My Grandmother was a Witch

Chapter 13

"It's right on the ocean. You could lay out and work on your tan." Kate had been seeing Demming for days but he wasn't going to give up that easily. But if she said no he just might.

"Wow, Castle, you're working really hard to get me into a swimsuit." That he was still interested in her made her happy and scared at the same time.

"You could always skinny dip." If she didn't want to wear a swimsuit that was fine by him. It did, however, have Kate hiding her grin. She still didn't know what to do with him. She needed to keep him but just how close could she keep him?

_/\_

"Now we know why our victim doesn't exist. He's a spy." Transfixed, they all watched as the pen ate itself after playing a message.

"BEST CASE EVER!" Rick was first shocked and now he was in love.

_/\_

"It's a place called Spy Ventures." Espo brought the website up on his computer. "Spycations. You want a kidnapping, they have a package for that. They have lots of packages." Espo showed off each one.

"All right, so find them. Let's see if their package includes murder," Kate said.

_/\_

"Two affairs, a loveless marriage. It's sad a man had to die because people were too scared to say what they really felt." Roy was glad the case was closed. It increased the closure rate for the precinct and made the Commissioner happy.

"Yes, it is sad." Kate watched Roy walked away and she could see Castle who walked right to her.

"I have to drive Alexis to Princeton and then I'll be right back for that little surprise party the boys are giving me. …What?" Kate had a look on her face he couldn't place.

"Nothing." She had to get rid of Demming first. She owed it to him. She was ready. She wanted to be ready.

_/\_

"It's not just this weekend we're talking about, is it?" Tom asked her.

"No," Kate confirmed. She didn't want to keep seeing him.

"So what are you looking for, Kate?" Tom didn't get it.

_/\_

"Oh, look who's off duty." Kate showed up at his little party.

"Yeah, well I'm not all work." Kate needed to talk to him. Demming was gone and she was ready.

"Don't get into a drinking contest with her. She can take you," Lanie warned him.

"I don't need to drink to take him," Kate countered and got Lanie to "Oooo" at her.

"Castle, got a moment?" She needed to talk to him. She needed something.

"Sure." Rick got up and went out of the breakroom with her.

"Look I know I'm not the easiest person to get to know. And I don't always let on what's on my mind. This past year working with you…I've had a really good time. So I'm just going to say this..." Kate never made it.

"Richard?" Kate saw his ex-wife show up. How had she even got up here in the first place? They had a desk sergeant that should have stopped her.

Now she was watching them walk away arm in arm. "See you in the fall?" Kate called out.

"Yeah, see you in the fall," Rick told her over his shoulder and walked away with his ex-wife.

It hurt. It really, really hurt. She couldn't take this shit! She could even see the hurt looks on all the faces in the break room. "Damn it." But she had an out. One last chance. She was only going to get an hour when what she needed was an entire day. One hour. She was going to have to make it count.

_/\_

"Yes, it is sad," Kate told Roy who walked away. She could see Castle walking toward her, talking on his phone.

"I have to drive Alexis to Princeton and then I'll be right back for that little surprise party the boys are giving me. …What?" Kate had a look on her face he couldn't place.

"I want to come," Kate told him. She still had to dump Demming but she had to tell him.

"Come?" Rick didn't get it.

Kate hoped and prayed. "To the Hamptons. I want to come. If the offer is still open."

"You want to come?" Rick didn't get it. He had high hopes but she had turned him down. She had a boyfriend and he hated him. He wasn't even sure he was going to come back in the fall.

"Yes, if I still can. Can I?" Kate looked him in the eye and tried to look hopeful.

"What about Demming?" She had a boyfriend and it wasn't him.

"It was just a few dates. Nothing serious. I want to come, Castle, truly." She needed him to say yes.

"I… That's GREAT!" He had a problem but if he thought fast enough he could get out of it.

"I can come?" Kate pleaded with her eyes.

"Absolutely!" This was the best news he'd had in a long time.

"I have the weekend off but we both know I have vacation time and I'm still really sorry about that, Castle. I just didn't… I'll make it up to you. I just need to get Montgomery to approve my week off," Kate told him.

Rick pushed his luck. "You could stay all summer." In for a penny in for a pound.

"I don't have that much vacation time. But if I get a couple of days off I could join you. If I can?" She still wasn't sure what Castle was thinking or what she was thinking for that matter.

"I'll arrange for a car service. But I still have to go. I have to drive Alexis to Princeton. Meet me at my place? No, I'll come get you. This is going to be fun, Kate! You'll love it. Warm sun, soft sand, good food. There's even a heated pool if you don't like the ocean." Rick was thinking he had just struck gold. "Bring a swimsuit," he called over his shoulder as he walked away.

Right behind him she could see Demming walking and talking to someone. She still needed to talk to him.

_/\_

Kate had a beer and was standing next to Castle with all her friends sitting there drinking. She knew she was smiling and she had reason to be smiling.

Gina showed up. "Richard?"

"Gina?" He had it all worked out in his head, he just needed to do this. Rick introduced her. "You all know my ex-wife."

"And his editor. Are you ready to go?" She had hopes that this might rekindle something. They could spend the summer together and maybe get married again.

"I'm not going. I'm staying right here." That was his grand last minute plan.

"Wh...what?" Gina sputtered. She wasn't going to take this lying down. "We…you said. You need to write that book, Richard!" Gina glared at him. She shifted to being all business and his ex-wife and was going to crucify him for this affront. He was going to pay for this.

"And I will. I just won't be doing it in the Hamptons is all. I changed my mind," Rick told her.

Gina growled at him; she was ready to kill him now but he was surrounded by police officers. She spun on a dime and stormed off to the elevator.

"You're not leaving, Castle?" Espo was actually kind of happy about that. He liked having Castle around.

"Oh, I'm going to the Hamptons. Just not with her." Rick smiled and looked up at Kate who stood there trying to look as non-committal as possible.

_/\_

Kate watched Castle put her suitcase in his trunk and slam it closed. She knew he had a Ferrari and was kind of hoping he was bringing that car and would let her drive it. Instead he had this fancy Mercedes.

"She sounded angry, Castle," Kate mentioned. She didn't even understand why Gina was even there.

"Gina? Gina's always angry with me for something. It's why she's my ex-wife. Meredith filed for divorce but with Gina I filed for divorce. Marrying her was a mistake. One I should never have made," Rick admitted.

"So where is everyone?" Kate queried as she let him drive for a change since she usually did all the driving. It was her car after all.

"Alexis is spending a month in Princeton and Mother got a part so she's busy and happy. So it will be just you and me. But I promise no funny business. It'll be nothing but fun." Rick promised to not press her for anything.

"I thought you said this was going to be fun, Castle? You trying to spoil it already?" Kate teased him and enjoyed watching and listening to him have trouble even breathing. Yeah, this was going to be fun!

_/\_

It was about a 2 hour drive down a two lane road till he pulled off and went down this rock-filled road toward a mansion. She watched him pull up right out in front of it.

"Here we are," Rick announced.

Kate sat there gaping at it till it turned into a big smile. Demming had talked about a cabin. She was expecting Castle to have a house. This wasn't a house. It was a mansion.

Kate saw Rick open the door for her and she stepped out, still in awe of this place. It was amazingly beautiful and seriously large. "Wow, Castle. Are you rich or something?" This thing had to have cost him a small fortune.

"I'm not Patterson rich but I do okay. Come on, I'll give you the tour." Rick waited for her, escorted her inside, and walked her around the ground floor.

"And this is why I bought this place." Rick opened the French doors and led her out onto the grass. In front of them was a lot of green grass with no weeds, followed by beach with lots of sand and then water.

"This is amazing, Castle." Kate was starting to think a week wasn't long enough but it was all she had.

"The pool is this way." Rick started that way to show her but she didn't move. He could just imagine what she was thinking. "I won't lie, Kate. I've had women up here before. Gina's even spent time here. But none of them were you. Save for Gina, no one except for Alexis and my mother, has ever spent more than a day out here. You're special."

"Are you trying to get in my pants, Castle?" Granted she wanted him to take her pants off. And her panties, her bra, everything.

"I'll admit that when we first met that was exactly what I was trying to do. But it changed over time. It isn't just about getting into your pants anymore, Kate. You're special. I've written two books because of you. If I could just get you to see what I see," Rick told her.

"With me naked on the cover of both. Do you know how much teasing I get over that?" Kate glared at him.

"It sells books and I didn't design the cover. Someone else did." It wasn't his fault.

"That you approved, no doubt," Kate countered. "I need my suitcase." If she was going to enjoy this place she needed to change into something softer and something to take advantage of the sun and warmth here.

_/\_

Rick was carrying her suitcase for her and showing her the various bedrooms. "This one is Alexis's and this one is Mother's so you can use this one. It has its own bathroom." Rick walked inside.

"So where's the master bedroom?" Kate queried and kept walking till she found it. It wasn't quite as big as she thought it would be. It was far too masculine for her taste but that fireplace looked nice. She could see some good times on the floor in front of that. Or on the bed.

Kate took her suitcase from him and dropped it on the bed, showing him where she intended to sleep. Rick immediately thought he knew which spare bedroom he would be sleeping in.

"Are you planning to feed me, Castle?" She wasn't all that hungry but she wasn't ready to strip naked and change clothes in front of him just yet.

"Lunch, coming right up." Rick all but ran out of the room leaving Kate standing there smiling. She was doing this. She had gotten this far and she just needed to keep going and take the next step. That step started with finally kissing him.

Kate stripped and didn't care that the bedroom door was still open. If he came back she was going to show him something. Then she opened her suitcase and looked for the sundress that she had packed.

She thought about putting on panties. She even had a thong in her case but she decided to go without. Maybe she could tease Castle somehow. Her dress of choice meant no bra unless she chose a swimsuit bikini top. So she went without a bra as well. Barefoot, she went downstairs and found Castle in the kitchen.

"Something to drink?" She needed something to steady her nerves. She was still scared. This could blow up in her face and it would hurt something fierce.

"Let's see, Diet Coke, milk, orange juice..." He had others.

"Juice, please." Kate watched him pour a glass and set it in front of her. "And vodka." She needed liquid courage for today and this entire week.

"For lunch?" Rick questioned her. "Vodka." She certainly looked serious. As he poured just a little he couldn't keep himself from looking. SHE WASN'T WEARING A BRA! …OH, GOD! She was trying to kill him, he just knew it.

"Thanks, Castle." Kate used her finger to stir the drink, got up off the bar chair, and headed for those French doors so she could look out again. Damn but this place was really nice.

Rick had made both of them a sub and put them on plates. He turned to ask if she wanted chips since he had some. He had arranged to have groceries delivered and put away. He had a local maid to help clean the place. Own it and enjoy it yes, clean it no.

Seeing her standing there with a little sunlight streaming in made her dress all but disappear. He could see her ass completely and her legs were parted and he didn't see hairs. "She's definitely trying to kill me." He knew it for a fact now. Especially since seeing her ass checks told him she wasn't wearing any panties. She had gone COMMANDO!

_/\_

He decided two could play this game. "Your sandwich is ready. I'll be right back." Rick walked over to the stairs and then ran up them two steps at a time.

He found shorts and skipped underwear, found a muscle shirt and put it on, and came back down barefoot as well.

Kate saw him coming back down the stairs and swallowed hard. She could see his jewels bouncing and his idea of a shirt didn't hide much. "Oh, God." She had thought about trying to hold out till at least tomorrow but that idea was crashing and burning fast.

"Follow me." Rick took her outside onto the grass and she watched him carry over two Adirondack chairs followed by a small table. Then he went back inside and came back out with his food, drink, and a bowl of seedless grapes. Sitting out in the sun eating lunch. Yeah, this was the life. Kate even intentionally let her strap fall off her shoulder and didn't try to put it back. It meant one breast was partially exposed now.

"How cold is the water?" Kate asked him. She turned to look at him and grinned slightly. He was looking at her and his eyes were focused on her chest. She knew for a fact that he was interested. "The water, Castle?"

"Ocean." Rick took his eyes off her breasts and looked out at the water. "Right now it will be a bit cool. Summer's only just starting. It won't warm up enough for weeks if not a couple of months. But you said you might be convinced to come out for a weekend later."

"I did and I would like that. But you have a pool?" Kate asked.

"Partially covered and heated. I just need to turn it on to warm up the water. That will take a few hours." Rick needed to turn the heater on.

"The pool under moonlight. Sounds nice," Kate told him.

"I'll turn on the heater." Rick was up and running to the pool. Kate grinned. She was still a little scared but she was going to do this. She just had one big worry that needed to be worked out. She needed to keep her job. She still needed to figure out who had ordered her mother to be killed.

_/\_

Dinner turned out to be grilled next to the pool that Kate actually really liked. It was big enough to get in some short laps and there was even a deep end.

Kate was sitting there in her sundress with her legs crossed and watched Castle grill.

"Castle? Is me being here stopping you from writing?" Kate didn't want him in even more trouble with Gina.

"Yes, and thank you very much. I love procrastinating. Not to worry. When you go home I'll lose myself in typing till you call to tell me you have two days off so I can call a car service to have you driven out and then back again." Rick wasn't worried at all.

"So how goes the new apartment hunt? You know, you didn't really have to leave. You could have stayed." He meant stay forever but that was dreaming and he knew it.

"I got back most of what I paid for it except for two grand. Finding another one like that is going to be difficult. That place was special. Now I'm renting again so till my lease is up I'm stuck." Kate watched him take it off the grill, put it onto plates and walked toward her with their dinner.

Being served like this was something she could get used to. At least for a little while. She just wasn't someone that could sit back and do nothing with her life. Still being pampered like this felt nice.

"I know a guy who can help you when you're ready. If you want something very different he's the guy. Just tell him what your budget is and he'll find you something." He would have it built for her if she couldn't find something.

"Thanks, Castle." She had little doubt that he would find something for her. "Castle, you're not going to like this but I need to tell you something." If she was going to do this she needed to come clean. Her grandmother would kill her if she didn't do this.

Rick was ready for her to say she wasn't staying the entire week. He was reading too much into this and she was about to burst his bubble.

"When I moved out of the loft, I moved in with Lanie for a couple of weeks." Kate came clean and saw the hurt look on his face. "I'm sorry, Castle. It was nice but your place is for your family. I was a third wheel and felt like I shouldn't be there. It only lasted a couple of weeks."

"Like that mattered to me, or Alexis, or Mother. You really didn't have to do that, Kate." Rick was actually hurt.

"I'm sorry, Castle. It just didn't feel right. It was really nice of you to offer and let me stay," Kate told him. "I still don't have many clothes. There were too many of them they just couldn't get the smoke smell out of."

"Well, now I know what to get you for your birthday at least," Rick said with a slight smile and saw Kate grin as she ate.