Twenty-four hours later, I was gone.
Sighing, I folded the drawing up and replaced it in my wallet. I couldn’t turn back time. There was no use regretting what was never meant to be. Tonight, I’d do my best to put a smile on her face and make up in some small way for what I’d done back then. Then I’d say a proper goodbye like a mature adult and take off for Boston tomorrow. I didn’t belong in her life.
I had no illusions about that.
I knocked on Maren’s door a few minutes after eight. When she answered it, my jaw dropped. “Jesus Christ, Maren. I’m an old man. Are you trying to kill me?”
She laughed and looked down at her legs, most of which were visible below the hem of a very, very short skirt. “You’re only thirty.”
“I know, but …” I clutched my heart. “Have mercy.” My eyes roamed over her body from head to toe. Her blond hair swung loose around her shoulders, with just a few strands pinned back around her face. Just like when we were young, she hardly wore any makeup. Above the skirt she wore a loose white blouse that draped softly over her curves and somehow managed to be elegant and provocative at the same time. On her feet she wore high-heeled sandals that laced up her calves, and I had a sudden urge to untie those laces with my teeth.
Tonight would be a test of my willpower for sure.
She came out onto the porch and pulled the front door closed behind her. “Listen, I don’t go out for dinner that often. I work a lot of evenings and haven’t gotten dressed up in a long time. So no mercy for you.”
I sighed heavily. “Fine. As long as you’re okay with me staring at you all night.”
She shrugged and smiled up at me. “As long as you’re okay with a strict look-but-don’t-touch policy.”
“I promise to be on my best behavior tonight.” I offered her an arm. “Shall we?”
“Yes.” She looped her hand around the inside of my bicep and we walked down the porch steps together. “So where are we going?”
Trying to ignore the thump in my chest, I led her to the silver Range Rover I had rented earlier today and opened the passenger door. “I’m not telling.”
“A surprise? Really?” She looked up at me and smiled brightly. “I love surprises.” The look on her face made me think that no one had done something like this for her before, and I wondered what kind of dickheads she’d dated after me.
I shut the door, then walked around to the driver’s side and got in. Buckling my seatbelt, I stole one more look at her legs before starting the car. The scent of her filled my head. My cock stirred, and I shifted a little in my seat, attempting to casually adjust my jeans.
On the drive downtown, we talked more about our families and what everyone was up to. I told her Finn had a wife and two kids, that my mom and dad were doting grandparents who made the trip from West Palm Beach to Boston often to see them, and that I was perfectly happy living on the opposite coast, although I did like being an uncle and Skyped with my niece and nephew at least once a week.
“How old are they?” Maren asked.
“Olympia is eight and Lane is six. They’re awesome. So smart and funny.”
“I bet they adore you.”
“Only because I send them tons of junk food and presents.” I signaled and exited the highway at Bagley Avenue. “And they send me pictures they’ve drawn and tell me I should tattoo people with them.”
Maren laughed. “That’s cute.”
“I should visit them more often, but I usually only get there once a year. You see your family much?”
“My parents don’t live around here anymore, but I see my sisters at least once a week. It’s hard because we all work a lot. Stella is a therapist with her own practice. She also runs marathons, so she trains a lot. Emme is a wedding planner, so her weekends are usually booked. Plus now she’s planning her own wedding, and the guy she’s marrying has a six-month-old baby.” She was quiet a moment. “Stella also has a boyfriend, or at least a guy she’s been seeing for a year or so.”
I glanced over at her. “What about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
“No,” she said. “To be honest, I can’t seem to meet anyone I really connect with.”
I tried not to feel good about that. “I wonder why.”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. And you? Are you seeing anyone?”
“Nope. I learned a long time ago that I make a shit boyfriend.”
“Oh yeah?” She folded her arms across her chest. “And why is that? Because other than your failure at goodbye, I remember you as a pretty great boyfriend. When I wasn’t mad at you for getting in trouble.”
I smiled as I turned left onto Michigan Avenue. “That was a long time ago.” And no one ever compared to you. “Mostly, I’ve just never been that into anyone. I moved around a lot in my twenties, and now I work long hours doing something I enjoy. I don’t take a lot of time off, and when I do, I’m selfish with it.”
“What do you like to do?”
“I like to be outside. Biking, hiking, climbing, skiing in the winter, swimming in the summer. And I love road trips.” I pulled up to the valet at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel.
Maren noticed where we were for the first time and gasped. “Oh my God! Are we having dinner at Roast?”
I grinned and shook my head but said nothing more as I unbuckled my seatbelt.
“Oh, come on. We’re here, you can tell me now.” The valet opened the passenger door, and she poked me on the shoulder before getting out of the car.
But still, I kept the secret. It was too good, and I’d worked too hard to arrange everything on short notice to give it up so easily.
I walked her into the hotel, and when she paused in the lobby, looking toward the entrance to the restaurant, I took her by the hand and tugged her toward the concierge. “This way.”
She followed me, but seemed a little hesitant. I wondered if I shouldn’t have taken her hand. Truthfully, it had been sort of instinctive, but maybe it was too romantic a gesture. Not in line with the look-but-don’t-touch policy I’d agreed to. I let go of her hand as we waited behind another couple at the desk.
“Um, Dallas?” She turned and looked at me uneasily. “We aren’t going up to a room, are we?”
“No.” I didn’t even tease her. “I promise we aren’t. But that’s all I’m saying.”
“Okay.” She looked relieved, which reinforced my plan not to touch her. It was clear she didn’t want me to.
The couple in front of us moved away, and the concierge, a young woman, smiled at us. “Good evening. Can I help you?”
“My name is Dallas Shepherd.”
Her smile grew wider, and she winked at me. “Of course. Mr. Young has everything set up for you, Mr. Shepherd. Just give me one moment and I’ll let him know you’re here.” She picked up the phone on her desk and discreetly made the call. After hanging up, she told us, “He’ll be out in a moment and meet you at the elevators. Enjoy your evening.”
I thanked her and placed a hand on the small of Maren’s back, guiding her at my side toward the elevators. When I realized what I was doing—touching her again—I dropped my arm.
We reached the elevators, and she turned to me, suspicion in her eyes. “What is this?”
“You’ll see.”
“Shepherd!” A voice boomed behind us. I turned to see Aiden Young coming toward us, buttoning his suit coat. He offered me his hand, and I took it.
“Aiden, do you remember Maren Devine? She went to school with us.”
“Of course I do.” He offered her his hand as well. “Welcome.”
Maren shook his hand, looking back and forth between the two of us. “Thanks,” she said. “I’m not sure what I’m doing here, but it’s beautiful. You’re a manager at the hotel?”
Aiden nodded and punched the elevator button. “General Manager, which means I can only get away for a moment, but I’ll take you guys up.”
When the doors opened, we let Maren step in first, and he and I exchanged a look. Thank you, I mouthed behind her back. Not that he was doing this solely as a favor to an old friend, but still, I was grateful. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without his help.
Sighing, I folded the drawing up and replaced it in my wallet. I couldn’t turn back time. There was no use regretting what was never meant to be. Tonight, I’d do my best to put a smile on her face and make up in some small way for what I’d done back then. Then I’d say a proper goodbye like a mature adult and take off for Boston tomorrow. I didn’t belong in her life.
I had no illusions about that.
I knocked on Maren’s door a few minutes after eight. When she answered it, my jaw dropped. “Jesus Christ, Maren. I’m an old man. Are you trying to kill me?”
She laughed and looked down at her legs, most of which were visible below the hem of a very, very short skirt. “You’re only thirty.”
“I know, but …” I clutched my heart. “Have mercy.” My eyes roamed over her body from head to toe. Her blond hair swung loose around her shoulders, with just a few strands pinned back around her face. Just like when we were young, she hardly wore any makeup. Above the skirt she wore a loose white blouse that draped softly over her curves and somehow managed to be elegant and provocative at the same time. On her feet she wore high-heeled sandals that laced up her calves, and I had a sudden urge to untie those laces with my teeth.
Tonight would be a test of my willpower for sure.
She came out onto the porch and pulled the front door closed behind her. “Listen, I don’t go out for dinner that often. I work a lot of evenings and haven’t gotten dressed up in a long time. So no mercy for you.”
I sighed heavily. “Fine. As long as you’re okay with me staring at you all night.”
She shrugged and smiled up at me. “As long as you’re okay with a strict look-but-don’t-touch policy.”
“I promise to be on my best behavior tonight.” I offered her an arm. “Shall we?”
“Yes.” She looped her hand around the inside of my bicep and we walked down the porch steps together. “So where are we going?”
Trying to ignore the thump in my chest, I led her to the silver Range Rover I had rented earlier today and opened the passenger door. “I’m not telling.”
“A surprise? Really?” She looked up at me and smiled brightly. “I love surprises.” The look on her face made me think that no one had done something like this for her before, and I wondered what kind of dickheads she’d dated after me.
I shut the door, then walked around to the driver’s side and got in. Buckling my seatbelt, I stole one more look at her legs before starting the car. The scent of her filled my head. My cock stirred, and I shifted a little in my seat, attempting to casually adjust my jeans.
On the drive downtown, we talked more about our families and what everyone was up to. I told her Finn had a wife and two kids, that my mom and dad were doting grandparents who made the trip from West Palm Beach to Boston often to see them, and that I was perfectly happy living on the opposite coast, although I did like being an uncle and Skyped with my niece and nephew at least once a week.
“How old are they?” Maren asked.
“Olympia is eight and Lane is six. They’re awesome. So smart and funny.”
“I bet they adore you.”
“Only because I send them tons of junk food and presents.” I signaled and exited the highway at Bagley Avenue. “And they send me pictures they’ve drawn and tell me I should tattoo people with them.”
Maren laughed. “That’s cute.”
“I should visit them more often, but I usually only get there once a year. You see your family much?”
“My parents don’t live around here anymore, but I see my sisters at least once a week. It’s hard because we all work a lot. Stella is a therapist with her own practice. She also runs marathons, so she trains a lot. Emme is a wedding planner, so her weekends are usually booked. Plus now she’s planning her own wedding, and the guy she’s marrying has a six-month-old baby.” She was quiet a moment. “Stella also has a boyfriend, or at least a guy she’s been seeing for a year or so.”
I glanced over at her. “What about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
“No,” she said. “To be honest, I can’t seem to meet anyone I really connect with.”
I tried not to feel good about that. “I wonder why.”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. And you? Are you seeing anyone?”
“Nope. I learned a long time ago that I make a shit boyfriend.”
“Oh yeah?” She folded her arms across her chest. “And why is that? Because other than your failure at goodbye, I remember you as a pretty great boyfriend. When I wasn’t mad at you for getting in trouble.”
I smiled as I turned left onto Michigan Avenue. “That was a long time ago.” And no one ever compared to you. “Mostly, I’ve just never been that into anyone. I moved around a lot in my twenties, and now I work long hours doing something I enjoy. I don’t take a lot of time off, and when I do, I’m selfish with it.”
“What do you like to do?”
“I like to be outside. Biking, hiking, climbing, skiing in the winter, swimming in the summer. And I love road trips.” I pulled up to the valet at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel.
Maren noticed where we were for the first time and gasped. “Oh my God! Are we having dinner at Roast?”
I grinned and shook my head but said nothing more as I unbuckled my seatbelt.
“Oh, come on. We’re here, you can tell me now.” The valet opened the passenger door, and she poked me on the shoulder before getting out of the car.
But still, I kept the secret. It was too good, and I’d worked too hard to arrange everything on short notice to give it up so easily.
I walked her into the hotel, and when she paused in the lobby, looking toward the entrance to the restaurant, I took her by the hand and tugged her toward the concierge. “This way.”
She followed me, but seemed a little hesitant. I wondered if I shouldn’t have taken her hand. Truthfully, it had been sort of instinctive, but maybe it was too romantic a gesture. Not in line with the look-but-don’t-touch policy I’d agreed to. I let go of her hand as we waited behind another couple at the desk.
“Um, Dallas?” She turned and looked at me uneasily. “We aren’t going up to a room, are we?”
“No.” I didn’t even tease her. “I promise we aren’t. But that’s all I’m saying.”
“Okay.” She looked relieved, which reinforced my plan not to touch her. It was clear she didn’t want me to.
The couple in front of us moved away, and the concierge, a young woman, smiled at us. “Good evening. Can I help you?”
“My name is Dallas Shepherd.”
Her smile grew wider, and she winked at me. “Of course. Mr. Young has everything set up for you, Mr. Shepherd. Just give me one moment and I’ll let him know you’re here.” She picked up the phone on her desk and discreetly made the call. After hanging up, she told us, “He’ll be out in a moment and meet you at the elevators. Enjoy your evening.”
I thanked her and placed a hand on the small of Maren’s back, guiding her at my side toward the elevators. When I realized what I was doing—touching her again—I dropped my arm.
We reached the elevators, and she turned to me, suspicion in her eyes. “What is this?”
“You’ll see.”
“Shepherd!” A voice boomed behind us. I turned to see Aiden Young coming toward us, buttoning his suit coat. He offered me his hand, and I took it.
“Aiden, do you remember Maren Devine? She went to school with us.”
“Of course I do.” He offered her his hand as well. “Welcome.”
Maren shook his hand, looking back and forth between the two of us. “Thanks,” she said. “I’m not sure what I’m doing here, but it’s beautiful. You’re a manager at the hotel?”
Aiden nodded and punched the elevator button. “General Manager, which means I can only get away for a moment, but I’ll take you guys up.”
When the doors opened, we let Maren step in first, and he and I exchanged a look. Thank you, I mouthed behind her back. Not that he was doing this solely as a favor to an old friend, but still, I was grateful. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without his help.
