Company - Chapter 2


The coffee shop he chooses is a little bit out of the way, but it's cozy and comfortable, and best of all, quiet. Kate feels her shoulders drop as soon as they step inside; she hadn't even been conscious of it, but she'd needed to get out of the park and away from the noise of the street.

"I'll get the drinks if you want to grab us seats?" her companion suggests, gesturing around the room.

"Oh," she exhales. "You don't – I can get my own coffee."

Rick waves her off. "I offered. It's the least I can do for interrupting your afternoon."

Another argument wells up in her chest, but she lets it go, giving him her order with a quiet word of gratitude before turning to claim one of the open spots at the far end of the room. Satisfied, Rick trots over to the counter, giving the barista one of those winning smiles that had never failed to make Kate roll her eyes and want for more simultaneously.

She drops into the cushy armchair with more force than necessary, allowing her breath to escape in a quiet whoosh.

What is she doing? She had escaped the precinct to clear her head, get away from people for a little while, and now she's going to be sitting in a coffee shop with a man she had known for just a few days, slept with once, and hasn't spoken to since. Because that's not a recipe for a disaster at all.

She really should go; she can pay Castle back for the coffee and thank him for joining her on part of her walk, then she can head home to her quiet apartment and–

"Okay, coffee will be up in a couple of minutes, but in the meantime, I come bearing cookies."

Her lips lift on their own accord. "Cookies, huh?"

Rick nods, placing a plate stacked high with cookies in front of her. "Fresh from the oven, too. I couldn't resist."

"So much so that you got… four," she observes, pressing her lips together to hide a smile.

He doesn't seem fazed by her teasing, giving her a nonchalant shrug. "I skipped lunch."

"And what will Alexis say when you spoil your dinner?"

He laughs at that, snagging one of the cookies and taking a hearty bite. "She's not the boss of me." At her raised eyebrow, he adds, "Okay, she's kind of the boss of me."

Kate snickers. "How is she?"

She's never met the girl, only knows her from the couple pictures Castle showed her the first time they spent time together, but she knows the girl is his pride and joy. Which makes her a safe topic for them to discuss.

Sure enough, Castle brightens. "She's good. She's in Los Angeles with her mom right now for Spring Break. She's so smart, getting smarter every day, really."

"High school?"

He shakes his head. "Almost. I'm not ready for it. But she's so smart, so mature. She'll be great."

Kate smiles, nodding. "You'll get used to it, too. At least until she starts going to wild parties and bringing home weird boys you can't stand."

She pops a piece of cookie into her mouth as he gawks, sputters, and clutches his chest.

"Bite your tongue."

Beckett covers her mouth to laugh, feeling something loosen in her; it feels good to laugh.

His face changes from horrified to curious. "How are you, Kate?"

Ah, that question. Apparently, he isn't going to be satisfied talking the whole time about his daughter.

Kate lifts a shoulder, spying the barista placing their coffees on the counter. "I'll get them," she insists at the call of his name, hopping to her feet.

Castle's eyes follow her as she crosses the shop to retrieve their drinks, and he thanks her softly when she returns and hands him the mug with his cappuccino.

She sits gingerly, cradling her own latte to her chest. They sit in silence, sipping their coffee, sharing soft looks. God, he looks good still. Better than he did the day they met in that hotel lobby; happier, more at ease with himself. Whatever he's been doing since they parted ways suits him.

"I'm okay," she says finally, giving him the answer she had denied him earlier. "I'm… hard day, you know?"

He nods, his eyes sympathetic. "Anything I can do to help?"

Kate lifts her coffee to her lips, taking a slow sip to buy herself some time. The smart thing to do would be to say no, say thanks for the kindness, and leave it at that.

But that's not what comes out of her mouth. Not even close.

"You can take me back to your place."