Page 69 of Reputation (Tempt)

Fuck. How the hell was I going to protect her from this?

At the moment, I had zero ideas. And the situation was all my fault.

“I’m not going to lie, being in the public eye is… It’s a lot. And I’m sorry my actions added pressure to a situation you were already stressed about.”

“That’s not—” She shook her head. “I appreciate you saying that, but I’d still feel this pressure even if we’d never gotten fake-engaged.”

I nodded, hoping that was true. But it didn’t lessen my guilt.

“I’ve seen a sports psychologist to try to help me overcome it. My dad wants me to meet with a new one even though the coping strategies didn’t make a difference.”

At least her dad was aware of the issue, and he seemed to be trying to help.

Hmm. I rubbed a hand over my chin. “Maybe you should create an alter ego.”

She furrowed her brow. “An alter ego?”

“Yeah.” I grinned. “Channel your inner badass and project that. Beherwhen you compete.”

“Huh.” She appraised me with newfound interest. “That’s not a terrible idea. Is that what you do?”

“Sometimes.” I’d never admitted this to anyone, but I found it easy to confide in Emerson. “Sometimes it’s easier to don a mask. To never let them see the real you.”

She nodded. “So that when they criticize Nate Crawford, they’re not attacking you. Because they don’t knowyou.”

My attention snapped to her. “Yeah. How did you?—”

“Know that?” She gave me a sad smile. “Because I’ve watched you do it, even if I couldn’t quite articulate the reasoning behind it until now.”

I scoffed, trying to hide my surprise. “Maybe I’m not such a great actor after all.”

“Maybe people just aren’t paying enough attention,” she said. She paid attention. And for a moment, I was sucked into her gaze. Transfixed by this woman and the fact that she cared enough to seeme.

Not the billionaire. The celebrity. The hotel heir. The dad. Though those were all roles I played. But me, Nate.

I finally shook it off. “Fortunately, I know just the person to help,” I said, struck with inspiration. “Jay has created an alter ego of sorts for me, especially for when I have to walk the red carpet.”

“Oh my god.” Her eyes went wide. “Jay, as in Jay Crowe?”

“You know him?” I asked.

“I knowofhim. He dresses all the biggest celebrities. And Kendall has always gushed about him.”

I grinned. “He’s my stylist, and now he’ll dress you too.”

Her smile was so bright, it nearly made me forget everything else. “For the first time since we got engaged, I think I might actually want to kiss you.”

“Oh?” I arched an eyebrow. “So when we kissed earlier…”

“You initiated that. Remember?”

“And the next time?” I asked.

Her eyes were homed in on mine like a laser. “There won’t be a next time unless it’s to maintain this charade.”

“You’re wrong.” I leaned closer, the corners of my lips curling upward. “And I can’t wait to see you beg.”

“Then you’ll be waiting a long time, Crawford.” She threw her towel at my face then stood.

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