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“Try me.”
I look to Frederick for guidance on whether to answer fully, but he’s staring at the key in his hand. “Sorry, ma’am, but how much do I owe you for the room? I’ll be staying up until the wedding.”
“Wedding? We’re having a wedding? When?” Janine sits forward and grabs a pen, twirling it between her fingers. “I do so love a wedding.”
“Er, right. Well”—I look between Frederick and Janine—“we’re hoping to find a venue available not this weekend but the next. I know it’s short notice, but we just can’t wait any longer.” I turn to Frederick, smile, and touch the top of his fingers. Here goes nothing. “I love this man with my whole being.”
Oh goodness, I hope he believes me to be acting.
Because for a moment, something flashes across his face—disbelief, maybe?—and he just stares at me. Like, really stares at me. In my dreams, he’d toss that key aside, jerk me into his arms, and kiss me long and deep.
In reality, though, Janine sniffles and sighs, breaking whatever that moment between us was, if anything. “You two are as sweet as blueberry jam, that you are. Now, as far as wedding venues, honey, well, I’ve got the beach here, but I believe we have an event booked that weekend. Then again, that’s just one evening and I don’t rightly remember which, so we might have some availability. You’d have to ask Kelsey Loveland. She’s my assistant manager, but she’s already gone home for the day.”
“You are so sweet,” I say. “We’ve got a few other things in mind, though.” Even though we don’t. Oh, how I hope we can find other venues to try. But even if it wasn’t so exposed, Topher is not a beach wedding kind of bloke.
“That’s right perfect.” Janine claps her hands and picks up her magazine, which she shakes at us. “Well, go on, git. I’m sure you’re wanting to spend some time alone together now that you’re reunited.”
I don’t miss the waggle of her eyebrows. Nor the way my stomach plummets to my toes. I glance at the key in Frederick’s hand, then back up at him.
His eyes widen. He’s realized what’s going on here.
Reaching for his wallet, he grabs his credit card and holds it toward Janine. “Here. For my room.”
Janine just laughs. “Your little lady already paid, silly. Unless you want me to switch the card on file?”
He chuckles, but it sounds like some sort of animal is being strangled. “No, no, you misunderstand. We need two rooms.”
“Reeeee-ally?” She stretches out the word and leans forward again, steepling her fingers as if Frederick’s is an outrageous request.
“Yes,” Frederick says with a hard edge to his words.
Janine sighs. “I’m sorry, but I’ve only the one room. Chloe was lucky to get it, with the festival this weekend and all.”
I’ve never seen Frederick so pale. Perhaps he’s thinking of what Topher will say. Maybe he’s considering what a wind-up it will be to share a room with me.
I don’t really know what he’s thinking, to be honest.
But Idoknow that if we don’t get out of here now, he’s going to blow our whole cover to pieces.
So with a quick, “It’s not a problem—thank you!” to Janine, I tug on Frederick’s sleeve and lead him out of the lobby, up the stairs, and down the hall to the last door on the left.
Straight for a one-bed situation that would make Abigail Fox very proud.
eight
FREDERICK
One room.
One. Room.
The words bang around in my skull, and I blink as Chloe fumbles with her key against the door she’s led me to.
Okay, okay. One room isn’t all bad so long as there are two beds. Most hotel rooms have two beds, don’t they?
She finally gets the green light and opens the door. We step inside and all breath leaves my body. My vision narrows and blurs at the corners, and my headache returns in a flash.
This room is tinier than the military bunk I shared with Topher.
