“Josh?” Toby called, shuffling into his office.

“What do you need my friend?”

“For you not to call me your friend would be a start,” Toby grumbled.

“My, my, and you seemed in such a good mood this morning,” Josh teased, tossing files onto the floor. “DONNA!”

Donna appeared at the door a few seconds later. “Don’t shout, bellow, yell or generally raise your voice,” she said. Without missing a beat, she turned to Toby, “Nice tie.”

“Really?” he asked, a little skeptical.

“Yeah. Very modern.”

Josh raised his eyes from the desk and pretended to study Toby‘s tie. “Actually that is a nice tie. Who is she?” he asked, a wicked grin on his face.

Toby rolled his eyes and wondered how long it would be before the ridicule really took off.

“Oh, so we’re being coy about it,” Josh teased. “She must be special.”

Toby threw his hands in the air and walked off. Yeah, she was special. Or rather, she had the potential to be special, or at least interesting. He made it as far as the Lobby before his insecurities once more dislodged themselves.

“Ed? Larry?” he said, effectively halting the two staffers passage through the Lobby.

“Yeah,” they answered in chorus.

Toby shuffled and stuck his hands in his pocket. “Is this tie alright?”

Ed and Larry exchanged indecipherable looks. “Um, yeah, it’s fine,” they offered, hesitantly.

“Well that was a vote of confidence,” Toby growled, stalking back to his office.

*******

Toby arrived at Margaret’s desk two minutes early to find her computer switched off and her nowhere in sight. He stood there for a few minutes before knocking on Leo’s door.

Leo looked up from his pile of briefing papers “Yeah?”

“I’m looking for Margaret,” Toby muttered, his fingers playing with his tie.

Leo grinned, then just as quickly it disappeared. “She went to get changed. She won’t be long. Come in, shut the door.”

Toby took a step back. “It’s okay. I’ll wait out here.”

“Toby. Come in and shut the door,” Leo said, sternly fixing the other man with a glare.

Toby sighed deeply as he shuffled into the room and did as he was told.

Leo removed his glasses and leaned forward in his seat. “Now, as you know. Margaret is like a daughter to me.”

Toby’s groan was audible.

“And I would hate for her to get hurt,” Leo continued as if nothing had happened. “I would be grateful if you would take care of her.”

Toby lowered his eyes and stared at the carpet as if it was the most fascinating thing he had ever seen. “Leo?”

“Margaret went home at lunch and came back with three outfits.”

Toby looked up suddenly. “Really?”

Leo nodded, his lips upturning on their own accord. “Nice tie, by the way. You weren’t wearing that earlier, were you?”

“You are having far too much fun with this,” Toby grumbled.

“Yeah, well now that Mallory doesn’t bring her boyfriends home, I miss out.”

“Did she ever?” Toby asked under his breath.

Leo was about to ask him what he was mumbling about, when a knock at the door interrupted them.

Toby opened the door and rubbed his beard.

Margaret stared back at him and flushed pink, well actually it was more like crimson. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Toby mumbled.

“Well, you kids run along and have fun,” Leo teased as they continued to stare at each other silently. “Try to be home by ten.”

Margaret shot him a look, that bordered on CJ’s famous death glare. “Keep your hands off my desk. If there’s anything you need for the morning, leave a note on my keyboard.” She turned back to Toby. “Shall we go?”

Toby nodded and followed her out into the outer office. He waited as she picked up her purse then led her out of the building towards his car. Opening the passenger door, he helped her inside.

“You look very nice, Margaret,” he complimented and then chided himself at how stupid that sounded.

Margaret’s blush and her mumbled thank you were enough to make him think she hadn’t noticed.

He circled the car and climbed in beside her. “I booked a table for eight. In case something comes up at least we’ll get to eat.”

“Or, if you want to escape early,” she added, glancing at him.

“You’ll probably want rid of me by then,” he corrected, turning and giving her one of his rare smiles.

“And what if I want to take you home and jump you?” she asked dryly, her confidence restored by his obvious nervousness.

She was rewarded by him blushing and gripping the steering wheel.

Margaret smirked and settled back in her seat to enjoy the rest of the ride.

After a few seconds Toby stole a sideways glance at her. He had been wrong when he said she looked very nice, stunning would have been a better word. Her hair had been pulled back and fastened at the back of her head, giving him a full view of her long neck. He swallowed as he followed her neck and his eyes wandered to the neckline of her green dress.

“Toby, you’re staring,” Margaret chided. “I don’t mind, but we’re going to hit something if you don’t watch the road.”

Toby grimaced and turned back to the road. He was grateful when four blocks later they pulled up outside the Jefferson Hotel. Parking up, he released his seatbelt and turned to look at her again.

Margaret smirked again as she uncrossed her legs and the sarong style skirt slipped across her leg to reveal a glimpse of her thigh. “Think First Base, Toby,” Margaret deadpanned, giggling as he blushed furiously.

He was inept, he decided. His first date in forever and he was ogling her. And Leo’s voice wouldn’t leave his head.

Toby drummed his fingertips on his forehead as he debated what to say.

“Why don’t we go inside,” Margaret suggested. “I’ve never been here before.”

Toby climbed out of the car, taking short deep breaths as he walked around to open the door for her. “I was wrong earlier,” Toby growled.

“Oh?” Margaret asked, confused.

“You’re stunning.” He smiled as she lowered her face. Some of his self assurance was coming back to him now. And, at least while they were in public, he would have to behave himself.

“This is beautiful,” Margaret gasped, taking in the decor. Her eyes rested on the fine works of art on the walls and the green loveseats.

Toby followed her gaze, and saw everything through her eyes. He had to admit he’d been there before on business, always too wrapped up in whatever he was trying to win to pay much attention to anything else. “Yes, it is,” he agreed.

Something in his voice made Margaret’s head snap around and she was surprised by what she found. The usually gruff Communications Director looked wistful and even a touch in awe. She liked the sparkle in his eyes, and it was then that she realized his hand was still resting on the small of her back.

Margaret swallowed and said the first thing that came to mind. “I hope you haven’t got ulterior motives for bringing me to a hotel.”

Toby went wide eyed as he turned to face her. “Margaret!”

She shrugged and gave him a coy smile. “Now I’m disappointed.” Quickly, she started walking. “We should go through.”

Toby followed a step behind her, wondering exactly when it was he started to think about her in a sexual way.

The maitre de guided them to a table in the snug, effectively giving them privacy from everyone else in the restaurant. Promising them a waiter would be over to take their drinks order, he disappeared again.

“I didn’t arrange this,” Toby confided.

“I somehow didn’t think you did.” Margaret scanned the menu for a few seconds before lowering it to the table. “Look, I need to explain. . .,” Margaret started.

Toby’s face fell. She was going to tell him she was seeing someone or that she hadn’t been serious about going out on a date with him.

A waiter appeared beside the table and Margaret ordered a glass of house wine, while Toby ordered a scotch.

Margaret waited until they were alone again before she said, “I didn’t mean to force you into taking me out. I was kidding around. I never expected you to. . .”

“So you didn’t want to come?” Toby asked, his voice filled with dismay.

“No, I did want to come,” she whispered, looking up at him.

Toby let out a sigh in relief. “That’s good because I wanted to take you out.”

They lapsed again into silence. Then Margaret asked, “So what do you recommend?”

“I’m having the seared Gulf shrimp with warm beet vinaigrette and roasted garlic mashed potatoes, followed by the mushroom-crusted Chilean sea bass with a smoked tomato coulis, ricotta gnocchis and wilted pea shoots.” Toby licked his lips. “But, if you want something lighter, I’m sure they do salads and such.”

“Not a salad man, eh, Toby?” Margaret teased.

He grinned at her and bit back the retort that rested on the tip of his tongue.

Margaret laughed as she imagined what was running through his head. “Okay so I’ll go with the warm scallop salad, then I’ll join you in the sea bass.”

For the next few minutes they were interrupted by waiters bringing drinks and taking their orders. Finally alone again, Toby found himself bringing the conversation around to her.

Margaret shook him off at first, but eventually began to tell him about her family, her college experience and her first days with Leo.

Toby leaned over the table, swirling his drink in his hand as he listened carefully to what she was saying. He found himself laughing as she made jokes at her own expense and his heart pounded in his chest as she talked about her loser ex-boyfriends.

Once the appetizers were eaten and removed, Margaret turned the tables on him and discovered he wasn’t who she thought he was. He was in fact, just as reserved and lonely as she was. The gruff exterior disappeared as he talked of his nieces and nephews. And somewhere in the midst of the conversation, she realized she didn’t want this to be their only date.

“Okay,” Margaret mumbled, when she realized he had stopped talking and was staring at her. “Your first impressions of me.”

“Of you?” he repeated, dropping his folk to his plate and stammering. “I. . . Um. . .well . . .”

“That bad eh?”

“I honestly don’t remember,” he said sheepishly. “I knew you were Leo’s assistant and when you were telling him off it was better to leave the room, but that was about it.”

“Oh, the lasting impression was of a pre-menstrual bitch,” Margaret groaned, lifting her fork to her mouth.

“You spend far too much time with CJ, you know that?” he grumbled. His mouth twitched into a grin as he reached to take her hand. “You wore a red dress on election night and a blue velvet gown to the inauguration ball,” he said simply.

Margaret stared at their hands and he pulled away quickly.

“So, up for some dessert?” Toby asked, clearing his throat. He really needed to get out more, first he’s practically fawning over her, then he says the wrong thing, and now he’s making advances.

“What do you recommend?” she asked huskily, her fingers tracing the tablecloth where his hand had been.

“Coffee Crème Brulee.”

“I never pegged you for a dessert kinda man,” Margaret sighed.

Toby rubbed his beard. “There are lots of things you have yet to learn about me,” he muttered dryly.

Margaret glanced around the room, hoping he would give her the chance. “You still wanna go dancing?” she asked, quietly after a few minutes of silence.

“Don’t you?” he replied, inwardly groaning at how pathetic his voice sounded.

“I’m ready to dance all night.” Her voice was wistful and she meant it. She could happily spend the night dancing with Toby.

“In that case we’d better order dessert and move on.” Toby motioned the waiter over and ordered a dessert and two coffees.

The Crème Brulee arrived with two spoons and Margaret grinned. She pushed one towards him as she cracked the topping and lifted the spoon to her mouth. It tasted divine, and when she opened her eyes, Toby was watching her. Without asking, Margaret dipped the spoon and pushed it towards Toby’s lips.

He opened his mouth and took the proffered dessert.

“You’re right, it is good,” Margaret agreed, feeding him between her own mouthfuls.

The meal finally over, there followed a moment of awkwardness when the bill arrived and she wanted to pay half. Toby placated her by promising next time she could pick the restaurant and she would pay. He was relieved when she seemed to accept they would go out again. The fact he would never let her pay, was an unspoken rule.

The only sound in the car as they drove to the club was a tape CJ had made him years ago. Margaret had been humming along and finally Toby turned up the volume so she could actually sing. He loved her voice, even when she sang out of tune.

Fifteen minutes later, he was guiding her into a small, intimate club. Soft strands of jazz emanated from the band on the stage and everyone was moving to the music.

“Drink or dance?” Toby whispered, leaning in and catching the scent of lily of the valley. He breathed deeply against her ear and she shivered.

“Dance,” she replied, turning around to face him and finding herself nose to nose with him.

They looked at each other hesitantly for a second and it was Toby that moved away first. He placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her through the crowded dance floor until he found a vacant space. He reached for her hand and waited as she rested her fingers on his shoulder. They swayed to the music, moving in circles in their own little space.

The music changed and “I Get a Kick Out of You“ started playing.

Margaret began to sing along, her fingers travelling across his shoulder and to the curls at the base of his neck.

Toby sighed as she threaded her fingers in his hair. He couldn’t quite place what was happening, or why she was having such an effect on him, but suddenly baseball didn’t seem quite so important.

Margaret lowered her head to his shoulder and closed her eyes. She knew her imagination was running away with her and he was being nice, but she couldn’t shrug the thought he liked her.

“Thanks for tonight,” Margaret mumbled against his shoulder, losing herself in the feel of him.

Toby smiled and slipped his hand tighter around her waist before twirling them around the dance floor.

One dance seemed to become ten as he held her against his chest and moved around the dance floor. She hadn’t said a word in an hour.

Toby ran his fingers up her back and whispered her name.

Margaret lifted her head.

“I thought maybe I’d sent you to sleep,” he only half jokingly said.

“Nope, still awake. What time is it?”

Toby glanced at his watch and grinned beneath his beard. “Well, we’ve missed the curfew.”

******

“Well, it’s late and you have to work tomorrow,” Toby said. He rocked back and forth on his heels as he waited for her to say something.

“And you have a flight to catch.” Margaret wasn’t sure whether she should invite him in, not after her comments earlier. And he had been a perfect gentleman all night, damn him. After they left the club he had driven her home and walked her to her apartment. Now they stood in the doorway.

“So I should be going,” Toby acknowledged, still standing on the threshold to her apartment.

“And I’ll see you on Monday,” Margaret whispered.

“Seven thirty sharp,” he said, sticking his hands in his pocket.

Margaret watched him, fighting something and she couldn’t help but grin. Finally when it looked like he might stand there all night, she raised herself up on tiptoes and brushed her lips across his cheek.

Toby’s eyes widened as she pulled back.

Margaret shrugged at his surprise. “I promised you first base,” she offered with a grin.

“You also mentioned something about jumping me,“ he growled, with a completely straight face just before he walked away.

She wasn’t sure who was smiling the most, him or her, but she distinctly heard him whistling as he went down the corridor.

The End