AN: MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
Thanks go out to my reviewers:
Rosie85 - Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Irisrose37 - I like it when Alexis brings things out of people. I think it's those wide blue eyes.
Tempe4Booth - Merry Christmas. Consider the story updated!
WhoKnows1125 - I hope this story eventually allows the readers to feel a little of everything from sorrow to pure joy!
Coloradocollegedreams123 - Thank you for your appreciation. I glad you like it so much!
LittleWeasleyGirl- Kate Castle - No more waiting. Here you go!
Kate browsed the aisles of a small boutique for nearly an hour before giving up on finding anything for Rick. Stuck together the entire evening following her epiphany had wreaked havoc on her emotions and, with Christmas only hours away, she knew she needed to give her mind and heart a break.
When she awoke in the strange bed, she looked around for a moment before she caught the familiar scent of cologne on the air. She took her bathrobe and bath kit and made her way into the hall. Her father, affectionately named the 'Early Bird', was already up, his door open and his bed made.
Kate smiled to herself and turned to see if the bathroom was free only to walk into a bare chest. The momentum she had as she turned was so great that it took several seconds for her to regain her balance. In the meantime, she was pressed to the warm body from thigh to nose, her lips pressed against the skin stretched over his sternum.
"Whoa!" he yelped, his hands curling around her shoulders to help steady her. "Kate, you okay?"
It took all her strength not to press a kiss to the smooth flesh before pushing herself away from Rick's barely covered body. 'What a lucky towel!' she seethed to herself. She was shocked by the unexpected thought, but managed to sound almost normal when she replied.
"Sorry… wasn't looking. I was just checking to see if my dad was up already." She forced herself to keep eye contact, decidedly safer than letting her gaze slide back down to his chest. She cleared her throat.
"Oh, um…" He began to fumble for words and he lowered his gaze. "Towels are in the cupboard by the shower," he murmured quickly before walking to a far door and shutting it with a little more force than necessary behind him. She, on the other hand, held her breath and froze.
"That's his room," she breathed before hiding herself in the bathroom and locking the door, collapsing against it. Yesterday, it had seemed a safe five doors away. Today, though, it felt as if they might as well be side by side.
Now, as she wandered the little stores trying to find a gift for the man in question, she couldn't help but think of the solid feel of him beneath her lips. In a moment of insanity, she wondered if she shouldn't get him a bathrobe, but the flush she felt warming her cheeks had her deciding against it.
Then, as if by fate, less than a row over, she found stacks of them and noticed one in particular. The dark royal blue Egyptian cotton was as soft as fleece and thick. It would be warm and comfortable and, burying her nose in the collar, she could almost smell his aftershave. She took it off the plastic hanger and held it before her. With a smile, she slid off her jacket and, with her tank top, slid the robe on to test the softness against her skin.
As it closed around her, she knew it was the right gift. With great reluctance, she slid it off and pulled her wool winter coat back on. Oddly, it didn't feel as warm as the robe had and she felt a chill run through her.
Kate made her way to the cash and, laying it on the counter, she felt a pang of doubt and apprehension about her choice, but a brush of the fabric over her hand reassured her. Paid, she gathered the bag and the other parcels she'd found for Alexis, Martha – in case she showed up – and her father. Part of her wished she hadn't found something for Alexis and she could have bought her a robe as well to avoid the awkwardness.
"No!" she whispered harshly to herself, earning a sideways stare from the sales clerk, but she steeled herself. Stepping out of the boutique, she spied a clothing-alterations shop across the street and inspiration struck. With a glance for traffic, she dashed across the street and made her way to the shop.
Kate stood at the counter a moment before an older lady finally made her way to Kate.
"Ma'am?" she said in a soft voice. "How can I help you?"
"Yes, um…" Kate set down all of her bags except the one with Rick's robe. She withdrew it. "I was wondering if you could embroider initials on this?" she asked, pointing to the right side. The woman smiled and nodded, examining the fabric. "I thought maybe in a white, satiny thread? A nice contrast to such a beautiful blue."
"Good eye, dear," she said, stepping to a cupboard and retrieving a spool of thread. She showed Kate a snow white bobbin for approval, which she gave. "Would you like it to be in your handwriting?" the lady asked, surprising Kate.
"It… it's not a machine?" she asked, but the lady smiled.
"The beauty is in the uniqueness; not how perfect it is. I do all monograms by hand unless it's for a work uniform."
"I admire your talent."
The lady passed Kate a piece of paper and a pen. She thought a moment about if she wanted the 'R' and 'C' to overlap or connect in any way, but as she finished the leg of the 'R' with a flourish, she realized that it was all the robe needed.
"'R'?" the lady asked softly. "As in?"
"Rick." The woman's eyes widened.
"Do you mean Mr. Castle?" she asked and Kate felt a blush sneak up her neck. "Oh, you must be that lady detective he's always talking about!" Kate's blush deepened.
"You, um… you know Rick Castle?" she stammered, making the lady giggle and smile.
"Mr. Castle has been coming to me for years for his suits."
"Oh," Kate said with a smile. "You do excellent work."
"Thank you, dear," she accepted, but a sly grin spread across her face. "I must admit, though, that Mr. Castle is one of my finer mannequins."
Kate grinned at the woman, loving her spunk. "Kate Beckett. Also known as Nikki Heat," she admitted on a whim, reaching a hand out to the lady.
"Anna," she replied, shaking Kate's hand. "So… are you and he…"
Kate's initial reaction was to deny it completely, but Anna smiled as she filled in Kate's hand-written letter a little bit. The grin was knowing, telling Kate that, regardless of her answer, Anna knew the truth.
"Not yet," Kate admitted with a sigh. Anna laughed.
"And whose fault is that?" she asked. Kate sighed again.
"Well, back when… I guess… okay, so it's mostly mine."
"Hmm…"
"'Hmm'?" Kate parroted, intrigued. "What, 'hmm'?"
"Nothing…" Anna said quickly, heading to her work bench. Kate stared at her.
"Anna…" she said, trying to sound intimidating. Instead, her voice cracked and she sounded more like she was about to cry. Anna turned to her. "Please, Anna."
"Ms. Beckett… Mr. Castle drove up her a few weeks back so I could start on his suit for his New Year's party. He… he told me it was all his fault."
"His fault?" Anna nodded.
"He… he said something about getting a phone call and how someone told him that your case was much bigger thank you could ever imagine. And that next time, you wouldn't be so lucky… And…" she said, biting her lower lip as tears welled on her lower lid.
"And?"
"And… and that he'd do anything he could to keep you from the case… if it meant keeping you safe."
Kate felt anger and betrayal burn through her as she thought of how she'd told him she needed to close her mom's case before she could move on. Her eyes slipped closed and her hands fisted as she trembled with rage.
"He… he what?" she seethed, but Anna's eyes filled with tears as she stood.
"Oh, Ms. Beckett, he told me what you said about needing to solve this case. But, Ms. Beckett… I'll never forget the look on his face when he said he'd rather see you with another man, hating him for the rest of your life, than ever lose you. He said he doesn't think he could survive a second time… especially if he lost you for good this time around."
"He…" Kate started, but nothing else would come out.
"Ms. Beckett… he told me he would rather you live to love another man than die to love him." Anna choked on a sob. "If you ask me, Ms. Beckett… that's what love should be!"
Kate stood frozen at the counter for an eternity, unable to move, her anger at war with the love she felt. Her mind yelled and cried that he'd purposely steered her away from her mother's case. But surely he knew how she'd react?
'But he did!' cried her heart and she nearly fell over at the realization. 'He knew you might never speak to him ever again, but he did it anyway. He cared more about keeping you alive and safe than making you love him. He cares more about you than his own happiness! Wake up, Kate!'
"Do, um…" Kate stammered, drawing Anna away from her work. Kate swayed and Anna came to her side in a flash. "Could I get some water?"
"Come with me, dear," Anna murmured and led her to a small kitchenette in the back of the store where she sat Kate down in an armchair while she got a glass of water. "Are you alright, Ms. Beckett?" she asked, sitting on a chair opposite her. Kate kept silent a moment longer.
"If you knew something about a friend… that could ruin your relationship, but would help your friend in the long run… what would you do with that information?" Kate asked.
Anna sighed. "Ms. Beckett… I've been in that situation many times. My friends have… really bad taste in men. Several hit on me while dating my friends. When you drop a bombshell like that, there's really only two ways it can go. Either they believe you and appreciate your honesty… or they sever ties and blame you rather than face a hard truth.
"The thing is, though… I'm still friends with all of them, even the ones who severed ties. Eventually, the anger subsides and… I guess they realize how hard a decision it was to come clean knowing what would happen to our relationship."
"So, you think it's better to hurt a person now than let them get hurt and eventually find out you could have prevented it?" Kate clarified, but Anna laughed.
"That's a mite harsh way of putting it, Ms. Beckett, but yes… I'd rather lose a friend forever knowing I helped them in some way… than keep a friend by hurting or lying to them."
Kate's lips pressed together as she fought back tears, but she lost the battle and they seeped down her cheeks. Kate felt rather than saw Anna move away from her side for a moment before she returned seconds later and pressed a box of tissues into Kate's hands. Kate offered a watery smile, but it didn't last long.
"Wh… what makes you think he's in love?" Kate asked.
"Well, several things. First off, having been in love myself, I recognize the symptoms: the goofy expression when you talk about them… the fact that you don't stop talking about them… the devastation when something hurts your relationship, et cetera… Most of all… I'd say because he told me so."
Kate laughed. "Good reason," she admitted on a sob. "Oh, Anna, I'm so furious at him for hiding this!" Kate burst, but Anna smiled and placed her hand over Kate's.
"Do you understand why he did it?"
"Of course, I do!" Kate cried.
"Then, my dear, you're already past your anger. If not, you wouldn't be seeing reason already." Kate gave a shrug, but Anna saw through it. "Or…" she pushed, a small smile creasing her lips as Kate avoided her gaze. "You're in love with him, too." It wasn't a question; it was a fact.
"Yeah, I am… Very much so…" she admitted.
"Well, Ms. Beckett, it didn't exactly take a psychic. In fact," she said brightly as she stood up and made her way to the kettle to fill it with water, "I bet just about everyone you know sees it written all over your face except Mr. Castle!"
This time, Kate's laugh caught hold and, when it let go, her sides hurt. "That's about the size of it," Kate confided.
"I thought as much. Tea?" she asked, reaching for two mugs.
"Please… but don't you have other orders to fill?"
"Just yours, but I can bring that in here while we talk. I'll be right back."
Anna disappeared into the front of the shop and, a second later, Kate heard a bolt slide into place. Then, Anna moved towards her work table, gathering her tools, before returning to the chair opposite Kate.
"Anna, I know you're busy. You don't need to close up."
"It's Christmas Eve and I want to close up early. So… how long are you going to wait to tell him?"
Kate grinned. "You certainly are direct."
"Ms. Beckett, at my age, you can't talk around things."
"It's 'Kate', please," she said, wiping away her remaining tears. "If we're going to have a heart-to-heart, you should at least use my first name."
"Fine," Anna smirked. "Kate, then… How long?"
"Boy, you're tough," Kate sighed. "New Year's midnight."
"It sounds perfect. What will you be wearing?" she asked.
"Actually, I didn't know it was formal, so all I have is a black cocktail dress…"
"Oh, my dear!" Anna exclaimed. She almost dropped her work as she stood up quickly and reached a hand out to Kate for her to follow. "I have something that will be perfect."
"Anna, please don't go to any trouble," Kate begged, but Anna pulled a length of white chiffon from a spool, held it to Kate and draped a strip of hunter green satin over it. "Oh, wow!" Kate breathed. "But…"
"No 'buts'," Anna chided. "I've got this gorgeous Egyptian design that I've been waiting to make. On you… you'll look like the angel Mr. Castle says you are."
Kate felt her cheeks warm and lowered her eyes from Anna's inquisitive stare. Anna snipped a piece of white fabric about one inch squared and a slip of the green satin about the same size, handing her the swatches.
"You go find yourself a pair of shoes to go with this and I'll finish the embroidery and you swing by to pick up the robe. Okay?" she asked, taking a measuring tape.
"Please, Anna, you need to tell me how much you want for this!" Kate argues as Anna went to measure her waist. Anna paused and thought for several moments before smiling up at Kate.
"I'll tell you what; you pay me… seventy-five dollars to cover the fabric, beading and other materials."
"But, Anna… your time!" Kate cried, but Anna smiled.
"A real smile on Mr. Castle's face is all the payment I need," she said and, when Kate returned the smile and nodded her head, Anna set to work on taking a dozen measurements.
Kate reached for her jacket and began to push her arms into the sleeves when Anna's hand came to rest on Kate's shoulder, her face serious.
"No smile and you owe me the labor," she warned, but a grin managed to surface. Kate sighed.
"Anna, I lied about remembering," she confessed, but the woman shrugged it off. "He might…"
"He lied to you about the case," she pointed out, make Kate frown in confusion.
"Yeah, but… I'm already over it." Anna laughed.
"You may be over it, but you can still use it against him, dear," she explained with a wink, making Kate laugh. With that, she set off on her shoe quest.
*CASKETT*CASKETT*CASKETT*CASKETT*CASKETT*
Kate looked though the shelves of shoes in the boutique for half an hour before giving in and asking for assistance. The sales clerk took the two material swatches and stared at them for several moments before moving to a far row.
"Will your jewelry be gold or silver?" the clerk asked. Kate thought about it a moment before wrapping her fingers around her mother's ring hanging from her neck.
"Gold."
"Then, I recommend these," the clerk said, handing Kate a pair of hunter green satin pumps. "With gold accessories, these will give the outfit a classic elegance."
Kate slid off her boots and took one of the free nylons to try on the pump. It was, perhaps, an inch or two smaller than what she normally wore, but she rather liked the idea of Rick being a little taller in this instance. With a smile, she removed the other boot, donned a stocking and slid on the other shoe to walk around a little.
"They're very comfortable. I like them."
"Glad to be of service, ma'am," the woman smiled before returning to the cash register. Kate stared at the shoes for a long while, wondering about the whole situation. The revelations, the gift, the dress… When had everything become so complicated?
Kate laughed and thought of Anna, her voice saying something to the effects of 'It's only complicated because you're making it complicated!' And Anna would be right; Kate was the queen of excuses and it was time to stop making excuses and start finding solutions.
"I'll take them," she said, sitting the box on the counter and withdrawing her bank card. Seconds later, she was back outside in the frigid air, bag in hand and on her way back to Anna's shop.
She tried the door, but Anna had locked it up once more after Kate had left. Knocking the code Anna had told her, she barely waited ten seconds before Anna was on the other side of the glass, unlocking the door.
"There you are, my dear. I'm almost finished with the embroidery. Let's see the shoes," she demanded as she led the way to the back room. Kate set the back on a kitchen chair while Anna occupied the armchair Kate had been sitting in earlier. She withdrew the box of shoes and changed into them to show Anna.
"What do you think?" Kate asked and Anna gasped in pleasure.
"Oh, those will be perfect with the dress. Silver or gold?"
"Gold," she murmured. "So I can wear my mom's ring," she said as she pulled the band on the chain from inside her shirt.
"Perfect. I use gold beads on the neckline. You won't really need a necklace, though. It's a round Ancient Egyptian-style neckline."
"Well," Kate said as she examined the ring on the thin gold chain. "I wear my mom's ring on a chain."
"Does it fit on your finger?" she asked and Kate shrugged.
"I don't usually," Kate said, suddenly unsure why she didn't.
"I see."
Kate almost screamed in frustration at her reply. How did this woman manage to make four letters sound like a loaded comment? She sighed.
"Why is everything so complicated?" she huffed for the second time that day. This time, she heard a chuckle.
"Because you make it complicated."
Kate burst into laughter and collapsed on a nearby chair as she reached for the chain around her neck. She removed it and stared at the gold band for a while before taking a deep breath and sliding it off the chain.
Kate slipped it onto her right ring finger and smiled as the light glinted off the stone. It fit perfectly and the gem was dark enough to pass for an emerald. She let her fingers fist and release once or twice and wondered if she'd ever wear it on a chain again.
"That ring suits you," Anna said as she snipped the thread and knotted it. "And I'm finished. Here you go, my dear."
Kate admired the snow white letter on the dark blue terrycloth, running her fingertips over it with a smile.
"This is perfect!" Kate gushed. "How much do I owe you?"
"Oh, come, now!"
"Anna, please! You're already making the dress. I refuse to leave without paying for at least this!"
"Fine… let's say five dollars," Anna conceded and Kate placed a twenty dollar bill in her hand. "Someone can't count."
"I'm a big tipper!" Kate grinned, a little pleased to pay Anna back for all her smart comments. Anna tried to frown, but it eventually gave way to a wide smile and an accompanying bear hug.
"You say 'hello' to that fine man for me!" Anna grinned, making Kate laugh.
"If I use your name to make him squirm, you won't say you told me anything, will you?"
"Of course not! Now," she said, pressing a business card into Kate's hand. "Give me a ring, say… the twenty-ninth and we'll meet here for a fitting."
"Sounds perfect. I'll see you then. And, Anna… thank you… for everything."
"For you and Mr. Castle? Anything."
Kate packed the robe into a large non-descript bag, put away her shoes, pulled her boots back on and gathered the other bags Anna had kept for her while she'd been on her shoe hunt. Then, with one last hug to the helpful woman and well wishes for Christmas, Kate left the little shop with a grin.
With all the bags loaded into the trunk of her car, she drove up and down the streets, trying to spot her father who'd gone shopping as well. She had just found a parking spot near their rendezvous location when Jim stepped out of a boutique and waved to his daughter, dashing towards the car.
"Hey, there, sweetheart!" Jim chimed as he climbed into the passenger side. He had several small bags in his hand and set them on the floor between his feet. "How about some heat, Katie?" he said and reached for the dial, but she caught his hand.
"No chocolates or dairy or stuff in there?" she double-checked and laughed when she saw the mental forehead smack that flashed in her father's eyes.
"What would I do without you, Katie?" he grinned as he moved the bags to the back seat and turned on the heater.
"Well, ruin gifts, for starters…" she teased and shifted into 'DRIVE', pulling back onto the main street and heading home…
'Rick's!' she scolded herself. 'Don't get too comfy just yet!' she warned.
"You know…" Jim said gently, staring out his window, "Rick was a little reluctant to invite us." Kate's eyes darted sideways at her father before refocusing on the road.
"Really? Then what changed his mind?"
"Well, he had half a dozen excuses like you getting the time off and how it was a long drive… my favorite was how he seemed to think you wouldn't want to spend Christmas with him… and Alexis, of course! In fact… he sounded like he truly thought you'd refuse."
Kate knew her father was teasing her, trying to get a rise, but she couldn't retaliate past the lump in her throat. Had he truly not sensed her disappointment that he'd be away for the holiday season? And the way he hadn't even bothered to tell her… did he think she didn't care? Her heart broke a little.
"So, um…" Kate said, but her throat was scratchy and she had to clear it before she could speak again. "So, what changed?" she asked. Jim shrugged. "Dad…"
"I may have said he was being ridiculous and, with all you've been through, you'd appreciate this mini va–KATE!"
A cloud of powdery snow puffed up behind them as Kate screeched to a halt in an abandoned parking lot, almost slamming the shifter into 'PARK' before turning on her father in fury.
"Jim Beckett, did you GUILT Rick into inviting us up here!" she bellowed, her father a hare's breath from cowering from his own daughter.
"Um… no. Not… not really."
"Well, then, what would you call it!" He paused.
"Convincing through emotional blackmail?"
Kate lowered the window on her side, stuck out her head and let out an ear-piercing scream that she was sure Rick himself heard, despite the five miles between them.
"Katie…" Jim sighed, "it's alright," he said.
"He took pity on me!" she yelled. "How is that 'alright'?"
"Katie…"
"Dad, why did you do it?" she asked and Jim sighed and rested his crown against the headrest of his seat.
"Because he's in love with you and he needed the push."
Silence permeated the small vehicle as she stared at her father with her jaw in her lap. Kate's mouth opened and closed several times before she could think of anything to say.
"What–"
"I just know. I… I sent him… to tell you to back off your mother's case. I knew if there was someone who could get through to you, it would be him."
"Yeah, but…"
"I could tell." Jim looked at Kate and smiled. "This, um… this might be too much information for you… but he looks at and talks about you like I looked at and… still talk about your mother."
It took Kate several moments to process what her father had just told her, but somehow it still seemed surreal. Her father and a complete stranger had just confirmed what Rick had told her himself as she'd lain bleeding out in his arms not even a year ago.
"I know."
Jim's eyes snapped towards his daughter's face in surprise.
"Katie?"
"I know he loves me…" she admitted. "He told me… after… as I was…"
"Katie," he breathed out.
"Yeah… as he was holding me… while we were waiting for the paramedics… he asked me to stay with him… and that he loved me."
"'Loves', Katie… he still does."
"I'm getting that… there's just one little problem."
"What did you do, Katie?" Jim asked instantly. Kate stared.
"What makes you think–"
"I know you, Katie."
"I lied to him," she whimpered. "He thinks I don't remember!"
"Katie!"
"Dad, could you drive?" she asked, undoing her safety buckle and turning to step out of the car. Jim got out and came around the front of the vehicle and Kate tried to step past, but Jim pulled her into a hug. That's when the tears released and she let herself sag under the stress of it all. Jim sighed.
"You're in love with Rick," Jim chuckled.
"It's not funny! What should I do?" she sobbed into her father's shoulder. He sighed and lifted her head to look her in the eyes.
"You know what you need to do and what you want to do, Katie. Normally, in these situations, you need to be honest, but you want to avoid it by running away."
"But I can't run away," she confessed, swiping at her tears. Her hands wrapped around her father's wrists, trying to draw on his strength.
"Why, Katie?"
"You mean, aside from the fact that he'd just follow me?" she said with a laugh that morphed into a hollow sob. "Because… because, as much as he infuriates me… I can't live without him," she admitted and Jim sighed in relief, his hands cupping her shoulders in support.
"Oh, Katie!" he gushed with a smile. "I think that what you need and want – if you'll pardon the expression – are finally on the same page."
A smile broke out at his words and she felt her tears draw to a close. Her father was right. Anna was right. But, most importantly, her heart was right. She was in love with Rick and she both needed and wanted to tell him.
"You're right, dad. I want to come clean. I want to tell him. And I'm going to… on new year's eve, at his party."
"Kate, sweetheart… are you sure you can hold out that long?"
"It'll be worth it."
Jim made his way to the driver's seat and Kate stepped in on the passenger's. She was now too giddy to focus on driving anyhow. For the last ten minutes of the drive, she thought about how she would tease him for the next several days. Then, the memory of his scent and the damp skin of his chest beneath her lips. Maybe teasing was a bad idea after all. If he ever turned the tables…
When she snapped out of her dream state, they were pulling into Rick's drive way to find an unfamiliar car. She took a deep breath as Jim parked the car near the door and she stepped out after popping the trunk. Kate was bent at the waist reaching for a parcel that had tipped over and was laying at the very back of the trunk when a strong arm appeared in her peripheral vision and caught hold of the bad as if it was right at the front.
"Milady," Rick offered, handing Kate the parcel. She couldn't help but smile as he unwittingly handed her the bag containing his gift. "Is something funny?" he questioned, but the smile widened as she slid the package into a larger bag.
"Oh, nothing," she taunted as she shuffled bags from hand to hand.
"C'mon… let me in on the joke," he pouted. She chuckled.
"You just handed me back your Christmas gift."
The look on Rick's face was priceless; his face twisted in fury aimed at himself and a supreme disappointment. He cursed and looked like he was about to make a grab for the bag in her hand, but he seemed to notice that is had been disguised while he wasn't paying attention and he now had no clue which bag contained his gift.
"Nice try, but too late, Rick."
"C'mon, let me peek!" he begged, but she pulled the bags out of reach and sidestepped him with a move worthy of Dancing with the Stars. "Kate…" he whined.
"Oh, Rick, you big baby! We're opening the gifts tomorrow morning; that's not even twenty-four hours away. You can wait."
"Fire, be that way!" he grunted and turned to follow Kate inside, but froze as he turned. "Kate!" he whispered sharply. She turned back.
"Rick, I'm not–" she began in exasperation, but he dashed towards her making a loud shushing noise. "What is it?" she hushed.
"My mother is here. She just arrived. She staying tonight and leaving tomorrow after the gift exchange. I just want to warn you and your dad; she's been hanging mistletoe everywhere and spiking everything in sight. I'm not sure the water is safe!"
"Oh… Martha and my dad?" Kate murmured, trying to convince herself everything would be alright. "Maybe he'd help dry her out a little?"
"More like she'll pickle him!" he growled, looking up as Jim was about to step around him. "Jim?" The man turned to him. "Um… I feel I should warn you; my mother decided to grace us with her presence until tomorrow evening. Just a warning; don't accept a glass of anything from her… not even water! She'll find a way to… flavor it up!"
"I see… thanks, Rick," he said, walking into the house. The voice rang out as the door opened and the barrage of questions began.
"I'm so sorry, Kate," he apologized as he stepped closer to her. She forced herself to ignore the way her pulse sped up, but she couldn't miss the waft of the same cologne she'd nearly kissed off of his chest this morning.
"Don't worry about it," she muttered and sprinted into the house and up the stairs, throwing a welcome over her shoulder to Martha and escaping to her room. With the door locked behind her, she collapsed against it and took a long, deep breath.
"Oh, boy…"
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