Page 137 of Reputation (Tempt)

“I suppose you’ll be wanting this back now,” I said, holding it out to him.

Please say no. Please say no.

“Yes,” he said in a strong, clear voice that made my heart drop. But then he added, “But only so I can propose properly this time.”

“Wh-what?” I whispered, afraid I’d misheard. Misunderstood.

“Come with me,” he said, but I merely stood there in shocked silence. He took my hand and gave it a tug. “Come on.” He led me toward the door to the backyard.

I furrowed my brow, trying not to get my hopes up. I knew Nate loved me, but…he didn’t want to get married. Right?

“Wh-what is all this?” I asked, trying to take it all in.

Fairy lights gently illuminated the backyard. An acoustic version of “Paper Rings” played softly in the background, the piano giving a playful and romantic feel to the love song. Candles and red rose petals floated on top of the pool. And on the grass were what looked like thousands of red roses and more candles in various heights, all forming a U shape.

Nate grinned and guided me to the roses, stopping once we were in the center of them. “Emerson.” His voice was thick with emotion. “The first time I saw you, I wasenchanted.” He paused to meet my eyes as he said “enchanted.”

“There was aninvisible stringpulling me to you. And yet, I was scared because I knewall too well,”he said, pausing again to look me in the eye,“what it felt like to behauntedby the past.

“Then you became Brooklyn’s nanny, and you werefearlessandhappinesspersonifiedand completelyuntouchable. Don’t blame mefor staying away when all I wanted was to be yourlover.Because even thoughI knew you were trouble,I also knew you were meant to bemine.”

Oh my god.I gasped. Could this man be any more perfect? He was pouring out his love and referencing so many titles of Taylor Swift songs, I couldn’t keep up.

Nate smiled, as if he knew I’d just connected the dots. Nodding, he took a shaky breath then continued.

“Every day with you isthe best day.Every day,sparks fly,and I fall a little more in love with you. With your kindness and generosity. With your perseverance and your strength. With your beauty and your independence. You are an incredible partner, and I know that I’mthe lucky onein this relationship.”

By this point, tears were streaming down my face. I couldn’t believe how much effort he’d put into his speech, and I was barely holding it together.

A camera flashed nearby. I jolted, my eyes darting to the source. Afraid of who I might find—a paparazzo?

Instead, the woman taking photos smiled and wiped away tears of her own. Nate gave my hand a squeeze, pulling my attention back to him. I relaxed, knowing that whoever she was, Nate trusted her.

“So,long story short,this is me tryingto convince you tostay.Because I love you, and you’rethe 1that I want to spendforever & alwayswith. Emerson,you belong with me.And Brooklyn and I belong with you.”

My smile must have split my face, both from his words and the way he was looking at me. I’d never felt more loved or desired than I did when I was with Nate.

“I just have onequestion?”He knelt to the ground and opened the little red box to reveal my red diamond engagement ring.“Will you stay with meevermore? Will you marry me?”

I sank to my knees, completely overwhelmed with love for this incredible man. “Yes.” I kissed him. “Yes. I love you, Nate. Forever and always.” I cupped his cheeks. “And I’m the lucky one.”

He smiled, sliding the ring back on to my finger. Back where it belonged. “Thank fuck.”

He pulled me into his arms, claiming me with a sweet kiss filled with emotion. After all that we’d been through, after all that we’d overcome, I couldn’t believe where we’d ended up. And yet, it made perfect sense.

He pulled back and wiped away my tears, his blue eyes searing in their intensity. “You’re so beautiful.”

I smiled and ducked my head. He stood and then offered me his hand, pulling me up with him. He tucked me into his side. We couldn’t stop touching or kissing or smiling.

He leaned in, whispering, “I can’t wait to have sex with my fiancée.”

“Mm.” I grinned. “I like the sound of that. This is incredible, by the way.” I glanced around, trying to take it all in. To freeze this memory in my mind forever, just as I’d done every time I’d stepped on the medal stand to accept my Olympic gold medals. “When did you have time to do all this?”

“I had a little help.” He winked.

“Juliana?” I guessed.

“Yep.”

---