Chapter Text
She’s at her desk, dutifully skimming through emails, though anyone with half a brain could tell she’s really just biding her time until he shows up. And right on cue, in he walks—sunny grin in place, balancing that beloved pink box on one hand like a showy waiter, his training jacket slung over his arm. With the other, he gives the doorframe a soft knock, all charm and mischief written on his face.
Lately, it’s become a bit of a ritual: him pulling out every trick to coax a proper, belly-deep laugh from her the moment he steps inside her office in the morning.
She’s so used to it now, it’s like the biscuits wouldn’t be half as good without him there, filling her office with that easy warmth of his. And her laugh? The one he draws out of her so easily? It feels like the pick-me-up he craves, sweeter than any coffee—even the cold bottled ones she keeps stashed for him that barely taste like coffee at all. And she must admit, it’s become her favorite part of the day to give him that little bit of joy, to partake in it.
“Delivery for one dashing boss lady! One box of biscuits with a side of my very best effort to brighten your day!” he drawls, sauntering over, the same usual twinkle in his eye.
Rebecca glances up—like she hasn’t been waiting for this moment all morning—though the giggle slipping out and smile she doesn’t bother hiding surely give her away.
Get a grip, she tells herself. You’re not some schoolgirl with a crush for fuck's sake.
“Think your effort’s as good as the biscuits?” she teases, the words slipping out naturally, like banter’s become her default setting—because it has, hasn’t it? Funny, really. Who’d have guessed the so-called ice queen who hired him would grow so fond of him? Fond enough that all she can think about now is how that damn mustache might feel…everywhere.
Ted grins as he sets the box down, opening it with a little flourish and a cheeky eyebrow wiggle that gets a throaty laugh out of her. Rebecca picks up a biscuit, breaks it in half, and savors the first bite, a satisfied moan slipping out as the buttery, sugary crumbs melt on her tongue. Ted stands by, hands on his hips, looking at her like he’s waiting for her official verdict.
“Still absolutely fucking delicious,” she mumbles through the deliciousness.
“Phew. Can’t have a biscuit scandal on my hands.”
She takes another bite, as if to reassure him she loves his biscuits to bits, a louder moan passing her lips this time. Ted watches, looking as pleased as punch, his gaze as warm and fond as it always is when it finds her. He fidgets, drumming his fingers lightly on the edge of her desk before stopping, like he’s caught himself. He momentarily frowns, a fleeting thing, before settling into the chair in front of her.
“You know, I’ve been thinkin’…”
Rebecca raises an eyebrow, mid-chew. “Dangerous pastime, that,” she quips, not even bothering to cover her mouth—knowing full well how much he enjoys seeing her comfortable enough to just be herself, and eat when there are people around.
“Ain’t it just? But this time, there’s a good reason.” He shifts, rubbing the back of his neck. “See, I booked an early dinner tomorrow night before the gala—kinda fancy, maybe some candlelight, good food, the works. And I got to thinkin’, ‘Who’s the most brilliant, downright dazzling person I know who might need a little break before shindig?’ Turns out, she’s sittin’ right here, munchin’ on one of my biscuits.”
He stops, watching her like he’s waiting for something, and though she’s usually great at cutting through his rambling, right now she’s...
“You—Rebecca—you popped right into my noggin. Been poppin’ in for a while now. And, well... yeah.”
Rebecca blinks, caught completely off guard. Is he… is he actually asking her out?
They’d already planned to go to the gala together, even picked out his tie to match her dress. She’d figured she’d ask him to dance, maybe steal a kiss at the end of the night—get a do-over on the rickshaw. But he's... He...
“Are you… asking me out on a date?” she blurts, cutting him off mid-ramble.
Ted pauses, a sheepish grin on his face. “Well, that kinda depends. If you say yes, then yep, it’s definitely a date. But if you say no… I’ll just call it a strategic team-building dinner. Completely professional, of course.”
She laughs—a warm, genuine sound—and Ted’s face lights up like she’s just handed him the best news of the day.
“Strategic team-building, hmm?” she teases.
He gives a playful shrug, smiles a little hopeful, but a little tentative. “If that’s what you want it to be.”
Rebecca smirks. “I’m pulling your leg, Ted.”
His shoulders relax with a sigh of relief. “So… that a yes to the date?”
“It’s a fuck yes!”
Ted’s grin stretches so wide it looks like it’s reaching from one ear to the other.
“Well, shoot, that just made my day. Or my week. Heck, my month!”
Without warning, he jumps up and does that ridiculous little dance she’s come to associate with him–the very dance that convinced her to enlist him in the most outlandish scheme. His arms flail, his feet shuffle, and it’s as if his joy is just too big to keep bottled up.
She considers joining him for a moment, but instead, she stays put, watching with a smile. She doesn’t need to dance to feel the happiness buzzing through the room. Watching him be this unfiltered, this carefree, this happy, is more than enough.
One day, she’ll join him and embrace her own silliness. But for now… this is more than enough.
“This reminds me why I hired you,” she murmurs, and he catches it immediately, halting mid-step.
“You thought I looked silly, didn’t ya?”
“No. I actually quite liked it. Maybe I knew I wouldn’t be able to pull off being the cold-hearted bitch I aimed to be with you around. Who knows?”
“Stop it. You were never that. Not even then.”
He looks at her with that unbearably affectionate gaze, as if he can see straight through her—like he understands the pain she’s carried, the scars she’s hidden from most people. Deep down, she thinks he knows her heart is good, even if she doubts it herself sometimes.
When she clears her throat, he straightens up and settles back in his seat, his expression softening as he looks at her with something akin to awe. “I’m real glad you hired me, y’know,” he says quietly. “You changed my life. I never thought I’d get to be this... happy…”
She meets his gaze, and for a moment, she doesn’t just see the man who’s always stood by her—she sees someone who truly sees her, in a way no one else ever has. And for once, she feels like maybe she’s worthy of that warmth in his eyes.
There’s something caught in her throat, and the words won’t come out, no matter how hard she tries to sort through the jumble of emotions. She hates leaving him hanging, though.
As if sensing it, he starts talking. “Sorry about all that by the way, Boss. My Pops always said I should dance it out when I get overexcited. To be fair, Michelle didn’t like it too much… So if you want me to knock it off, just say the word. But, I don’t know, I kinda think you don’t mind so much. You get me, and I–”
She knows she has to stop him before he starts apologizing for being so ridiculously happy about her agreeing to a date. She slides her hand onto the desk, palm up, waiting for him to catch on. Ted glances down at it, a flicker of realization crossing his face. His words fade suddenly as their palms meet, and his mind seems to short-circuit for a second when their fingers entwine.
“I lo— like every part of you, even the dancing bit before I’ve had my tea. Who cares if others didn’t see your worth? The important thing is, I do...” She pauses, suddenly worried she’s said too much, opened her heart far too wide. But then again, it’s Ted. If anyone’s going to be gentle with her heart, it’s him. “I’ll give you this, Ted—takes a lot of courage to ask me out when I was just about to work up the nerve to do the same.”
Ted blinks, and she spots a flush creeping up to the tips of his ears. “I appreciate that, Rebecca.”
Rebecca leans back, waiting for other words to echo around in that brain of his. She folds her arms with a smug little smirk, enjoying the way he’s squirming in his seat just a bit already.
Then it hits him. “Wait—you were gonna ask me?” His brow furrows in confusion, like he’s only finally caught the most important part of her sentence.
“Maybe. But you beat me to it, didn’t you?”
“Well, here’s the thing,” he begins, voice warm, “this morning, I figured, life’s too short, and biscuits are too sweet to let a good moment pass by. Also… I overheard you telling Keeley you were ready to get back out there, so…” He pauses, lips curving into a half-smile, the sort a kid wears when caught red-handed sneaking a biscuit from the biscuit tin. “Guess I should’ve asked sooner, huh? But hey… uh… how were you gonna do it?”
“I was talking about you that day, just to be clear,” she says softly, her voice dipping low. “And I was planning to ask you to dance. At the gala. Then get a do-over on the rickshaw...” She holds his gaze before she continues. “And no, Ted—you couldn’t have missed your shot. I’d have made very sure you didn’t.”
He chuckles softly. “Well, now I feel like the luckiest fella alive… and maybe just a smidge less brave.”
They look at each other, then at each other’s lips, the silence thick with delicious, unspoken words, almost humming with possibility.
“Well, how about that?” Ted murmurs, his tone soft, laced with wonder.
“I feel like we’d have gotten there eventually.”
“Sure seems like it, Boss.” His eyes flicker back to hers. “Though I gotta admit, I like the route we took.”
“Even with the detours?” she asks, a teasing lilt in her voice.
“Especially with the detours,” he replies, adding what she suspects is his best attempt at a wink.
She laughs, light and genuine, the kind of laugh only he seems to coax from her. His expression softens further, eyes crinkling, dimple deepening, a hint of smugness tugging at the corners—like making her laugh had been his goal all along, and he’d just hit the mark.
“Tomorrow night, then,” she says, her voice breaking the spell between them. “And don’t forget—it’s a date, Coach.”
“Believe me, Boss, that’s the part I’m least likely to forget,” he replies with a grin, shooting her a playful eyebrow wiggle. “I’ll be thinkin’ about it until then, no doubt.”
“Me too, Ted. Might even dream about it.”
“Oh... If I happen to wander into your dreams, make sure to remind dream-me to tell you you’re beautiful. Sometimes, dream-me’s a bit thick-headed—bless his heart.”
That, right there, gets a blush warming her cheeks. She looks down, but not quickly enough to hide the smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you, Ted.”
He leans in slightly, his voice soft and warm, dripping slow and sweet like melted honey. “Between you and me though, I’m hopin’ real-me gets there first.”
Rebecca feels her face flush a deeper shade of red, heat blooming across her cheeks.
“Would you look at me for a sec, R’becca?”
She lifts her eyes to his, something nervous fluttering about in her chest and stomach.
He holds her gaze, his smile gentle, steady, sure. “You are so beautiful.” It’s simple, unpolished, but it hangs there between them, honest and real.
“Back to being brave again, are we?” she teases. “Thank you, Ted.”
“Just telling it like it is,” he replies, the sincerity in his tone unmistakable.
She lets the moment hang, then smiles, leaning in ever so slightly. “You’re very handsome, too. And I’m not saying it just because you said something first—I’m telling you because, quite frankly, you take my breath away.”
“Thank you kindly, sweetheart.”
The pet name slips out, easy and unthinking, like it’s been resting on the tip of his tongue, waiting for the right moment to slip free. He doesn’t seem to notice—until he does. His gaze flickers to her lips, and his tongue skims over his own, a small, unconscious gesture that sends her focus straight to his mouth.
If she let her instincts take over, she’d tell him to kiss her, right the fuck now. She’d want him to show her exactly how long he’s been thinking about it—because she sure as hell has been.
But Ted’s a gentleman. He’ll want to woo her first, take his time, probably say something sweet and heartfelt. It’s maddening… and endearing all at once.
She can’t believe it, really—wanting to be wooed, to take things slow with him. But something tells her this might be the last time she goes through all these firsts with someone. And if she gets just one taste, she knows it’ll never be enough. She’ll be hopelessly greedy for more of him.
His cheeks turn a deeper shade of red with every passing second, like he can hear every thought she’s thinking. But just as things feel more charged, Roy’s voice suddenly booms through the open window. “Oi! Gaffer! Time for fucking training! Don’t make me come and get you!”
“Gotta go. Apparently, our boys need me for practice,” he says, letting out a dramatic sigh, rolling his eyes, though there’s nothing but fondness in his tone as he talks about their boys. He gets to his feet and takes a few steps backward toward the door. “Still can’t believe I beat you to it.”
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” she quips. “I don’t usually appreciate it when men get there too early, if you catch my drift.”
He backs toward the door, shooting her a cheeky smile, clearly catching her drift. But he’s so busy grinning that he doesn’t notice the coat tree by the door, and—thud—he bumps right into it, sending it wobbling precariously.
“Whoa! Sorry, sorry—got it!”
He lunges to catch it, but the coat tree teeters and topples over with a soft whump, her coat crumpling in a heap beside it. Ted freezes, wide-eyed, staring at the fallen tree and her coat in a puddle they both might suddenly come to life and lecture him.
Rebecca jumps from her seat, hurrying over, her laughter hard to contain. He stands there, so wide-eyed and sheepish, looking so guilty it’s almost endearing.
Her lips twitch as she bites down on them, but the moment their eyes meet over the sprawled tree, a giggle slips out. “Oh, sorry…” she says quickly, though she can hear the amusement dancing in her voice. To her relief though, he chuckles, too, but after a beat, she asks, “Are you alright?”
“Yep, yep! Right as rain. Just thought I’d give my reflexes a little workout. Spoiler alert—they’re on holiday.”
He bends to lift the tree, fumbling a bit as he awkwardly rights it, then steps back toward the door. But in his flustered state, he misjudges the exit entirely and walks straight into the doorframe with a soft thunk.
“Oh, boy. Yep, that’s solid wood,” he mutters, wincing as he rubs his arm, as if trying to convince himself he’s perfectly fine.
Rebecca bursts into laughter, the sound bubbling out before she can stop it. She’d never want him hurt, of course, but the sheer fluster on his face—equal parts sheepish and bewildered—makes it impossible not to find it utterly hilarious.
“Are you sure you’re all right? You’ve gone and flustered yourself into near disaster.”
“What can I say, Boss? You’ve got this way of makin’ a guy forget how to walk without wobblin’ like a baby deer.”
She steps in close, steadying him with a firm grip on his upper arms. “Oh, is that so? Let’s hope you remember how to stand on your own when I walk away, dear.”
If he can throw pet names her way, she can return the favor. Two can play at this game. And besides, he’s always been a sucker for puns. He’ll surely love this one.
He lets out a quiet chuckle. “I see what you did there, miss ma’am!” Then, he slows, his gaze locking with hers as his hand gently cups her cheek, thumb drifting slowly over her cheekbone. “Anyhoo, if I play my cards right—after all the wooin’, courtin’, and even showing off my best slow-dancing moves—who’s to say I won’t be invited back to yours? And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be the one walking a bit funny afterward. No assumptions, of course, but I promise, I’ll take real good care of you.”
“Ted!” she shrieks, though it’s mostly surprise rather than shock.
"Aw, I know!" He pulls back quickly, retracting his hand as he tries to put some distance between them, but she catches his wrist. “That was awful! I’m sorry—I’m way outta practice. Haven’t flirted with anyone in ages.”
“No, not awful,” she says, pausing and considering it. “Not ideal, but not awful. But I really can’t spend all day thinking about you like that, and I’m in something very grey and pale—don’t want to go soaking it all up with thoughts of you owning up to your promise... It’ll show, and I’ve shareholder meetings this afternoon.” She gently places a hand on his chest, then presses a soft kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you later, Coach... And maybe we could have a rehearsal date tonight if tomorrow feels too far off.”
He closes his eyes, a blush creeping up his neck. His hand covers the spot where she kissed him, the other resting gently on hers on his chest. “Yeah, uh… I... I’ll be pickin’ your lovely self up as soon as the day’s over, then.” He smiles, a little shy, but the warmth in his voice says everything. “Looking forward to it.”
Rebecca smiles and leans in, pressing a soft kiss to his other cheek. She lingers there, close enough to feel the warmth between them, the sheer electricity that seems to be passing through both of them, her breath almost close enough to mingle with his. His hands find their way to her waist, gentle but sure, holding her like he’s afraid to let go.
“For fuck’s sake, mustache man! Beard’s making those fucking noises again. Get your fucking arse out here!” Roy shouts, his words booming through the crack in the window, and Ted reluctantly gestures that he has to go. It’s clear he doesn’t want to be anywhere else but right here with her, so she decides to help him be okay with leaving.
“Go,” she says softly, her hand brushing the back of his. “I’ll see you at the end of the day.”
“Yeah… So, uh… Don’t miss me too much while I’m down there, ‘kay?”
“If you find yourself missing me, just look up. I might soak up the rare English sun a bit this afternoon.” She smiles, hoping he understands it’s her way of saying she’ll be looking at him down there, especially since it’s obviously drizzling, and it will be all day.
“How ‘bout I leave my jacket here, just in case?”
She turns around as he reaches for it, the jacket draped over the arm of his chair. “Oh... Could you help me put it on actually? I’m feeling a bit chilly.”
“I can close that window for ya, if you want.”
“No!” she says quickly, way too quickly. “I want it open. I enjoy hearing our boys training.”
“Got it,” he drawls, a knowing grin tugging at his lips. He drapes the jacket over her shoulders, gently turning her so he can take her in fully. His gaze softens. Pure admiration stares back at her. “Holy heck... Wow.”
Rebecca smiles, trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. “Thank you.”
“Don’t hide from it,” he says softly. “You’re a stunning woman, Rebecca. I’ve always thought so.” He turns to leave, his kind words lingering in the air, but she stops him.
“Wait,” she says. “Won’t you be cold down there without it?”
He glances back with a small smile. “Nah, I’m good. You’ve already done your part in keepin’ this fella warm... but I got a spare downstairs, just in case.”
He heads out, and she instantly misses him as she hears him make his way down the stairs, glancing at her watch, already counting down the hours until the end of the day.
Rebecca walks back to her desk, sits down, grins to herself, and mutters, “He’s such a dork... but he’s my dork now.”