“I hate the politics.” He leaned forward. “Is being a lawyer part of your identity?”

Yes. Now she felt like he’d moved from studying her bookcases to her. What did he see? She lowered her eyelashes to consider the question. She bit her lip. “Yes and no. I don’t like being defined as a lawyer, so there’s still hope for me yet. But I like to say I’m a lawyer if I’m trying to impress someone professionally. Not that it worked with you.” She looked at him as if to say give me a chance.

Biscuit shifted positions in the silence, lying full out on the floor. Jake reached down to pet him. He smiled at her, and some of her tension eased away.

He asked, “So, did you bake the cookies you gave me?”

Grateful for the change in topic, she said, “Yes, but don’t get your hopes up. That’s about all I can make.”

“I can live for a while on good chocolate chip cookies.”

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 clinked his 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 something I loved.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“There’s nothing like promoting a new band—until you watch them succeed. It’s just cool.”

“Is that what you do?”

“I’m a marketing senior vice president. I prepare the marketing campaigns for the records released by my 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.