Page 27 of Partner Pursuit
Jake held open the door to the Uber car as Audrey slid in, trying not to let her dress slide up too much. She didn’t have supermodel thin thighs. She had put on a yellow dress, deciding that she should put some effort into this and that jeans might be too hot. Jake was wearing a whitebutton-up, open at the neck, and jeans. He looked amazing.
The taxi felt intimate in the dark. She could feel the heat of him next to her in thecabseat.
“I’m glad you could come,” Jake said. “I’m sorry, I have to reply to a few texts. I invited a bunch of people. My friend in A&R, Devon, is trying to sign this band, and he wants to get a crowd together to hearthem.”
“No problem. What’sA&R?
“Artists and repertoire—he finds talent.”
“Is that what you do too?” she asked. Another career she’d never considered.
“No. I started in A&R, but marketing was more my thing. If he signs them, I’ll be doing the marketing.” His phone beeped. He typed a reply.
“So, is this workforyou?”
Jake grinned. “In a sense. But you can’t beat it for work,canyou?”
“It definitely beats my late nights of running around like a drill sergeant trying to filea brief.”
“I can’t see you as a drill sergeant.” As the headlights of a turning car illuminated the interior of the cab, Jake’s glancemethers.
“No, that’s true. I’m more of a ‘we’re all in this together—let’s get it done’ team leader.”
“That’s the bestkind.”
“Let’s hope the law firm partners agree.”
“Even if they don’t, it still is,” he said. “Look at Central Park lit up. I never get tired of that sight.” They were speeding down Fifth Avenue, past the streetlights illuminating trees against the milky blacknightsky.
“You grew up here, right?”
“Yeah, Upper East Side. Where did yougrow up?”
“Upper West Side,”shesaid.
“Oh, a west side New Yorker. That explains it.”
“Explainswhat?”
“Explains why I like you.” His phone rang, and he picked it up.
Her stomach fluttered. Did he meanlikeyou or justlikeyou?
His head was turned, but she could see his profile, the streetlights playing off his angular cheekbones, his tousled brown hair, his kissable lips. She had to get ahold of herself. She didn’t have time forfull-blowncrushes.
Their glances met, and his mouth tipped up, then he looked back out his window. “Yeah, the vocalist is amazing. Like shivers down your spine when she sings. You need to rally and come out,” he said into the phone. He hung up and turned to her. “She really is incredible.”
The Uber stopped in front of Irving Plaza. Jake held the car door open for her. She took out her wallet as they approached the entrance, but he stopped her and said, “You’re comped asmy guest.”
The concert space at Irving Hall was already packed. Disco balls and crystal chandeliers hung from the metal ceiling as if mixing remnants from its ballroom heritage with its 1970s concert hall inception. Jake held her hand and steered her towards a group at the bar. His hand felt solid and warm. He introduced her around, and she recognized several people from the party, including Rafaeland Penny.
“What do you want to drink?” he asked. He had to talk into her ear to be heard above the crowd, and his breath on her neck tickled. She smelled his familiarfresh-laundryscent.
“A Diet Coke,”shesaid.
“Don’t go too wildhere.”
“Don’t worry. I’llkeep up.”
