Chapter One:
"Castle, I'm afraid you're going to strike out again today," Kate Beckett sounded slightly exasperated as she maneuvered the squad car through the treacherous New York morning traffic. He just wouldn't give up! Since their Forbidden Planet outing last month, she had been privately struggling to resolve her feelings for Castle, even ending her relationship with Josh.
But since finding out about Josh's demise, Rick Castle had been relentless in his attempts to get her go out on a date with him. This morning's drive to their latest murder investigation was no exception. Ignoring Kate's latest comment, he continued his long-winded dissertation, detailing all of the possible places they could go on their first date if Kate would just agree.
"If you're worried about being spotted with me, I have it covered. I know a little Italian place in the Tribecca where the paparazzi would never think of looking for me."
Kate glanced sideways at him and rolled her eyes. "Since we travel all over town working on cases, I don't think that the fear of being seen with you is what's stopping me," she replied dryly.
Castle was once again oblivious to her sarcasm. "Well, we could always keep it simple, like a picnic in Central Park. Although it's only late April and is still a little cold." His voice trailed off as he looked out the window, deep in thought.
"Castle, do we have to talk about this now? I haven't even finished my fist cup of coffee." Kate was joking, and she knew he wasn't going to stop pleading with her to go on a date him. She also secretly loved hearing him ramble on about 'what could be' between them. Authors really do have imaginations!
"I know!" he turned toward her, snapping his fingers in the air and almost causing Kate to wreck into the curb while pulling up to the crime scene.
"Castle, you're going to have to save it for later. We have a dead body waiting for us."
"No wait, this is perfect." Castle pleaded excitedly. "You want to be impressed, right? Payback for all of the grief you've had to put up with for over two years. I get it. Sooo - wait for it - I rent a leer jet and we fly to St. Bart's." He lowered his voice, "Letterman has a place there, you know." She rolled her eyes again.
He moved his eyebrows up and down and tried to look as suave and sexy as he could at her. "Think private beach, strong mojitos and maybe some nude sunbathing?"
Kate was briefly caught off guard. "He would really fly me to St. Bart's for a first date?" She was flattered, but quickly recovered herself.
"No leer jets, Castle." Her voice was firm as she opened the door, not daring to look at him.
"What, you want to fly commercial?" he deadpanned.
"No, I insist on staying within the city limits with you, where I have people. In case you get naughty." Kate couldn't' help laughing as she hopped out of the car.
"Did I just hear you correctly?" Castle came up to face her on the noisy New York sidewalk. "Is that a roundabout way of saying yes, Detective Beckett?"
Kate looked down and sighed deeply. Should she finally just give in? She was shocked at what came out of her mouth next.
"Fine, Castle. If it will get you to stop pestering me once and for all, I will go on ONE date."
His face brightened like a five year old on Christmas morning. "You mean that?" His mood darkened slightly. "Because if you're joking, Beckett, that's beyond cruel and unusual punishment…"
"One date." She repeated sternly. "But there are rules, Mr. Castle."
"Rules? Beckett, you know I don't do well with rules…"
She glared menacingly at him.
"OK, OK," he surrendered, putting up the palms of his hands. "What are these rules? Besides no leer jets, I mean."
"First," Beckett tried to keep her voice firm, as if she was lecturing a naughty nine year-old, which in essence she was. "This is a one date only deal. I decide afterwards if there will be a second date. And that will be based on how well you followed my rules."
Castle silently nodded his head, shrugging his shoulders to indicate he could comply.
"Next, absolutely no mixing dating and working. Well, you aren't really working, but you know what I mean. No bringing our personal business into the precinct."
"I can handle that. "He beamed happily and instinctively moved closer to her.
"I'm not done." She put her hand on his chest to stop him while continuing to recite her list. "Next, no public displays of affection at work; that means no goo-goo eyes across my desk, no trying to hold my hand in the squad car, no sexual innuendos at the murder board. Well, no more than your usual."
Castle simply stood there, gulping for air and nodding his head obediently, still in disbelief that she had actually agreed to one date.
Kate paused and then added, "Oh, absolutely no joking around about this with Ryan and Esposito. You got that, Castle? I mean nada!"
"I understand, your honor," he said in mock seriousness. Her face quickly registered annoyance.
"Really! I promise, Kate, I'll be on my best behavior, fake Scout's honor. You won't regret this. I'm going to make this so worth your while. You're about to be wined and dined by one of New York's finest…"
She shook her head and sauntered towards the crime scene in the distance, leaving him standing next to the car, babbling elatedly. Kate was surprised at how easily she had come up with that list - had she subconsciously been working out the parameters of dating Castle?
A final condition suddenly popped into Kate's head and she yelled back over her shoulder, "Castle? One more rule. First date is first base only. Try anything else and I will really break your legs!"
In the space of a few seconds Castle's face went from puzzled to pouting, finally ending in a look of sheer delight.
"Beckett, wait!" he yelled excitedly as he ran wide-eyed up the street, attempting to catch up to her, "You mean I really get to go to first base?"
She kept walking, refusing to acknowledge his question. What Castle couldn't see was that Kate's smile was actually wider than his.