Page 79 of Trying Sophie

She’d said the room was free, but I wondered how many autographs it was going to cost me. I’d have been happy to pay but I was used to this game by now. I received a lot of things for free these days: my Range Rover, a gym membership (that I never used since the gym paled in comparison to the team’s facilities), meals, drinks, clothes. If a local company could give one of us something in return for a picture, autograph, or a mention on Twitter, practically anything was ours for the taking. But whatever Agnes (or her manager) asked for would have to wait.

“And thank you, Agnes, for all your help this afternoon. If you want anything signed, I’d be happy to on our way out tomorrow,” I said, stressing the tomorrow part.

No way was I getting caught standing here in the lobby glad-handing every hotel employee who happened to be working today.

Agnes’s face flushed pink with embarrassment. “Oh,” she said, clearly disappointed. “I was hoping to get a few photos with you now.”

“Just you?” I asked, needing to wrap this up soon.

“Yes!” she practically yelled. “Just a quick selfie,” she added, rushing out from behind the desk with her phone in hand.

Sophie stepped away while Agnes stood on her toes and I crouched down. A few clicks later, she scrolled through the pictures to make sure she’d gotten a good one. Her lips pursed, she turned to me. “Do you think we could get a few more? My eyes are closed in most of them.”

“Tomorrow, definitely.”

Impatience made my voice tight as I leveled a no-nonsense glare at her.

“Oh! Of course Mr. O’Shaughnessy.”

Rounding to the other side of the desk, she prepared our key cards and when she slid them my way, my heart quickened with anticipation. Eight-year-old Declan did a little jig while his adult Declan tightened all over, knowing what came next.

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