Page 35 of Reputation (Tempt)

Graham and Jasper had gone to spend the holiday with Sloan in London. She’d received a series of threatening letters in the past few weeks, and we were concerned. Well, everyone except Sloan was concerned. She thought Graham and Jasper were being overprotective and ridiculous, but Knox and I had agreed they should go.

Knox was in Paris. And Jude was off with friends in Turks and Caicos. Our family was spread out across the globe this year, but unlike years in the past, it didn’t bother me as much.

Because of Emerson.

I stood and pushed away the thought.

“Yeah. Of course,” I said, giving Brooklyn’s shoulder a squeeze as I passed the bed. She was sprawled out on my mattress, her feet in the air as she peered down at her phone. “You can ask her to call on my tablet if you want since the screen’s bigger.” I tossed it on the bed.

“Good idea!” Brooklyn said, grabbing the device. But when my phone rang a second later, Brooklyn answered it instead. “Auntie Sloan! Hi! Merry Christmas!”

I could hear my cousin’s warm voice through the phone, and I leaned over behind Brooklyn and waved. “Hey, Sloan.” It was always nice to connect with my family, even if only virtually.

“Hey, Nate.” Her smile was warm but tired. I wondered if Graham and Jasper’s bickering was wearing her out.

“How’s London?” I asked.

“Jolly good!” Jasper popped into view behind her, a paper crown on his head and a fake British accent in full force.

I laughed despite myself. “I seesomeone’shaving fun.”

“Oh yes.” He grinned wickedly. “Now if only we could get Graham to loosen up.” He panned the camera over to Graham, who scowled.What’s new?

Brooklyn narrowed her eyes at him. “Uncle Graham, it’s Christmas. Don’t be a Scrooge!”

“Bah humbug,” Graham said, but everyone else laughed.

“Oh, Uncle Graham,” Brooklyn sighed. “Are you grumpy because that travel blogger’s picking on you again?”

I raised my brow, surprised that Brooklyn paid that much attention—not just to our previous conversations but to a travel blog. I watched Graham for his reaction. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one. I could see Sloan and Jasper just as anxious to see how he’d respond. Nothing got Graham as fired up as an attack on the hotel empire, especially one from Gilded Lily, a popular luxury-travel blogger.

“When is shenotpicking on me?” Graham muttered.

Brooklyn’s expression was sympathetic. “You just have to do what Emmy always tells me.”

“Hack her site and make it crash?”

I glared at him, but it was unnecessary. Brooklyn’s chiding tone was likely punishment enough. Graham might be a grumpy bastard, but he’d always had a soft spot for my daughter.

“No, silly,” she said. “You need to shake it off,” she sang the words. “Shake it off.”

He rolled his eyes but grudgingly complied, dancing along with Brooklyn briefly.

“Where’s Prince Albert,” Brooklyn asked. “And V?”

Jasper angled the camera so it was pointed at Graham’s dogs, who were—predictably—resting at his feet. He spoiled them rotten. One of the Irish Wolfhounds—I never remembered which was which—lifted its head at the sound of Brooklyn’s voice saying their names.

“So,” I said. “How are things otherwise?”

“It’s fu—” I glared at Jasper. And he said, “Flipping cold here,” angling the camera so we could see the snow falling on the London skyline.

“How pretty!” Brooklyn said. “Nowthatlooks like Christmas. We might go swimming later.”

“That sounds fun,” Sloan said. “What else have you been up to?”

“We had tacos for breakfast and tried out my new karaoke machine. Thank you for my present. I love it!”

Sloan smiled. “I’m so glad. Hopefully, your dad is enjoying it too.” She smirked.

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