Page 55 of Reputation (Tempt)

“Something else,” he said, standing firm. Hell, part of me was afraid he could read my thoughts.

“Fine. Answer one question.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you sleep in that chair last night?” I hooked my thumb in the chair’s direction.

He rubbed the back of his neck, his earlier bravado evaporating in the face of surprise. Then he finally said, “What kind of fiancé would I be if I left you while you were in the hospital? Talk about bad publicity.” He tsked.

Talk about deflecting.

His nonanswer was infuriating. We both knew he was lying. But why? And why had he lied about our being engaged in the first place?

I wanted to ask him, but I was afraid to know the answer. This situation was already complicated enough. Before I could open my mouth to push him on it, someone knocked on the door.

God, how I wished Kendall were here. I needed her to tell me this was a bad idea. The worst.

Twelve months.

Ten million dollars.

And one big, fat, fake engagement.

Was I actually going to say yes? Did I really have another choice?

CHAPTERTWELVE

The nurse peeked her head in. “We’re just finishing up the discharge papers.”

“Great,” I said, my eyes on my phone. My team had reached out to a few physicians about Emerson’s case. I’d already spoken to the hospital billing department and taken care of all charges. And Jackson was in place and ready to pick us up. “Our driver is waiting by the service entrance.”

My phone buzzed, a text from Pierce with a link to some of the latest coverage of my surprise engagement. He was right—there was a hum of excitement. A flood of positive stories.

This was good, wasn’t it?

Then why did I feel so bad?

Maybe because I knew it was all a lie. I tried to console myself with the idea that it wouldn’t be the first time a celeb had pretended to date someone for publicity. And it wouldn’t be the last. I’d just never thought it would be me.

Pierce had wanted us to make a big splash. Come out the front entrance and be photographed, but I’d insisted on a private exit. Emerson needed time to adjust to the idea of our engagement. But more importantly, she’d just gotten out of the hospital, for chrissakes.

“Give me just a few,” the nurse said to Emerson with a wink. “And then we’ll get you out of here.”

“Thank you.” Emerson smiled, but it was tinged with fatigue and anxiety.

Hell, I was exhausted, and it had little to do with sleeping in an uncomfortable hospital chair. My family was blowing up my phone. Jasper was surprised but happy for me, perhaps begrudgingly so. He had questions. As did Sloan and Graham, who were both incredulous.

Knox had promised to call soon, and I needed to get my shit together before then. My brother knew me better than anyone. So if anyone was going to catch me in this lie, it would be him.

I couldn’t imagine how Emerson was feeling at the moment. Shock? Dismay? Disgust? Pity?

I still couldn’t quite explain what had possessed me to tell the nurse we were engaged. I mean, seriously? Emerson and I had developed such a good rhythm; she made my life run smoothly. She was important to Brooklyn.

She was important to me, and not just because of her role as my daughter’s nanny. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I liked Emerson. Trusted Emerson. And while I didn’t have to fake my attraction to her, I knew this was a recipe for disaster.

She was nearly fifteen years younger than me.

She was my daughter’s nanny.

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