She hesitated. Oh, she wanted to say yes. She wanted to hang out with Jake. So much for getting a good night of sleep to plow through work in the morning. But she could reward herself. She had emailed Malaburn a finished assignment before she’d left the office.

“I’d love to.” Renewed energy filled her. “I’ll change while you’re walking Biscuit. Is there a dress code?”

“Anything goes. You could wear what you’re wearing now. I’ll be wearing jeans. Shall I ring your doorbell in about 30 minutes?”

“Yes.”

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 white button-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 the cab seat.

“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 hear them.”

“No problem. What’s A&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 work for you?”

Jake grinned. “In a sense. But you can’t beat it for work, can you?”

“It definitely beats my late nights of running around like a drill sergeant trying to file a 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 glance met hers.

“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 best kind.”

“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 black night sky.

“You grew up here, right?”

“Yeah, Upper East Side. Where did you grow up?”

“Upper West Side,” she said.

“Oh, a west side New Yorker. That explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“Explains why I like you.” His phone rang, and he picked it up.

Her stomach fluttered. Did he mean like you or just like you?