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.
When the doors closed, Aiden stuck his key into the number panel, turned it, and hit a button. The elevator began to ascend.
“So,” he said. “I’ll tell you a little bit about the building history. When the hotel was completed in 1924, it was the tallest building in Detroit as well as the tallest hotel in the world. For decades, it was the city’s most luxurious hotel, its twelve hundred rooms, three ballrooms, restaurants, lounges, and shops catering to affluent visitors from all over the world. In 1939, the hotel became part of baseball history. On May second, New York Yankee Lou Gehrig collapsed on the grand staircase. In the hotel bar, he told his manager he was taking himself out of the starting lineup against the Tigers, breaking his string of two thousand one hundred thirty consecutive games played.”
“God, I haven’t been to a Tigers game in forever,” I said.
Maren looked up at me with a sympathetic smile. “Too bad your trip is so short.”
“Yeah.” For a crazy second, I thought about saying it didn’t have to be that short and asking her to come to a game with me tomorrow. Thankfully, Aidan spoke up again before I opened my mouth.