. If you can't be changed, why would you be any different now to—” Biting her bottom lip, the tears stung her eyes.

“
To what I was back then?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Susan didn't trust herself to speak without tears flooding.

“
It's tough to be judged and labeled for the rest of your life for something you did when you were eighteen. I like to think I've grown up. Become a man, seen life, developed a better understanding of people.”

“
Why do I get the feeling Jasmine and Elizabeth might present a strong counter argument?”

“
Why are you obsessed with Jasmine and Elizabeth?”

“
Because you're leading them on. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, as they say. I don't want to see anyone else hurt like I was.”

“
You don't know anything about me or my relationships.”

“
No. I don't. I only know what I've witnessed and I had a strong surge of empathy with them.”

“
What would you suggest I do then? I'm not there to hurt them. I'm there to enjoy their company and...”

“
Have sex with them?”

“
No.”

“
You're sleeping with all of them.”

“
Susie. It's not appropriate to discuss that. Least of all in a public place like a gym.”

“
I'll take that as a yes, then.”

“
Believe what you want.”

“
You're not denying it.”

“
I don’t answer to you, Susie.”

“
No, and you never did.” She stepped off her treadmill.

“
Don't tell me you're going,” said Rupert. “You’ve barely broken a sweat. A grandmother could've outrun you. You can't have burnt off more than five calories.”

“
Always down to my weight isn't it Rupert?”

“
Susie, it was a joke. I didn't mean anything by it.”

Realizing she actually was leaving, he bounded off his machine to follow.

“
Susie, please just wait.”

Sighing she stopped, hating herself for having no willpower. “Rupert. We can't pretend it never happened. Do you want mornings or evenings?”

“
For a date?”