A/N: This idea came to me on Saturday, I swear it did.
"Just one for good luck," He whined, gripping the arms of the chair by her desk and hoisting it, and himself, closer to her. "First one of the day, set me up properly for the night...please."
She could tell from the underlying whine to his voice that his eyes, crystalline blue in the cheap fluorescent light of the precinct, would be pleading and damn near irresistible...and she really wanted to resist.
"I already told you, no!" Kate said keeping her eyes on the desk. Fingers flying over her keyboard, "And not here."
"But Kate it's..."
"It's Beckett...Castle." She hissed, her head snapping up so she could face him, "when we are here it's Beckett."
"It's Rick...Kate," He replied darkly. "Anytime, anyplace." And Castle watched her head lift a little more, eyes hooded with something extremely frustrating. "And this is really how you want to play it?"
She nodded, "As long as you plan on spending the night kissing other women you won't be kissing me at all. Not today." Maybe not for a while after today she thinks, blinking hard.
"It's for charity Beckett." He growled her name, her workplace keep it in line and lets not draw attention to ourselves same as always name, angrily.
"What kind of charity wants you to set up a kissing booth in your bar?" She asked giving up on the work in front of her and swivelling to face him, waiting for her answer.
He shrugged "An awesome one?"
The booth had been set up way down at the far end of the bar so she had to walk the entire length of the room to get there.
A little old fashioned wooden structure, totally cheesy and perfect for the pictures soon to grace news stands up and down her city, and she glared at it.
Someone had to move the piano so they could bring in the men to assemble the thing and Kate had stared each one of them down in anger, as if it was their fault she was forced to watch this insanity as it came to life.
The Old Haunt was jam packed already, humming with the voices of eager fans, overworked staff and the participants of this little stunt. Milling about as if they owned the place, taking over their bar...his bar...whatever.
Of course, under Black Pawns instruction, it's all been finely orchestrated, but that doesn't stop her making a thorough sweep of the room. Clocking who stands where and who looks suspicious, mentally organising faces...women...so very many women.
That does nothing to help her mood.
There is additional security for the night, laid on at the expense of his publishers. A few beefy bouncers that Kate watched and within seconds she knows which one will go down with a swift kick to the knee.
That if she flirts with the shorter one... she shakes her head, it's almost too easy.
The fact that they closed the bar to foot traffic for the night is saving them the embarrassment of invading college students or over enthusiastic fans...aside from the ones queuing up to kiss him. But the closeness is making the focus on what is actually about to happen here just a bit too intense, too surreal.
She turned with a sigh and watched the few select guests that have been invited already mingling. But her eyes are drawn repeatedly to the thirty fans that are being ushered into a somewhat over exuberant line, just off to the left of the stage. Glossy and dressed up, with their name badges and too wide smiles, stand the women who bid in the online auction.
Or won the contest on his stupid website.
And they chat openly about her...whatever he is, as if they know him. Their eyes lingering too hungrily in a way that makes her clench her fists tight, her eyes narrow.
Maybe that's why she can't settle?
This feeling of protectiveness and the need to claim him when she knows she can't, shouldn't, isn't allowed to just yet. It's too strong, and stupid, and all the ridiculous arguments they have had about telling people are rushing through her mind and overpowering her from within.
And as they finish the set up, cameras flashing occasionally to capture the stages of creation, Kate gives up and moves off to one side, not entirely sure why she came. Her foot tapping in annoyance, watching him pose in front of a the "Kiss me Rick!" banner that hangs above the booth.
Something brushes her arm, but Kate doesn't have to turn to know it's his daughter. She has an air about her, a minor vibration of tension that they haven't quite gotten over yet, but the girl is seeking her out and Kate takes comfort in that.
Alexis groans, "Kiss me Rick ? That's the best they could come up with?"
Arms folded in silence, the girls voice dripped with disdain and Kate felt an unusual urge to hug her, she won't, but again...progress.
She continued to stare at the debacle unfolding before her and every few seconds Kate could feel the girls eyes slide in her direction, but she couldn't bring herself to care about that...not when the room was buzzing and he was up there grinning like a smug jackass; standing in front of a sign that reads 'Make out with the Master of the Macabre, $100 a kiss!'
It's all fake. Propaganda, because it has been organised ahead of schedule, but it adds an authentic touch.
And right about now she would happily part with triple that amount to slap her cuffs on him, drag him home and...Interrogate the hell out of him.
"I'm surprised he talked you into this," Alexis commented, her eyes roaming Kate's face for signs of emotion. She huffed in shock when the only one that seemed to be playing there looked a lot like jealousy...
She was jealous ...over this? When Kate was normally so calm and aloof.
Alexis swallowed the new information, trying to digest the strangeness and the feeling that Kate being jealous was maybe a good thing? That maybe it evened them out a bit, gave her father an edge she hadn't been aware of before.
"He didn't." Kate spoke through gritted teeth, her eyes firmly locked on the blonde woman who was sidling up to him, her arm draped around his shoulder, before they paused for the camera flash.
Alexis eyed the detective cautiously again, "I'm surprised you let him then."
Kate laughed, shaking her head, "When does he ever listen to me?"
Alexis turned further into Kate her voice dropping low as she stated defensively, "He listens."
Kate gave up her eagle eyed observation and faced the girl, desperately resisting the sigh, because somehow she had said the wrong thing...again.
"About the important things sure," She acknowledged, "Sometimes, yeah he does listen. But about stuff like this?" Kate flicked her thumb over her shoulder, back towards the booth on it's little make shift stage, "...never!"
Her eyes stayed locked on her partner as he leant forwards, paused to make sure he had the charity sign in the picture before he planted his lips on the cheek of the woman waiting, the flash went off and he stepped back immediately.
The smile was there, not quite reaching his eyes, and Kate knew she was being stupid, but when his lips brushed the skin of that other woman...
"You're jealous." Alexis stated her eyes wide with amusement and maybe shock, but most definitely her father's daughter in that moment as she smirked openly.
"Nooo...no," Kate turned, found the young girls appraising gaze, clearly waiting for the lie. Kate rolled her eyes; this was just not shaping up to be her day at all, "Fine, yes!" She reached out, poking the girl in the arm. "Don't you dare tell him."
Alexis smiled not quite fully but enough. "...We'll see." She said smugly, twisting on the spot watching her Dad.
Kate looked away. "Just remember I own a gun." She grumbled.
Alexis barked out a surprised laugh, shocking Kate enough that when she spun, and found the girl snickering, a grin erupted unbidden across her own face.
Kate tipped sideways, nudging Alexis with her shoulder, before turning her attention back to the booth.
When she lifted her head, still smiling as she looked to see who he was pressed up against now, Kate found him alone, his blue eyes wide as he watched her laugh with his daughter.