Gifts of Love Large and Small - Chapter 4
"Do you have work to do today?"
Her husband looks up from his computer, blinking at the sunlight coming in from the balcony. The day had started out gloomy with dark, almost ominous clouds overhead, and she had wondered on the way to the kids' school if it would spend the entire time looking like it might rain or even snow, but the sun had managed to break through by the time she returned to the loft.
"Huh?" he asks, rather indelicately, and she feels a little bit bad for interrupting him. He's had so many ups and downs with his writing lately, she doesn't want to get in the way of his process if he's finally managed to break through the block he hasn't wanted to admit to having.
Beckett shakes her head, waving him off. "Don't worry about it. You're writing, I'm not going to interrupt."
Rick jumps to his feet, closing his laptop and rounding his desk to catch her before she retreats into the living room to get a refill of her coffee and think of plan B for her day off.
"I was looking up a couple other gift ideas," he explains, toying with her fingers. "I don't have another deadline until after the first of the year."
She nods. She's been trying not to push him, preferring to let him give her information instead of dragging it out of him the way she would a suspect or a person of interest in a case. The fact that he has a deadline, though, would imply that he's writing in some way, even if she doesn't know yet what he's been writing.
"Nikki Heat?" she asks, clearing her throat. "Or…"
Her husband grins, using his light grip on her hand to tug her forward. "You'll see, Kate. You'll see."
She hums, lifting her chin and meeting his mouth with hers. "Tease," she whispers to his lips.
"My point," he continues, brushing his thumbs over her biceps, "is that I am free right now for whatever you have in mind. And I do mean… whatever you have in mind." He wiggles his eyebrows.
"Cute," she says. She steals another kiss from his mouth, though, rocking her hips into his. "I was going to ask you to take a walk with me. But we can do this, too."
Castle hums in agreement, nipping at her lip. "I'm game."
Kate laughs. She nudges him back into the office and through the doorway to their bedroom, tugging his shirt from his pants and slipping her hands under the fabric and along his spine.
His fingers bunch against the back of her t-shirt, pulling her flush against his chest. She breathes his name, encouraging the slide of his mouth over her jaw and down her neck as she plucks at the buttons on his shirt.
They stumble across the room toward the bed, landing on the mattress in a heap, practically giggling against each other's skin as they bounce and narrowly avoid the worst of their wild elbows and knees.
"We can walk later," he says, brushing her hair away from her forehead.
"Yeah," she agrees before tugging him down to her and tugging at his lip with her own.
Thankfully, it's still sunny when they finally make it outside. Cold, too. She thinks the temperature might've actually dipped since she dropped Reece, Jake, and Lily at school, but with her coat buttoned up tightly against her throat, it's not so bad.
She also doesn't mind the view with Castle beside her. Her husband's bundled up like her, only he's added a blue striped scarf on top of his coat as well. It's been a long time since she's seen this particular one, he hasn't worn it since the early days of their partnership; she's missed it, that much she can say.
"So, Mrs. Castle," he murmurs, looking around the sidewalk before turning his attention back to her, "where are we headed today?"
She can feel her cheeks heat under his gaze and glances away to give herself time to think beyond the warmth of his skin underneath her fingertips and the taste of him on her lips. It's been a long time since one of her days off was spent the way they have so far and her stomach clenches in want for more.
"To the park?" she suggests. "I'll let you buy me a coffee from the cart we like."
He grins, lifting her gloved hand and tucking it into the curve of his elbow. "I think I can do that."
She hums in appreciation, striding along the sidewalk with him. The streets are busy enough, but not packed like she would've expected them to be just ten days before Christmas. Fine with her. A leisurely stroll with Castle is exactly what she'd been hoping for when she originally proposed getting out of the house.
"Thanks for coming with me. I know you don't get a ton of time to work most days."
He scoffs. "I can write when they're sleeping; I also don't get a ton of time with you most days, so I'm making the call."
"Well, I'd say you've made the most of your time today so far," she says, pressing her face to the curve of his shoulder.
He chuckles, thumbing her knuckles through her gloves. "You think so? I think so, too."
"Mmm," she agrees, content to let him crow a little bit about their earlier activities. She can't blame him for his boasting; they'd been pretty great. And if they happen to get back to the loft with enough time before she has to leave to pick up the kids, she would definitely not be opposed to a repeat performance.
"You're thinking about it now, aren't you?" he asks, a grin in his voice.
"Shut up," she orders, nudging him with her elbow.
He nudges right back, chuckling.
They could sit once they have their coffee, but the only open tables and benches seem to be in the shade, so they opt to continue their easy stroll. That's fine with her; the last thing she wants is to stop and end up a popsicle in a coat and jeans.
"So, what else do you want to do today?" Castle asks after they've made their most recent winding lap around the park in a quest to chase the sunshine.
She lifts a shoulder. "We could do some more shopping; the kids are done, but I know we haven't finished getting everything for your mom and Alexis-"
"And we're still undecided about your dad, too," he adds.
Kate nods. "Right. I tried to find out if there's anything he needs for his place or for the cabin, but he wasn't exactly helpful."
Rick sips his coffee. "He probably knows you're asking for gift-buying purposes. I should try it."
She snickers. "Yeah, because you're so incredibly subtle when it comes to gifts, Castle. It's definitely not going to tip him off if you – Mr. Gift Ninja – start asking questions."
He chuckles. "While I appreciate your acknowledging that I am a gift ninja, I also take offense at the idea that I can't pull off an information-gathering session and manage to surprise your dad for Christmas."
She clucks her tongue. "Okay, Castle. You're on. If you get more out of him than I did, I will…"
"Ooh, I like where this is going."
Her eyes roll. "I'll wear that ridiculous sweater you bought me last year."
Castle seems to consider the offer. "Not entirely what I was hoping I'd get out of the deal, but okay. And if it turns out that you got more out of him than I can, I will…"
"Move the Baby Yoda statue to the garden in the Hamptons next time we go."
His mouth opens to protest but she pokes his chest. "It doesn't need to be by our front door at home, Rick. It's better than the bathroom yes, but still."
Her husband sighs. "Fine, okay. If you are the more successful one, we will pack Grogu in the car with us on our next trip to the Hamptons."
Her hand slips into his, shaking firmly. "Deal. Make the call, babe, and we'll see who wins."
"Oh, I will," he assures, sipping his coffee again. "But first, I need some time to consider my questions and determine the best angle to come at the conversation from. I can't go into it unprepared if I expect to beat you."
Kate narrows her eyes. "You're stalling."
"Not stalling, just carefully planning. I like to be thorough, as you are well-aware."
"Mhmm." She veers a little off the path but into a patch of sun and follows that. "See how thorough you can be while we still have time to shop."
He chuckles, catching up to her and looping his arm around her shoulders for a quick squeeze. Kate exhales, leaning into him and letting him take the lead for the next few laps of their walk.
Slightly shorter chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Thank you for reading! I appreciate you all.
Until next chapter!