Page 58 of Reputation (Tempt)

When Jackson exited the highway, I finally found my voice. “We’re almost home.” I liked the sound of that more than I had any right to.

Home.As if it were our home and not just the place she was currently living because I paid her.

Emerson’s shoulders slumped. “I know.” She was quiet a minute, her eyes darting to Jackson and then back to me as she weighed her words. “Should I let you talk to Brooklyn alone first? So she doesn’t feel pressured to react a certain way.”

I gave her hand a squeeze then released it. She was always thinking of Brooklyn, and that only endeared her to me more. Hell, she’d agreed to turn her life upside down just to help my daughter. It wasn’t the money that had convinced her; it was her desire to protect Brooklyn.

“I think we should tell her together,” I said with a confidence I didn’t feel. Because the closer we got to home, the more nervous I grew.

I’d only introduced one other woman to Brooklyn, and that had been years ago. Now Emerson and I were going to drop the bomb that we were engaged?

“We’ll be casual about it.” I smiled. “But excited.”

“Excited. Right.” She looked like she was going to be sick, but I couldn’t let her falter. Not when Jackson could overhear us. I trusted the man, but this secret was too explosive to risk anything slipping out.

I leaned in, grazing her cheek with my nose. Seizing any excuse to touch her under the guise of portraying a couple in love and newly engaged. “Just remember why we’re doing this,” I whispered, trying to ignore my own anxiety as I pulled away.

She nodded and turned to me, our eyes meeting with a sense of solidarity. She didn’t have to say my daughter’s name to know we were both thinking the same thing—for Brooklyn.

More paparazzi surrounded the entrance to the house. Emerson’s shoulders coiled tighter, only relaxing slightly after the gate had closed behind us. Shutting them out.

The door to the house opened as Jackson pulled into the garage. Brooklyn immediately ran over. I didn’t dare glance back at Emerson, afraid of what I’d see on her face. So when Jackson opened the door for us, I took a deep breath and climbed out, ready to put on the performance of a lifetime.

“Dad!” Brooklyn called, running over. Her smile widened when she said, “Emmy!” She bypassed me and ran straight to Emerson, throwing her arms around her. “I’m so glad you’re okay!”

“I am,” Emerson said, locking eyes with Brooklyn. “Thanks to you. You were very brave.”

She shrugged, her eyes on the floor. “No biggie.”

“Well, it’s a big deal to me,” Emerson said, placing her hand on Brooklyn’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

“Don’t I get a hug?” I teased. I would’ve been offended if I didn’t love the fact that Brooklyn adored Emerson so much.

It hadn’t been like that with her previous nanny, Amalia. Brooklyn had loved her, of course, but Amalia was stern. And she’d never been very affectionate.

Since Emerson had moved in, Brooklyn had blossomed. She was happier. More confident.

“Oh. Yeah.” Brooklyn laughed. “Of course.”

I pulled her into my side, breathing in her scent. “I’m so proud of you for what you did yesterday.”

She put on a brave front, but I could tell the incident had scared her. “I’m just glad Emmy’s okay.”

“Me too.” I smiled, thanking Jackson before guiding Brooklyn into the house. I knew he and his team would have their hands full with fending off the paparazzi. “How about some lunch? Are you hungry?”

She shook her head, but I hoped by the time the food was ready, she’d want to eat. I asked Andre to prepare lunch. Emerson, Brooklyn, and I caught up on what we’d missed, and Emerson answered all of Brooklyn’s questions about the hospital. Through it all, Brooklyn never left her side.

While Brooklyn was telling us a story about breakfast, I caught Emerson’s eye over the top of her head and mouthed, “You ready?”

She’d picked at her food, and she looked as if she might be sick, but still, she nodded. We both knew we were running out of time. Soon, Brooklyn would hear the news from one of her friends or someone else, and I wanted it to come from us.

“Well, it’s been quite the exciting weekend,” I said, hoping this went over well. “Emerson and I have some news for you.”

Brooklyn squirmed on the couch. “Good news or bad?”

“Hopefully good.” I smiled at Emerson, knowing it was showtime. “We think it’s a good thing, and we hope you will too.”

Ideally, I would’ve had this conversation with my daughterbeforeproposing to someone. But since this was fake, and I’d opened my big mouth, well…here we were.

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