He had noticed her the second that she leaned up against the bookshelves listening to him narrate the book he was reading to the children. He had not seen her since his best friend was arrested for grand theft. But when he noticed her standing there a flood of memories came back into his head, none of which were a pleasant thought.
He didn't know it then but he guessed that she was a staff member who brought the children to the library to listen to him narrate one of their favorite books. He figured it out after she showed up with the children from the Youth Center. He could tell that she was engrossed in what he was saying as he narrated the book. Every time he looked up he could see her hanging on his every word. He could just imagine if this was an adult book instead of a children's book she'd be practically eating out of his hand.
She was beautiful in his eyes and he wanted to get to know her a lot better. But now he would have to finish reading the book he was reading to the children and maybe later they could strike up a conversation. When he was finished reading the book the children all said that they wanted more. He told them that next weekend would have to be the next time he would read to them because he was getting tired. He took a chance and looked up at her and she looked like she had just lost her best friend. So he quickly got up off the small chair he was sitting on and walked over to where she was standing.
"Hi, Detective Beckett, it's been a while since we last talked."
"How-do-you-do Mr. Rogers. I'm glad that you remembered me." Kate said coyly.
"It's nice to meet you again Kate. I was wondering that if you had the time, I'd like to sit down and talk with you for a little bit."
"Well, other than the children needing to be brought back to the youth center I could probably meet you for coffee not far from where the center is. If that's okay with you."
"That would be fine, just tell me what time and where and I'll meet you there."
Kate was ecstatic. He wanted to meet with her to talk. She was happy but then she thought about her current situation. She was only a cop and he was an established best-selling writer. He had already written five children's books and they were selling like hotcakes. Why would he want to talk to her? A small voice in her brain said,
You don't know what he wants to talk about. And if it is about a romantic relationship why not give him a chance?
"Okay. There is a small mom-and-pop coffee shop on 27th street and 8th Avenue. Would you want to meet me there in about two hours?"
"That sounds fine. I'll meet you there."
Kate walks back to where her friend is standing this is standing with the children. Dee Dee sees that there is a look on her face that could be mistaken as joy but she doesn't know yet.
"Okay Kate out with it." Her friend Dee Dee says.
"I have a coffee date after we get the children back to the Youth Center. But I'm not sure that I am going to go."
"Why not? I am going to assume that you are going to meet the sexy hunk that was reading to the kids, right? So what's the problem?"
"Dee, I am just a homicide cop. And I live in the real world. He is so far above my social circle that I need to get a ladder to reach where he is in life." Kate laughs a little at her last statement.
"Oh no you don't. Why do you put yourself down like that? Listen to me Kate Beckett you are a very desirable woman. He would be lucky to know you and have you as a close friend."
"Really?"
"Really. You can do this. Remember that he asked you and not the other way around. Just be yourself."
She just needed a confidence boost and her friend gave her just that.
Xx
Rick decided that getting to the coffee shop before she arrived was not only the responsible thing to do for a date, but also he wanted her to see that he was there and she should not be worried about him not showing up.
When he asked her in the library, her whole face lit up with what looked to be like joy. But as quick as a split second the look on her face turned from being radiant to chagrin. He wanted to put her at ease so here he sits in a booth that has seen better days.
He watches the comings and goings of the people needing their early evening caffeine fix. He is so engrossed in his people watching that he almost misses her as she walks towards the entrance. He watches as she looks around taking everything in around her. He thinks it must be a cop thing and it's confirmed for him when she steps up to the booth.
"Hi Kate."
"Hey, Richard. Do you mind terribly if I sit where you are?"
"No, not at all. But can I ask why?" Rick asks as he transfers seats.
"I just like to have an advantage if I need it. We were taught in the academy to keep our eyes on ingress and egress points whenever we can. This seat provides me with an unobstructed view of the front door and the side exit."
"Wow. I never realized that was a thing. By the way please call me Rick. Calling me Richard makes me feel a lot older than I really am. So did the children make it back to the center without an issue?"
"They did. Dee and Jayla are amazing. I can barely keep up with the kids but they have their wrangling skills down to a science. And Jayla is so young, but she knows what to do to keep them content. I think that she will be good in the child care field when she gets older. She is so good with the kids."
"I know. I've seen her with them when I've been reading to them. She seems to be very helpful when they are there."
The waitress comes up to their booth and asks what they want to drink. Kate orders a latte and Rick orders a mochaccino. The conversation seems to stall just a little bit but then Kate asks him a question.
"Rick, can I ask how it is that you came to write books about Charlie?"
For a question that was meant to break the ice, he thought it was a rather odd one. But one that needed an answer no matter what. He needed to be cautious about how he did answer it because if he gave up his secret he knew that this would be the end of their relationship before it ever started. So he needed to formulate the proper response without giving himself away.
"When I was younger my mother used to read me stories from the Hardy Boys books. Do you remember them?"
Kate nodded her head so he continued.
"I always thought that if they had a head start, solving their cases would be a lot easier for them by using what they possessed as a power. I just applied that gift to Charlie and wrote all about how he would say people's lives. In the books that I write, he always does the right thing, the good thing. He never uses his powers for evil."
"So you have a really vivid imagination. That's amazing. Even though your books are meant for children of a certain age group I can tell you that adults find them just as interesting."
"At first, it wasn't my intention to write for the older crowd. My original goal was just to make kids think about how other people could have a gift that could help anyone."
Seeing that they had started a great dialogue Rick decided to ask her a question.
"So Kate can you tell me why you became a cop? I know that you had to be at the top of your class to become a detective."
"It's a long story, Rick. One that I'm not comfortable with sharing right now."
"I understand. So how long have you been working with the children from the center?"
"I have been there for about three years. Once I had my life straightened out I decided to give back to the community. I like working with the kids because their minds are open to anything."
The rest of the afternoon when pretty well in Rick's mind. Before they knew it it was almost time for dinner and he really wanted to take her to dinner but decided against asking her because the date has gone really good so far and he wasn't about to push the issue. He wasn't sure if there were something that was holding her back if he did ask her so he decided to keep quiet. He's pretty sure that they would be more dates and he couldn't wait to be with her again.
When they were ready to go, Rick, being the gentleman that he is offered his hand to Kate in order for her to get up from the booth. When he took her hand something happened. The minute he touched her hand it was like her whole body had taken over his. It was something he couldn't explain and this was something new that he had never experienced before in his life.