The stage lit up, and out came Lolly, dressed in a white fluffy fake fur coat. With cat ears. She belted out a ballad about longing, and it was as if that yearning reverberated through Audrey’s whole body. She wanted so much more. She didn’t want to miss out on living her life.

Jake glanced over to see her reaction, and he nodded. “You feel it, she’s brilliant.”

“Wow. I feel like her voice filled me up and then left me wanting when she stopped,” she whispered back into his ear.

“I hope she signs with us. The competition is here.” He nodded at a guy dressed in a black suit over in the corner. Lolly sang an upbeat pop song next, and they both swayed to the music. Jake was singing the words. The crowd was moving back and forth as they followed Lolly prancing across the stage.

Her work phone buzzed. It was most likely Malaburn. She took a photo of Lolly on stage and surreptitiously checked her email. When Jake glanced at her, she clicked her phone off before she could read the message.

Devon squeezed through the crowd to join them, and Audrey saw him gesture towards their competition.

“Can I refill your drink?” Audrey asked.

“Now?” Jake asked.

“While you talk,” she said.

“We’re done. I told him I saw him already,” Jake said. “Stay for the next song.” It was a slow love ballad. Couples around them started slow-dancing. Jake asked her for a dance, and it was so easy to say yes. As he pulled her into his arms, she wanted to pinch herself that this was happening. He was so solid and smelled so good. Her pulse quickened.

Her phone buzzed, right next to his hand at her waist.

“Is that work?” he asked, pulling back to look at her.

“It could be.” She bit her lip. It was always work. Her shoulders tightened and she forced them to relax before he could sense that she was frustrated.

“That’s the problem with lawyers. No boundaries. People shouldn’t email you at 11 p.m. at night unless it’s a work crisis.”

“There’s no work crisis. He’s probably emailing because he’s thought of something and doesn’t want to forget it in the morning.” She leaned against his chest.

“That’s why they have the scheduled delivery function.”

She nodded against his hard chest, but the earlier mood had changed. She wasn’t as relaxed, worried instead that her phone would buzz again. And Penny’s warning sounded in her head.

The slow ballad ended, and Lolly sang another pop song. They danced, their glances meeting in the sparkle of the disco ball. The fizzing feeling returned, and his light touches—at her waist, her elbow—teased and made her think he felt that spark too.