Page 42 of Reputation (Tempt)

Before I could respond, she said, “Brooklyn. Is she okay?”

The fact that Emerson was thinking about my daughter’s well-being when she was the one in the hospital only endeared her to me. Over and over again, I’d seen just how much Emerson adored Brooklyn. She went above and beyond, and I wondered if she did that for every family or if we were special. I wanted to think it was the latter.

“Brooklyn was really worried about you.”So was I.

I nearly took her hand in mine but stopped myself, instead asking, “Do you remember what happened?”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it.

“Do you need to get that?” Emerson asked, furrowing her brow.

My phone buzzed again, and it didn’t stop this time. I removed my phone from my pocket. Ten missed calls and countless unread texts. Several were from Pierce; none of them from my daughter.

“Shit,” I muttered as I swiped through the texts, including a link to an article with the headline, “Hollywood’s Billionaire Bachelor Nate Crawford is engaged to America’s Sweetheart Emerson Thorne.”

Fucking hell. This was quickly turning into even more of a disaster.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing.” I shoved my phone into my pocket, not wanting to add to Emerson’s distress.

I knew I’d taken a risk, referring to Emerson as my fiancée. But I’d expected more discretion from a fucking hospital. That said, I had mentioned it in front of an entire waiting room, even if I’d been careful to keep my voice low. I’d sort it out later. What mattered right now was that she was okay.

There was a knock at the door, and a nurse bustled in. “Hello, Emerson. How are you?”

“I’ve been better,” Emerson said.

The nurse—a woman with silver hair and hot-pink scrubs—smiled brightly at me, blinking a few times as if she couldn’t quite believe her eyes. She mouthed the word “Holy…” before seeming to regain her composure.

I would’ve been irritated by her lack of attention to Emerson if I weren’t terrified about what was going to come out of the nurse’s—or Emerson’s—mouth next.

Fortunately, the nurse busied herself with taking Emerson’s vitals and asking some questions. Then she peered down at her tablet and made some notes.

“Can I get you anything?” she asked Emerson.

Emerson shook her head.

“Okay. Well, I’ll—” She glanced at me again, scanning me head to toe. Likely comparing me to the characters I’d played. Deciding whether I matched up to her expectations. Who the fuck knew. “Be back in a while to check on you.”

I followed the nurse out to the hall, closing the door softly behind me. “How’s she doing?”

She gaped at me but then seemed to collect herself. “It sounds like she had an anaphylactic reaction to something. The EMTs gave her two Benadryl, as is the usual protocol. And we later found out that she’d already taken a Benadryl at home before their arrival.”

I nodded. “Has she been given anything else?”

She shook her head. “No, but we’re monitoring her. The Benadryl may have contributed further to the swelling.”

“She’s, um—” I didn’t know how to say it, so I rocked on my feet. “She’s not acting like herself.”

The nurse’s smile was sympathetic. “It happens sometimes. Three Benadryl can be a lot. And for some people—like your fiancée—it makes them a little loopy. Confused and silly. A bit like when someone has woken up from anesthesia.”

“Mm.” I rubbed my chin.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “The effects will wear off. Usually in four to six hours.”

“Four to six—” I swallowed hard.Four to six hours?

“I have to check in with my other patients, but I’ll be back in a little while. In the meantime, did you need anything else?”

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