Page 35 of Partner Pursuit
“I can live for a while on good chocolate chipcookies.”
She laughed. “That’s what I’ve always thought. They’re kind of an essential food group.”
“But only if they’re superior…”
“You’ve got to have standards.” Their gazes met. She wasn’t sure they were still talking about cookies. She flushed and asked, “So, were you able to sign Lolly?”
“Yes.”
“Congratulations!” She clinkedhis glass.
“I’m excited.” He looked happy about it. He fiddled with his iPhone, changing the playlist, the light glinting off his dark wavy hair as he concentrated on finding the next songs.
“So, did you always know you wanted to work in music?”she asked.
“I didn’t know you could work in music! I fell into it, luckily. I was a DJ in college radio, so I got connected to some of the music labels. Then they asked me to go check out college bands and recommend them. Eventually, I realized it could be a career and I could be doing somethingI loved.”
“Soundsperfect.”
“There’s nothing like promoting a new band—until you watch them succeed. It’s justcool.”
“Is that what you do?”
“I’m a marketing senior vice president. I prepare the marketing campaigns for the records released bymy label.”
“It sounds like you love it.” When he spoke about his job, his whole face glowed, as if lit from within. This close to him at her table, she could feel all of that passion and heat, and she leaned forward, eager for more.“Why?”
“I love music, I like the creative challenge, I like being a part of the music scene, I like the people,” he said, waving his hands as he expressed his feelings. “I like figuring out the essence of the band and their music and then crafting the message.” He played some songs on his iPhone from the bands he covered.
“They sound amazing. Do you miss living downtown? That’s where the action is, right?”
“Not as much as I thought I might. I miss the sizzle—I mean, the streets can be electric at night down there, and that’s not the case here. But I like being near the park and my sister and her kids. And I met you.” He said this part in a low voice she wasn’t used to hearing from him, one corner of his mouth kicking upward. His usual confidence seemed to fall away for a moment, and the shyness that replaced it made her blush. “Plus, as was pretty clear at the party, I just broke up with my girlfriend, and it seemed like a goodmove.”
“Why’d you break up?” She was curious, but she wouldn’t have dared ask if he hadn’t brought it up.
“I wasn’t in love with her, and I’m not sure she was in love with me. She was in love with the image of me—theup-and-comingmarketing executive and the cool parties and the scene. Plus, she was pushing me to work more, and I don’t want to.” He looked hard at her, as if daring her to questionthat.
She held his gaze as if to reassure him that she wouldn’t do that. “Why’d she want you to workmore?”
“She thought I had a slacker attitude and I’d get farther ahead if I workedmore.”
“But you’re a senior VP!”
“Ah, yes, but I could be an executive VP. There’s always another rung on the ladderto climb.”
“So, there is—if that’s what you want.” Although for her, making partner was the final rung. The rest was icing on the cake. “It seems you’ve found a good balance.” She only wished she could findthesame.
“I try.” The silence lengthened. “Do you believe in abalance?”
“I believe in it, but achieving it is another thing. There’s so much to learn, and the only way I’m going to be good is if I get enough experience. Plus, now I’ve got five months until the partnership decision.” She piled up the plates. “Do you want any dessert? I don’t have any chocolate chip cookies, although I assure you that that’s rare. Ice cream?”
“We could go for a walk and pick up dessert,” he said. “I have to walk Biscuit anyway.” Biscuit thumped his tail and got up.
“That’d be great.” A walk outside in the balmy summer night air sounded ideal. When they both stood, he was close. Only inches away. To break the tension, she asked where he went to high school. High school was so defining inNewYork.
“Collegiate. Where did you go?”
“Stuyvesant. All boys school, huh?” she teased.
