Personal Assistant
summary: Natalie visits Jimmy late at night at the salon he lives in so he can paint her nails. While he paints them, they discuss future possibilities
word count: ~1.2k
author's note: Yeah I had to write about him again and post back to back. This man has a choke hold on me.
banner credit: cafekitsune
“Hey, hey, hey!” Natalie whipped her hand away and frowned at her nail, “You paint the nail, not the skin around the nail!”
Jimmy reached over the table and grabbed her hand back, giving her an apologetic look, “I’m sorry! I’m a lawyer, I never claimed to be a nail technician.”
“It’s a good thing you’re not! Your painting skills are terrible.” She hesitantly let him clean up her nail and repaint it, “You’re much better at talking your way in and out of situations that no one else would face but you, James.”
“I guess so,” He chuckled, “But hey, let me use you as my practice dummy. Maybe my actual calling is painting nails for pretty ladies.”
“Not if you do it like that!” She swatted his hand gently, “My goodness, it’s supposed to be smooth! You’re applying it too thick, it’ll get all tacky!”
Jimmy held his hands up in defeat, “I don’t know what I’m doing! Help me out here!”
“Well, maybe if you didn’t hold my hand like it was a dead fish would help?” Natalie peeled off the sticky layer of paint he had just applied and gave her hand back.
“You are certainly creative with your words.” He commented, taking her hand in his, “Here, is this better?”
She smiled at him, curling her fingers around his hand a little, “Much better. Maybe this is your dream job, after all!”
Jimmy’s lips curled into a small smirk, enjoying how her hand felt in his, “Thank you for being such a lovely teacher.” Once again, he tried to paint her nails smoothly. She was right, holding her hand a little tighter did help. He took note of his heart feeling a little funny as he held onto her, though. It felt jittery and excited, a feeling he wasn’t used to around anyone else. Jimmy would look up at her every few seconds or so, watching her face. She watched his painting intensely, grinning at him as she did so. He painted one nail and held it up to her, silently asking her if he did a good job.
Natalie pulled her hand away for a moment to study it, “Beautiful. Just perfect, James.”
He chuckled and shook his head, taking her hand back, “You’re still stuck on that whole ‘James’ thing? Even after I learned how to paint nails correctly for you?”
She giggled, “I just like saying your actual name. Is that so wrong?”
“Well, no,” Jimmy moved on to painting her other nails, “I’m just used to being called ‘Jimmy’, I guess. Everyone calls me that.”
“And I’m not everyone.” She took a sip of her drink, leaving a lipstick stain on the straw.
He looked up at her and smirked, “No, I guess you’re not.” He finished up working on one of her hands before reaching over to take the other. Her skin felt soft and it smelled faintly of peach scented lotion. It was oddly comforting and alluring to Jimmy. He didn’t know how else to explain it but her hand felt right in his. He looked at her nails and the color she picked, connecting its peachy pink to the scent of her lotion, “Why do you always pick anything related to peaches?”
Natalie shrugged, “I just like them, I guess. Why? Do you not think I’m cute as a peach?”
“Of course I do.” He accidentally said, choking on his words after he caught his mistake.
She giggled, blushing a bit, “Oh, now you’re just flattering me. Isn’t trying to solicit against the rules? I ought to report you, James.”
“Aww, but then who would paint your nails so well, hmm?”
“How about my usual technician here?” She asked, “But, I can’t say no to you. I guess I’ll let this slide, but you’re on thin ice.”
He finished her other hand and held it up to her, “You’re too kind, Nat, you know that?”
"Nothing but the best for my favorite lawyer." She beamed at her freshly painted nails, "Excellent work. They're just perfect."
"Looks like we have some time to kill while they dry, huh?" He rested his cheek in his hand, "So, how's working for Howard?"
"Terrible." Natalie said flatly, "He drives me up the goddamn wall with his fake smile and pretend positivity."
"Why stay then?" He questioned, "Why not work for me? I could use a secretary."
"Oh, yes, because you can afford to pay me, right?" She joked.
"I mean, not in the conventional way!" He laughed, "You can have all the cucumber water you want! Isn't that just as good as your paycheck at HHM?"
"Isn't that for customers only?" She cocked an eyebrow at him.
Jimmy shrugged, "You are a regular at this salon so they'd just assume that you'd be here for an appointment! I have it all worked out!"
Natalie sighed, "I wish, James. Maybe someday! But, for now, I'm stuck matching Howard's fake, toothy smile and pretending I care about what he did last weekend."
"Well, lucky for you, this Sandpiper case is going to be huge. I'm gonna win it, I know it!" He clasped his hands together excitedly, "Once that's over and I get paid, then will you be my own personal assistant?"
"I dunno…" She teased, "If you're a big hot shot lawyer, who's gonna paint my nails late at night when I'm bored?"
"Consider that a perk of your employment! Along with dental insurance, of course."
"That's a very promising offer…"
"Come on! You know you wanna." He encouraged, "You'd be happier with me!"
"You're right, I would be." Natalie sniggered, "But, for now, I'm stuck at HHM. Which I have to go to tomorrow, so I think this is where our wonderful night ends, James."
"No, it can't be over yet! What about your nails?" He asked, almost pleading.
"They're dry as a bone. You did a fantastic job. I'll have to let you paint them again very soon."
"What about your toes? I can paint them!" Jimmy offered, "Or I can offer you a drink! What do you say? Some gin and cucumber water sound good to you?"
"Maybe next time." She smiled, placing a hand on top of his, "I'm sorry, I have to go in early tomorrow. It's best if I go home."
He placed his other hand on hers, squeezing it gently, "Just half an hour more? Please? What if I offered to order us food, huh?"
"You're so sweet," She sighed, "I wish I could tonight."
"Tomorrow then?" He asked, hoping she would agree.
Natalie thought for a minute, "Well, I'd have to check my schedule but tomorrow should be okay."
Jimmy beamed, "Great! See you then! Um, hopefully, I mean!"
"Tell ya what," She stood up and grabbed her bag, "I'll pay for our take out tomorrow to make up for me leaving you alone tonight. Deal?"
"Deal."
"Deal." She repeated, "Sounds perfect. Goodnight, James. I'll see you tomorrow, hopefully. Probably. I'll call you when I get home, okay?"
"Promise?"
"Pinky swear." Natalie turned and left, her heels quietly clicking against the tile floor. She faced him one last time to wave goodbye and then left. Jimmy watched her leave and rubbed his face. He could smell her lotion on his hand. It made him smile a little to himself. He couldn't wait to call his peach themed possibly future secretary as soon as she got home.
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