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Attention to detail was everything. She looked so happy, and that dragged a smile onto her face immediately. Teddy watched as she stood; even in her own heels, she was still taller. That took getting used to.
"Oh no, please, don't apologise. I'm not usually out of the office during lunch." She explained. The amount of times Emmett had caught her in the office outweighed the times she hadn't. This time, they were simply unlucky.
"It's the thought that counts." Teddy pointed out, and she really did appreciate being considered by someone at all. Easing a hand around her waist, she pulled herself in closer with a step, pressing her lips against her cheek for a lingering connection.
The smile her counterpart wore only made her own grow, and as Teddy stepped closer, Natalie let out a content breath, leaning into the little bit of contact granted. She inched a little closer, letting herself press against the lawyer.
When distance was finally created, Natalie set the cups down on the desk, and with free hands, she let one fall on Teddy's shoulder - because any connection was one worth being savored.
"Olivia let me in; it was very nice of her." She explained, fingertips grazing across the expensive fabric. "How was your meeting?"
There was thought to how Teddy greeted her. She was the only one to be greeted by any kind of kiss in this office. The distance Natalie created was short lived and she had to be thankful for that; a hand settled on her shoulder and she thought nothing of how it looked.
"Oh, well if I'd known you'd be waiting, I wouldn't have sat through the hypocrisy for quite so long." She replied lightly, a little humour touching her tone. Just as light as the hand that still kept itself at her waist.
"You're off work today?" She certainly hoped so, because it would have been worse to wait for her at all knowing she had somewhere else to be.
The hand at her waist did everything to keep her close, and Natalie felt her breath go light at the proximity between them. Even in a professional environment, her overwhelming nature was so intoxicating. Natalie dared to let her fingertips graze the border between fabric and skin, lingering against the line as she let out a light laugh.
"Next time I'll call." Her eyebrows twitched upward, because there absolutely would be a next time. It was hard to ignore the magnetic energy that pulled her towards the lawyer.
The corner of her mouth rose upward. "For the rest of the day," she confirmed with a nod.
The smallest point of contact against her skin was daring. The environment and the nature of her office allowed a vision to collide with any set of eyes willing to look. It was rare for Teddy to give anyone a mere glimpse into her personal life and now, for the briefest of minutes, it was all on display. It wasn't that she hadn't considered that, it was just that she didn't mind. Because the mere mention of a next time had eyebrows raising once at the hidden meaning packed into those words. It was an easy thing to appreciate, forward as it was for someone who didn't always seem the type. She would appreciate the next inevitable call.
As nice as it would have been to have a day off - or even an afternoon - that corresponded with hers, there was still a lot left to do in her day. "I wish I could say the same." She admitted, her mouth tugging into a brief frown.
"If you're free, let's have dinner tonight." She proposed instead, never one to waste an opportunity when it was given. "I might still be new to the city, but I know a few good places. And I can give you my undivided attention." Confidence practically boiled over the surface as Teddy gave a knowing smile.
Lingering contact and close proximity weren't things Natalie considered anyone might notice outside of themselves. She was too caught up in it herself.
As much as she might have wished otherwise, it didn't come as too much of a surprise to hear that the lawyer's day was far from done. After all, she had just tied her lunch break into a meeting. And although there was still much to learn about her, Natalie knew how dedicated she was to her job.
At the very least, there was an offer for dinner, and that was enough to make her eyes light up. A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth, drawing it wider. "I'd love that." She replied genuinely, eyebrows quirking up. "Should I dress up?"
Though she hadn't gotten a verbal answer, Teddy knew what that look in her eyes meant. It was a universal kind, and she was grateful for the way it plated her confidence so easily. She was one of the few people who made dating so easy. Though she didn't need to, Teddy made a point of looking to the way she smiled for a brief moment, if only to make it clear how purposefully she caught it.
"It's not necessary." She pointed out. The truth of it was that she would wear just about anything and get away with it. Her free hand tracked to the jacket she wore, clever fingers brushing down the line idly. "I could pick you up later, if you like."
Which forced another thought entirely; "Come to think of it, I have no idea where you live." It wasn't a bad thing; some people were protective of that space for a variety of reasons. She had been so quick to give hers up for the obvious.
It was settled so easily, and Natalie had to be thankful for the simplicity in it all. Dinner with the lawyer sounded lovely, and she hadn't missed the way keen eyes had glanced down, only forcing her own smile to grow at the attention. The hand traversing down her form made her want to step closer, despite the glass walls that surrounded them.
"I'll write down my address for you," Natalie replied easily, but she hadn't made any attempt to step away just yet. Her other hand was already moving to press against her arm, encouragement for the way it fell on her form. "It's not too far." There was no issue with the idea of handing out her address, especially to the lawyer. If anything she deserved to know where to find the trainer.
And finally, she considered what was next. "I should let you get back to your work, then." By no means did she want to, but the implication that she had a lot left in her day was hard to ignore. "So you'll get out of here at a decent hour."
Somehow, Teddy was going to leave this interaction with an address to keep. She wouldn't have reacted negatively to a lack of information, but it was definitely a plus to be able to see the kind of life she lived. "Convenient." Good to know she lived nearby.
Then came the inevitable thought that she would need to leave. And soon. Teddy frowned instinctively, but Natalie had a fair point. "I'll walk you out." She said then, but she still hasn't moved. Not right away. "Once I have the address, of course."
Her fingers dropped off at the end of her jacket, and with a reluctant step back she eased her other hand away. Hopefully distance would make it easier.
A hint of a frown was a boost to Natalie's confidence - as much as she didn't want to leave, there was something in the confirmation that her counterpart disliked the idea of departure as well. But a step was slowly made, and her hand slowly dragged along the line of her skin, grazing across her collarbone before eventually falling to her side. A small hint of a frown pulled at the corner of her mouth, but she still turned towards the lawyer's desk. The sight of a pad of paper and pen grabbed her attention as she leaned forward and took both.
Fluid handwriting made the first mark on the paper as she wrote out her address. "If you head left down Congress for about a mile, the road is on your right." Natalie explained, straightening her back as she tore the paper from the pad, offering it to the lawyer personally. "It's a small blue house." Unlike her counterpart, she hadn't lived in a large building, but she adored her home.
Watching over her shoulder, Teddy maintained decent proximity as she listened to the directions offered. She only eased back when Natalie handed the piece of paper over to her. Her eyes searched it for good measure, and though she didn't recognise the street, she knew it wouldn't be such a struggle to find. A little house, of all things. It sounded fitting.
"I'll head home first, if that's alright. I'd like to change." Even if she knew she looked as good as she did, if she had the time she might as well use it. "I'll try to make it by seven, and if I can't, I'll call you." The last thing she wanted to do was keep her waiting.
Handing over the address, she had to wonder what the lawyer would think of her home. It was different than most of the city housing, but she'd have to wait to find out. The corner of her mouth drew up as she nodded. "Yeah, of course." She wanted to give her all the time she needed, "That sounds perfect."
And she dared to step a little closer, closing the distance that had been early created only to lift a palm to Teddy's cheek. Lightly, she kissed her, savoring the connection before she would inevitably have to leave. "I look forward to it."
A small kiss - however light - wasn't something shared in this space. To follow through with the thought was surprising, especially since she wasn't the one starting such an intoxicating action. As much as she wanted to linger in the contact, it was gone all too suddenly, replaced by a set of words that made the rest of her day seem brighter. Having something to look forward to definitely helped.
Easing back, she looked at her with a sense of gratitude for the fact that she was so willing to breach the distance between them. "I could follow you down to the ground floor, if you like." Given their history with elevators, she had to wear something of a humoured smile at the thought.
Distance was never wanted, but necessary given where they were and the fact that there was still much for the lawyer to do in that day. She caught a look from Teddy that kept her smiling, and it found humor at the offer made to share the elevator down. "I'd like that." She replied easily, looping an arm into hers.
And she was already leading them towards the door, in part because she knew if she stayed much longer she wouldn't be able find the strength to leave.
With an agreement made and an arm looped around her own, Teddy pulled the door open and allowed her to walk out first. It was important to start taking those steps away; her phone was likely bound to ring the second people knew she was free, and it was good to get back to work as quickly as possible.
Reaching out, she pressed the button for the elevator, noting how it was all the way at the ground floor. With time on her side, she looked to Natalie again. "So how many of your family members will I be meeting tonight?" She asked. She knew Natalie had pets, but she didn't know how many.
