It was karaoke night at the Old Haunt and the place was packed. All the regulars were there. Word had spread that the owner had gone all out, providing props,special lighting along with a fog machine. Soon it had become a regular Wednesday night hangout for the local college kids.
The waitresses had to shout their orders to Brian and the other bartenders because the place was so noisy.
The whole gang was there,everyone but Kate,sitting in Castle's reserved circular shaped booth. Ryan and Jenny were snuggled together in the middle, Lanie and Espo sitting close enough their shoulders were touching, like they were fooling anybody.
Castle sat alone opposite them, checking his phone once again. Still no texts.
Espo leaned across the booth,empathy on his face,knowing his friend and where his writer's mind would go.
"Don't worry bro, she'll be here, she was finishing up paperwork when I left." He shrugged, saying "You know Beckett,desk has to be perfect before she leaves."
They all laughed just as Castle's phone pinged with a new message. Be there in 20. "Finally."He muttered.
"Yo bro,what's got you all worked up tonight?"asked Espo.
"Nothing" He sighed."It's just….well,we had this thing planned and now somebody's taken our spot."
"Oh really?" asked Lanie,putting her arm on her hip wondering why her girl hadn't shared this little tidbit of information with her.
"Yeah." He answered,"We were going to do Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe."
"You know,Rick,somehow I can see you pulling off that long black wig." Jenny said then slapped her hand over her mouth.
"Ok honey,I think you've had too many Pink Lady's."Ryan groaned reaching for her glass.
"Wasn't the wig I was worried about." mumbled Castle."It was that damn crop top, bellbottom pants and white go-go boots she wanted me to wear."
Unfortunately for Ryan,Espo had just taken a sip of his beer as Castle uttered those words.
"Dude" Ryan yelled from across the table,wiping his face with his napkin.
"Care to elaborate Writerboy?" asked Lanie.
"Lets just say I was in a compromised situation and leave it at that."Castle replied cryptically.
Then the D.J. Mateo,Espos younger cousin,hopped onto the stage,microphone in hand."Ladies and Gentleman, next we have Miss Lola Black singing "Whatever Lola wants,Lola gets."
The lights dimmed and a single golden spotlight hit center stage.
Kate entered like a siren enveloped in the mist,her hair pulled up in coiled chignon,loose tendrils escaping on each side of her face. She wore a tight black, off the shoulder dress, with a slit up the middle. It fell to the floor,pooling around her feet a red feather boa was draped over her shoulders reaching down to her waist.
Kate began to sing in a smokey, sexy voice. Then the fog machine started,adding to the allure of the song,the whispery ,sensuous call of the words.
The whole room fell silent.
She locks eyes with Castle as she slithered down exposing a matching red garter attached high up on her fishnet covered thighs.
Her right hand lifts,agonizingly slowly, dragging along her side till her finger reached her mouth. She bit down on the tip of her finger letting out a soft moan,before she stepped down off the stage,still singing, headed for a group of college age kids.
One of them tried to grab her, but she lifted up her finger shaking it no no no. Turning on her red stiletto heels she headed towards Castle, her eyes on him as she continues singing "I always get what I aim for and your heart and soul is what I came for..."
By the time she got to him the song was almost over. A fine bead of sweat had formed on his upper lip, his fingers twitching on the table.
He reached out to grab her. His one leg was angled out into the aisle, bouncing up and down so fast his whole body was shaking. Kate wrapped the boa around his neck, pulling him in towards her as she lowered herself onto his leg stilling it immediately. Their eyes met and everyone else in the room was forgotten.
Castle swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing as she leans in close, whispering in his ear,"Whatever Kate wants.." She growls, biting his earlobe before soothing it with her tongue .Kate gets."