Page 25 of Reputation (Tempt)

Graham spoke up. “I’ll find out if the photographer was an employee or if he bribed someone to pose as one.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll make him pay.”

“Thanks,” I said, confident he would. Graham valued loyalty above anything else.

Graham turned for the elevator but then stopped. “Did Emerson actually tackle him?”

I laughed. “Yeah. She did.”

His brow rose, but he said nothing more. Even so, I could tell he was impressed. Hell, so was I.

When I returned to the suite, the girls were making friendship bracelets and watching a movie as if nothing had happened. That was a relief, at least.

I went to the kitchen, where I found Emerson pacing, and kept my voice low. “Hey. You okay?”

“No. I’m not okay. That man snuck in and tried to take pictures of Brooklyn’s party. How are you not more upset?”

My shoulders relaxed. I understood her frustration, but it was a fact of my life. I was just glad the girls hadn’t noticed, and Emerson was otherwise okay.

“I’m pissed, but it happens.” Besides, the guy hadn’t gotten the pictures he’d wanted.

“No.” Her voice was stern. “It’s bullshit.”

I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her so angry.

“Hey.” I wrapped my arm around her. “It doesn’t matter. Don’t let an asshole like him ruin a great evening.”

Finally, she sighed, her shoulders seeming to relax. “You’re right. I should know better by now. And I’m sorry if I made things worse by chasing after him.”

“Nah. It was pretty awesome. I thought you were a heptathlete, not a football player,” I teased.

She elbowed me, and I let out an “oomph.”

“You better be nice, or I’ll go work for Hudson Security.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” I pinched her side. It was the second time in one evening she’d mentioned a career change, even if in jest. I didn’t like it. Didn’t want to imagine my life—or Brooklyn’s—without her.

Emerson cocked her hip. “Jackson said he’d hire me in a heartbeat.”

“Well, I’m not letting you go,” I said, draping my arm over her shoulder.

She blinked up at me, her lips parting in surprise. I was so damn tempted to kiss her. But I couldn’t. Wouldn’t.

“Come on.” I ushered her back toward the living room, even though all I wanted was a few more minutes alone with her.

When we returned, the girls were on a sugar high. Emerson laughed, taking it all in stride. She got them playing games until it burned off their energy and then turned on another movie. A few hours later, most of them were passed out in front of the TV.

“I’m going to owe you big-time for this,” I said to Emerson as she yawned.

“Nah.” She smiled. “It’s fun. Reminds me of when Kendall and I were younger.”

“You guys have been friends a long time, huh?”

She nodded. “Since middle school. I can remember making prank calls at slumber parties and staying up late playing truth or dare.”

“Truth or dare, huh?”

“It’s a classic. God, I love that game.” Her smile was full of mischief and delight, and I wanted more.

“Let’s play.”

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