Page 117 of Reputation (Tempt)

“What?” My eyes widened. How had I not seen him? And how much hadheseen?

He chuckled darkly. “You were so sexy in that white bikini. And then you schooled those jokers in poker.”

I barked out a laugh. I hadn’t expected him to say that.

“I imagined pulling up a seat and joining the game. Betting such obscene amounts, forcing them to leave so I could have you all to myself.”

“Y-you did?” I asked, breathless as he slid my dress from my shoulders. It pooled on the floor, and my skin broke out in goose bumps from his words.

“I did,” he said, standing behind me. “But I would’ve won.”

I scoffed. “No way.”

“Yes,” he said with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. “I would’ve taken all your chips and all your clothes. And then I would’ve set you on the table and eaten you like the feast you are.”

I gulped, incredibly turned on by his words. By the scene he’d described. “I wish you had.”

“So do I,” he said. “But then you might never have agreed to be Brooklyn’s nanny, and she needs you just as much as I do.”

I melted at his words and the way he was looking at me. But then his expression turned darker.

“Hey,” I said, smoothing my hand over his cheek. “What’s that look for?”

“I’m sorry for how I treated you the first few months you were working for me.”

I placed my hand over his heart. “You’ve already told me that.”

“I know,” he said, his expression solemn. “But I regret it. Just like I regret roping you into this whole mess.” He gestured with his hands.

Where was this coming from? Was this because of the engagement party? Something else?

“Nate, look at me.” When he finally did, his expression was one of regret. “I agreed to this.”

“Yeah, but only after I’d already made it impossible to refuse.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, draping my arms around his neck.

“I feel bad about lying to everyone. I feel bad that you have to lie to your family and friends, and that our relationship might cause friction with them.”

I didn’t want to think about that right now. Just like I didn’t want to think about the fact that Nate and I weren’t on the same page when it came to marriage and children. Hell, we were on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Instead, I unbuttoned his pants. “If it’ll make you feel better, you can tell me about another one of your fantasies,” I joked.

His dark chuckle reverberated in my chest. God, I loved the sound of his laugh. It was sexy, especially when I knew I’d been the cause of it.

“Well, there was this one time…”

* * *

Brooklyn skippedup to Knox and Kendall’s front door, her dress fluttering around her. “This is so exciting!”

I laughed, thinking of how nice it was of Kendall to include Brooklyn in her search for her dream wedding gown. Kendall had asked Brooklyn to be her flower girl, and she was beyond excited.

Before we could even knock, the front door opened and Kendall’s mom beckoned us in. She gave us both big hugs, and I was glad to see her looking so well after everything she’d been through.

“Congratulations, Emerson.”

“Thank you.” I smiled, and we followed her to the living room.

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