The couple arrives back at their hotel for the evening. It is a five star facility in the center of downtown Houston. They unpack their bags for the night and after changing clothes, decide to go down to find a local eatery to enjoy the rest of the evening together

The hotel concierge recommends a local steak house that is considered to be one of the country's finest. It is within walking distance so the make their decision for dinner tonight. After the couple arrive and are seated, they are approached by the server who offers them the evening specials and a selection from the wine list.

They order their dinner and are very pleased with their meal, the atmosphere and Rick is very happy with his company.

Just as they are just finishing up with their desserts, a reporter for the local paper steps up to the table

"Richard Castle, I am Bobbie Wyatt with the Houston Morning News. I tried to get an interview set up with you while you are here but you agent said you couldn't make it this time"

Castle's agent had originally asked for him to meet with the local newspaper's local interest reporter but he had begged off for the moment. He actually wanted to spend every moment away from New York with Kate, but she knew that Castle thrived on the publicity and interaction with the reporters and the media and would have jumped at the chance to spread his charms around to all the women he could.

Beckett is a little surprised that he is turning down the chance this time

"Castle, why don't you go ahead and do this" Beckett asks knowing that this way he gets the interview that Paula wanted taken care of and out of the way

He leans in very close to Beckett's ear "I would rather spend every possible moment with you instead" Is Castle's answer "I lost too much time in the past. I don't want to loose any more"

"Castle, you go ahead. I will go back to the hotel" Kate whispers back "I'll see you there"

Castle smiles to Kate as she stands to leave. Beckett extends her hand to the reporter "Ms Wyatt, nice to meet you" then she steps out toward the front door

The reporter sits down where Kate had been, takes her note book out of her purse and begins her interview. She has actually ignored the fact that it was very evident that she had just interrupted a personal dinner date, But she really has her own agenda and could care less that Kate was there.

"Mr. Castle your first Nikki Heat book, Heat Wave, is currently being made into a movie, is that affecting the sales of your newest novel?"

"Yes, the sales of Naked Heat have been brisk and we are pleased that my readers have so openly accepted Nikki after my Derrick Storm series ended"

"I understand that the Nikki Heat character is actually modeled after one of the detectives from New York. Is that correct?"

Castle is a little concerned about opening a door that the reporter might run thru at this moment "Yes, Nikki is a culmination of many months of research with an NYPD detective and she has given my readers an insight into how the detectives in homicide work as a team to solve murders in the nations largest city"

"Well Rick, thank you so much for meeting with me today. I know my readers will enjoy reading your next installment in the Heat series"

As she stands to leave, she hands Castle a card. "And if you want to get a tour of the real social life in Houston, here is my number. Call me anytime, 24 hours a day. If you know what I mean" and with a sway in her step she leaves the restaurant.

Castle smiles to himself as she pays the tab and gets up to leave. It was so easy to ignore her advances now because he has a much more important person waiting for him back at the hotel

Kate Beckett had returned to their hotel room and changed into her evening wear. She sits down at the desk in the hotel room and takes out the diary from her bag again. While waiting for Castle to return she begins

Mom, here I am. Once again at a place unlike my norm. He takes me places I would not or could not go otherwise. We are in his expensive room at an expensive hotel. We came here for a book signing. I've been to his signings before. Bus just as a fan, not his girlfriend.

She stops after writing the word girlfriend. "Am I really Richard Castle's girlfriend?"

Mom, he called me his girlfriend. WOW! OH! And he gave me money. A lot of money. Well he didn't just hand me money. He is having me paid as co author of the books written about me.

Kate stops a moment in her writing

Mom I need to tell you about his family. I feel like I have adopted a family. Or more accurately, they adopted me.

His mother had taken me in like I was her own daughter. She will never replace you but I feel like I have someone I can talk to like a mother. You would love her. She is a Broadway diva and so much fun to be around

And he has a daughter. Now don't be angry that I am dating a man with a kid. His daughter is precious. You would love her as much as I do. She and I have ganged up on Castle on more than one occasion and we have fun. Her own mother is not the best example of a parent but I have had the privilege of being there for Alexis once or twice when she needed an older sister to talk to.

I think Alexis would really like you too

Now for tomorrow. He said there is someone he wants me to meet. I don't know who it is and he won't tell me but he said that these people are very important in our relationship. His and mine. I will find out tomorrow who this is. He said I will meet them tomorrow after we fly to Miami. He always plans things for our tomorrows

Kate closes the diary and puts it back into her purse just as Rick enters the hotel room door

She stands up from the desk and turns toward him as he closes the gap between them. He puts his arms around her and pulls her in tight to his chest.

"This is so much better than any book signing I have been to before" Rick states

"Are you trying to tell me that you have never had a girl waiting for you to come back to your hotel room after a bookstore autograph party?"

There is a brief pause while he contemplates his answer "I will admit there have been others but I have never had YOU waiting back in my room"

This story can begin reaching new territory soon. I promised this to be a filler between two other tales