Oxford Shadows by Marion Croslydon Read Free Book Online Page B

and hammered his index finger into Rupert’s chest. “You’ve just met this girl and you’re both at it like rabbits. Stop thinking with your dick.”
    “Enough.” Rupert grabbed him by the wrist. Conscious of the anger that threatened to explode inside him, he released his grip. “I didn’t know I could love anyone like I love her.”
    A shake of the head and a few mumbled words showcased Monty’s doubts.
    Rupert didn’t want to part on bad terms. He wanted his friend to keep the memory of today through his time in jail. “Come on, mate. Let’s not argue today.”
    “You’re right. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid while I’m away, like marry your Yank.”
    Rupert nodded and turned his back on Monty to hide his face. Madison was his future. His father, Monty and the rest of the bloody world would have to get used to the idea.
     
    The ice cubes rattled inside the lemonade glasses, while Madison’s fingers turned numb holding the freezing surface. From the marquee she had had a good view of Rupert and his friend and didn’t need to be a mind reader to notice the tension between them. They had been buddies when she left them to get their drinks, but now it was all finger-pointing and turning their backs on each other.
    “Here we are. I had a sip from Rupert’s and I can confirm it’s freshly made.” She handed the glasses to the guys and got a mumbled “Thank you” from each in return. Something was up.
    Monty brought the glass to his mouth and swallowed half of it in one gulp. “I’m going to say my goodbyes to the people here. I want to keep my connections alive for when I come back.”
    Madison shifted her gaze from Monty’s retreating silhouette to Rupert’s closed profile. A vein pulsated on his temple, a sure sign he was POed about something. Best to wait a bit before questioning him.
    One. Two. Three. Damn, she had to ask. “What did you two argue about?”
    Rupert returned his full attention to her and frowned. “We didn’t argue.”
    She leaned her head sideways and remained mute, like her mom did when Madison had been blatantly lying to her.
    He gave a defeated shake of his head. “I can’t hide anything from you.” He stepped closer to her so that his full height towered above her. His free hand brushed her hips, encircled her waist and settled on the small of her back. He applied pressure in his usual swoon-enabling way so she had to lean against him.
    “Do you know how much you mean to me?”
    Fire fed his words. His breath brushed against her face, and she enjoyed the citrus scent that the lemonade infused. Closing her eyes, she wished time would stand still as she snuggled in his arms, safe and loved. Well, not technically loved , since Rupert had never said the three little words.
    “Are you trying to distract me from what happened with Monty?” She kept her eyes shut while his lips caressed an earlobe, the cradle of her neck, the tip of her nose. “It won’t work if we keep on hiding things from each other.”
    He suspended his caress, and she had to open her eyes again. “Why?” he said. “Are you hiding something from me right now?”
    This was not how she had intended to broach the subject of the concert ghost. But then again, there was no good way. There never would be. She stepped back, introducing a few safe feet between herself and Rupert. She straightened out the creases of her sundress, and the contrast between her honey-colored skin and the light material of the dress struck her. Everything about her stood out from the crowd, when all she wanted was to fit in.
    “Remember when I told you something happened during the concert?” The words were no more than a whisper.
    His eyes squinted and transformed Rupert her boyfriend into Rupert Vance, the guy she should have kept admiring from a distance.
    “You see a lot of dead people. Why would this one matter more than the rest?”
    Here we go. “He threatened Camilla.” The news didn’t ignite any