Chapter Seven

The whole "Castle Clan" with the exception of Castle himself and Kate were again gathered at the loft to watch the broadcast of Mr. Right. Alexis and Martha had set the whole thing up, again as a party, with both dinner and munchies. Tacos, burritos and refried beans, chow mien, orange chicken and egg rolls, three kinds of pizza, nachos, buffalo wings, chips and dips and of course plenty of beer, wine and soda. Lanie was keeping an eagle eye on Javi, to make sure he paid more attention to the show than the nachos and beer. Jim Beckett was rooting heavily for his daughter. He'd never liked Josh Davidson, thinking that the man was much too self-centered and self-important. In Jim's eyes, the only kind of man who was good enough for his daughter was one who would put her first. Not his job or personal recognition. Josh was not that kind of man. Neither had been Kate's old boyfriend Will Sorenson.

Rick was that kind of Man and Jim hoped that Kate hadn't blown it. Jim had just settled in a comfortable chair with a couple of slices of pizza, a burrito and some buffalo wings on his plate when the 72 inch flat screen TV came to life. Blaise Klein came on stage, smiling.

"Welcome to Mr. Right. We have a very entertaining evening for you with clips from the first two individual dates and the cosplay group date. We will also have the charm presentations. They however will be individually presented, not in a group. Two ladies will be going home tonight and the show feels that they should not have to suffer in front of the other ladies. So now ladies and gentlemen, show time. "

The first clip opened with Rick pulling up in front of Erin's building and getting out of the Jag with the bouquet of roses in his hand and continued when they left the building going to the restaurant. There wasn't enough time to cover the whole date, just excerpts of it but the important elements were caught. The filming of rick and Allison's date was more extensive as the crew could shoot inside the club catching every nuance, especially the stolen kisses and the way her body melded with his.

This caused cringes in everybody in the loft except Ryan and Esposito and a hiss of distaste from Alexis. The cosplay group date improved the mood in the loft and resulted in several rather ribald comments about Alexis' costume, even to Ryan's comment; "Your dad let you get away with that?"

Lanie earned herself a dirty look from Javi when she couldn't hide her appreciation of Rick's musculature. "Whoa, who knew what our boy had hidden under those designer clothes." He didn't do himself any favors either with; "Wonder Woman's not leaving anything to wonder about, what a Chica!"

The whole loft relaxed a little when they saw the way Kate was smiling when she returned to the group with Rick's hand firmly in hers, her cheeks flushed and her lipstick a little smudged. They all laughed at the look on Rick's face when the fan girls surrounded him. They analyzed Rick's reactions to each of the women and laid bets as to which two would be dismissed that night. Unlike the more well- known show the presentation of the charms didn't come at the end of the show. The cocktail party would be held for the remaining women and the two next recipients of the private dates chosen.

The format chosen was that each woman would go into the study of the town house and Rick would attach either the charm to the bracelet or tell the woman that she didn't make the cut. The two that didn't make the cut would not be televised or interviewed afterward.

Blaise again appeared on screen. "Now ladies and gentlemen, it's the part of the show that you've all been waiting for Rick's choices." The scene shifted to the study. A smiling Rick Castle stood by a small table. Rick was wearing a cream colored sport coat and dark blue slacks with a white shirt and blue tie that matched his slacks. All the occupants of the loft held their breath as the door to the study opened and let it out in a collective sigh as the first woman through the door was Erin Boyle. Her face lit up in a huge smile as Rick took a charm out of the box and affixed it to her bracelet. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

The friends began to worry when the second, third and fourth women through the door were the three A's, Allison, Alana and Amanda, then Vivian Park, Loretta Forbes and Elke Sondheim.

The fear was now running high in the loft. If Kate didn't make the cut tonight they didn't know how she would react. They knew that she had essentially put all of her emotional eggs into this one basket. They again held their collective breath as Kate walked through the door both hope and fear warring on her face. They could all clearly see the gentle, reassuring smile on Rick's face as he took the heart charm out of the box and held it up.

She was smiling through her tears and her sob of relief could clearly be heard. It was a major tell when she held up her arm so Rick could attach the charm to her bracelet. Her hand dipped slightly down with her delicate fingers splayed as she was hoping for something more than a charm.

With the charm in place, that arm went around Rick's neck and she pressed the whole length of her body against him as she sought his mouth. She kissed him fiercely, passively then leaned back and put two fingers against his lips. "These will belong to me. She whispered, pressing in again.

Castle was a little in shock this version of Kate Beckett was one that he had dreamed of and wanted but never expected to see and was having trouble believing yet wanting to. Martha was right love did not have a switch that he could turn off but the hurt from her past actions was still strong and his uncertainty level high. Kate released him and stepped back.

"I know that you don't believe yet, my love but you will, you will."

The moments with Andrea Shea and Grace Long were not televised.

The cocktail party started only moments after the end of the charm presentations, each of the women noting who remained in the running. Erin Boyle stood a little aside watching Rick's interaction with the other women. Her years in the DA's office had made her a keen observer and good judge of character. She considered only two of the other women serious competition for Rick's heart. The Irish doctor and that damn cop. Oh she knew all about Kate Beckett and Richard Castle. After all the NYPD was a terrible gossip mill. On top of that, her father was the police commissioner and her two brothers were cops.

Part of her was unhappy with Kate simply because she was competition but a larger part didn't like the casual way Kate had treated a friend of long standing. She was thoroughly convinced that Kate didn't deserve him.

As for Allison McClintock she was simply the most beautiful woman of the group with a personality to match. Erin watched for a few more minutes then got back into the main thrust of the party. Again each woman got her five minutes of alone time with Rick.

Erin was of Irish heritage but Allison was Irish and Erin envied Allison's lilting voice with just a faint hint of a brogue. Dressed in a rich shade of green that accented her eyes Allison was saying something to Rick that had his eyes dancing with merriment and the rumble of his laughter in the background. The petite Latina snagged Rick next and pulled him off to a darker part of the room. Erin noted, with some satisfaction, that the statuesque Nordic was going to take herself out of the running early on. She'd clearly had more aquavit than was strictly good for her and when her turn came, she was loud, giggly and handsy which a couple of personality changes ago might have appealed to Rick but no longer did.

Kate's time with Rick was quiet but intense and she came away from it with a tiny smile that Erin didn't like at all. When Erin's turn came, she wisely didn't attack any of the other women; she just quietly built on the relationship that already existed.

Blaise Klein came on again. "Now ladies I want you to pay close attention. From here on in things get very serious. With each private date comes the possibility of elimination. At the end of the date if Rick gives you a charm, you will remain on the show. If he does not you will be leaving for good." Three dates were scheduled for the week, one on Wednesday, one on Friday and one on Sunday. Blaise announced that Sunday's date could last as long as both party's wanted it to. Amanda Grayson drew Wednesday, Alana De Cabrillo drew Friday and Kate got Sunday. Castle wanted each woman to thoroughly enjoy their dates so he planned quickly after the dates were announced.

He would take Amanda to his favorite barbecue house that had simply amazing baby back ribs and hot links with the best barbecue beans he'd ever tasted. Following that, he would take her to his favorite jazz and blues club. Alana would be treated to a French restaurant and a production of Les Miserables. He kept his plan for Kate close to his chest. He wasn't going to tell her until he arrived at her apartment, asking her not to dress until he arrived.

He planned to do something she never would expect of him. He was going to show up on his Harley with a picnic and take her riding with him, him on his bike, and she on hers. She would never expect it and he was really looking forward to her reaction, as all during her affair with Dr. Motorcycleboy and her gushing about their rides Rick had never let on that he too was a motorcyclist and probably a better rider. He was not only used to cruisers he'd ridden some of the fastest, most powerful sport motorcycles in the world, even competing in a few amateur races both in America and Europe.

Castle was confused at his emotions. Kate's overtures to him and apparent need for him was eroding the walls he had built and making it difficult to remain objective about the very real possibilities with both Allison and Erin. He owed an honest effort to the other women in this too and it was getting harder to do and it was only the second week in. He was beginning to believe that Kate's professed love for him was real, that she in fact wanted a life with him.

Or at least, at this point she believed it. But could he trust her? That was hard, very hard. What if he passed up this chance with Erin and then Kate ran again? There was also Allison to consider. She also had so much to offer, intelligence, beauty, passion, empathy. This was ten times harder than he thought it would be. Worse, none of these women were bimbos. For those dismissed in these early days it was probably nothing worse than a sting to their pride, a slight bruise to their egos but as it neared the end game some real heartbreak would be involved.

This internal debate wasn't getting him anywhere. He'd committed to this and he would carry it through hoping that the end result would be a committed relationship.

At the loft the show left everyone with a sense of satisfaction and a high degree of hope. Not only had Kate made the cut she had the whole day with Rick if she could carry it off. It was a chance for some real progress.

More quickly than Rick was truly ready for Wednesday evening arrived. Both Riley's Rack of Ribs and The Baby Blue Blues Club were pretty laid back places so castle dressed accordingly. Well- fitting black Levis, a dark polo shirt, black leather jacket and loafers. As with all his dates, he showed up with a bouquet, in this case orchids. Amanda wore blue skinny jeans with a white peasant blouse, a cashmere sweater and black pumps. Amanda smiled and took the orchids, putting them in a vase. "Looking like you just stepped off the pages of GQ, Rick, trying to impress the girl?" Rick laughed a full throated expression of enjoyment."

"Is it working Amanda? You certainly look lovely tonight."

Amanda laughed in turn. "Oh yeah, it's working Rick." They went to his car and he opened the door for her. She ran her hand over the soft leather of the seat before seating herself. Very nice elegant but not overstated. Tim Riley, the owner met them at the door of Riley's Rack of Ribs.

He grabbed Rick's hand. "Hey buddy, where have you been hiding? It's been at least a year since you came in. And who is this lovely lady?"

"Tim Riley, I'd like you to meet Amanda Grayson. Amanda, Tim owns this place took it over from his dad. He's been burning meat in here since he got out of the army."

Tim's smile was huge. "It's a real pleasure to meet you Amanda. Don't listen to a word Rick says. Rick used to be my platoon leader in the army. He used so much tabasco sauce that he burned out his taste buds. He couldn't tell prime rib from roasted skunk.

Rick ordered a sampler platter for them. A rack of baby back ribs, tri-tip, and hot links with sides of barbecue beans and sweet-potato fries. They kept up a light, laughing conversation through dinner and although he was enjoying himself Rick couldn't feel any deepening connection.

It was much the same at the jazz club, both enjoying the music but if felt like they were each in a different place emotionally. Finally Rick took Amanda back to her apartment. He only went as far as her front door. He looked into her eyes and gave her a gentle smile.

"Amanda, you're a beautiful lady and I have enjoyed our date but I'm sorry I just don't feel a deep enough connection to keep this thing going. I feel that it's kinder to end it now."

Amanda returned the smile. "I know Rick and I agree. You're one of the hottest men I've ever met but a fine booty is only good for a one-night stand. I think that we're far too different people to make it work. I've got no regrets, I've had a wonderful time with you and hey, I got some major bling out of the deal, a win all the way around. She kissed his cheek. Good bye and be happy Rick."

Driving back to the loft Rick was surprised that he felt no sadness about how tonight's date had gone. They'd both had fun yet realized that there was nothing else beyond an enjoyable date. Alexis had been waiting up and was both pleased and a little surprised that it wasn't even midnight when her dad walked through the door. "You're home earlier than I thought you'd be Dad, was there something wrong with the date? Rick raised an eyebrow at his daughter. "Checking up on me? There was nothing wrong with the date, it was fun but that's all it was. Not going forward with this lady." "Okay Dad, I'm going to bed now. Good night."

It felt like time accelerated for Rick. It was Friday evening, time for the date with Alana. This one was a little more formal so Rick chose a dark blue suit for the occasion, going with red roses again for the bouquet. Alana was stunning in a black silk tea-dress with enough of a vee neck line that showed a generous amount of cleavage. Rick used his car service for this date. He knew how difficult finding parking would be in the theater district and at the exclusive restaurant he'd chosen.

They shared a Chateaubriand with baked potatoes and asparagus accompanied by a Cabernet Sauvignon. Alana was a sparkling conversationalist witty and urbane yet letting enough of her expectations through that Rick knew that she wanted a solid future with the right man.

Once in the theater she became caught up in the emotions of the characters while still aware of her companion, lacing her fingers with his and leaning against his shoulder, borrowing his handkerchief when her tears began to fall. She snuggled against him on the ride back to her apartment and invited him in for a nightcap.

After fixing drinks for them she sat beside him on the couch and pulled her legs up under her, revealing a stretch of smoothly tanned thigh. Sipping her drink she gazed at Rick, a hopeful question that didn't need to be voiced showing in her large, dark eyes.

"Alana, I've had a wonderful evening with you and I think that I'd like to get to know you better. If you want to get to know me, will you accept this charm?" She held out her wrist.

"Yes Rick I will accept the charm because I do want to know you and see where this can go." As soon as the charm was in place she placed both hands around his face and pulled him in for a kiss, one that led to more until they were making out heavily on the couch. Panting, she finally pulled away. "Rick, I think that we should stop now. If we don't this could get too serious too soon, because right now I want you so badly. I want you inside of me and I know that no matter how much I want it, I'm not ready yet."

Rick nodded and smiled. "I understand Alana, I really do. I'm not some horny teen-ager I can wait until it's right."

Please review. Kate's date coming up. Swordwriter