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Will turned to Charlotte, who had rested her head on his shoulder. “What do you think, darlin’? An hour?”
She smiled up at him. “Make it two.”
“Oh. I like your style. Two hours it is.”
Fred pulled the keyboard toward him like it was inconvenient. “What name should I put it under?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”
He typed the names, then pushed his chair back and took a key off the back wall under the number 315. The row had five empty spaces where other keys had been handed out.
“That’ll be a hundred bucks,” Fred said, slapping the key on the counter.
“For two hours?”
“There’s a surcharge when you bring your own date.”
“Oh.” He leaned forward as though speaking confidentially. “For future reference, how much is it if I don’t bring my own date?”
“Room’s free. You only pay for the company.”
He looked at Charlotte and frowned. “Hmm.”
“I’m worth it. Trust me,” Charlotte said.
“I sure hope so.” Will pulled out his wallet and removed two fifties.
Fred took the money and handed over the key. “Room 315. Elevators are through there.”
“I won’t, uh—” Will looked around the lobby. “I won’t run into anyone I know on that floor, will I?”
“How should I know?”
“What I mean is, is anyone else staying here for a few hours?”
“Buddy, if you run into anyone you know on that floor, I can assure you, they will forget your face and hope you forget theirs.”
“Right.” He pulled Charlotte to the elevators.
When they were on their own on the way up to the third floor, he said, “That was nicely done. You’re a natural.”
“Thanks. It’s weird pretending to be someone you’re not.”
“You do it all the time for work, don’t you?”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because when you’re acting, the audience knows you’re only pretending. With this, I have to convince people that I am who I say I am. It’s really nerve-wracking.”
“It’s your first time out.”
“Yeah. I’m glad I came.”
“Told you.”
“Yes, fine. You were right. Happy now?”
