AN: Thank you again for your reviews! I hope you enjoy this week's update. It's my birthday weekend this week, so there will be no post this upcoming Sunday. Depending on work, I may post an update this Thursday. I can't promise anything, but I will do my best. Enjoy!

CH3

The only bad thing about owning a bakery was the early hours she had to wake up for. Yes, when she was a detective she worked some crazy hours, but this was different. It wasn't like she didn't enjoy this, she did. It was just different waking up at 3 am to start making cookies than waking up at 3 am because you were called to a murder scene.

She turned the lights on to the bakery and started up the coffee machine first. She needed coffee before she even tried to do anything. She turned on the oven and got her ingredients out to start making some pastries. She turned on some music, to make it seem like she wasn't alone. Her dad always told her he could help, but she declined. She mainly needed his help a few hours before they opened and of course the morning rush. She was glad that they were able to do things like this together. At first, she was reluctant to do this. Baking reminded her of her mother and even though they were good memories, they were memories that brought to light that she was gone and they couldn't make more memories together. There was also of course that part of her that still wanted to be a detective. If she ever changed her mind and went back, would she have just wasted away money? Would she be, in a way, letting her mom down? She knew that she couldn't go back so she shouldn't be thinking about that. However, she knew there was always going to be that part of her that would want to go back to being a detective.

As she was going to make herself a cup of coffee, she heard a slight knock on the door. The sign said that they were closed, so this customer knew she wasn't open yet. She was about to shoo them away as she pointed to the sign, but then she saw who it was. Richard Castle was standing there with this big grin on his face. What the hell was he doing here at 3...oh he was called to a murder. She went over to the door and unlocked it. "Called to a murder?"

"My first one. I feel like it's Christmas morning….but a Christmas morning where I know I shouldn't be this happy because all I got was coal."

She couldn't help but smile as she let him inside before locking the door behind him.

"My advice, don't eat before you go...just in case."

"Oh no, I'm not here for your treats….although that cheesecake last night was one of the few things in life that is better than sex."

Kate laughed. "I appreciate the compliment. What are you here for then?"

"Coffee. I figured you'd be here and with my ruggedly handsome looks I might be able to convince you to open the door...which worked." She gave him a look that was deadly, but hot at the same time.

"It's only because you tip well. One coffee or two?"

He smiled in delight. "Two, please."

She went over to the coffee machine and when she pressed the brew button, it started steaming and not in a good way. He ran behind the counter to help her. "You ok?"

"Yea, I'm fine. This machine is sometimes like that. Espo gave me an old machine from the precinct to use and well you take what you can get when you're opening up your first business."

"I'm just glad your coffee doesn't taste like the coffee at the precinct. It might be new, but that tastes like monkey pee and battery acid….not that I know what either of those tastes like...but I can presume."

She laughed. "I usually stopped somewhere before going into work if I needed coffee. I probably should have warned you before you went in."

"Oh I don't blame you, but if there is anything else I should know about that tastes or smells like that, please don't hold back."

"Not that I can think of." The fresh coffee started brewing correctly this time and once it was done, she handed the two cups to Castle. "I'd offer you something else, but nothing is freshly made yet."

He handed her the second cup of coffee after he paid. "Don't worry, coffee is all I need."

She wasn't expecting him yet again today. Ok, she was a little because he was so excited this morning, but especially not with a huge box in his hands. She rushed over to the front door and opened it for him. "What are you doing?"

"Hello to you too."

She looked at the side of the box and he brought it inside. "Castle, you did not buy me a new coffee machine."

"Oh yes, I did. Now that I'm working only a few buildings away, I need to make sure that my favorite bakery has a working coffee machine. My ruggedly good looks would not work on Mr. Johnson down the street in his bodega. And if it did, Mrs. Johnson wouldn't be so happy."

"How do you know there's not a Mr. Beckett that wouldn't be too happy about you using these said ruggedly handsome good looks on me?"

He placed the box down on the counter. "One, I just said ruggedly, so thank you for thinking I'm handsome. Two, there's no ring on your finger, which yes I know you could take it off for baking purposes, but there would still be a tan line. And three, I asked Ryan." He said that last part with a big smile.

She rolled her eyes. "You really didn't have to buy this."

"Nonsense. Can you hand me a box cutter or a pair of scissors? I'll help set it up for you. I have something similar at home."

She gave him a soft smile as she passed him a box cutter. "Thank you. Can I at least give you the first coffee on the house?"

"Only if you have one with me."

"Deal."

She helped him set things up when she wasn't taking care of a customer. When it was set up, as promised, Kate brewed them both a cup of coffee.

"So are you happy with your purchase?"

"Oh I'm thrilled, but the real question is are you?"

"Yes, thank you again for this. You didn't have to."

"Just think of it as a thank you for helping me make a good first impression." He went towards the door and switched the open sign to closed. "Do you need any help cleaning up?"

"Is that your way of saying you want to share about what happened at the murder scene?"

He placed his hand over his chest. "Why Kate Beckett how dare you accuse me of these things….but I would not be opposed to chatting with you about my day if you did need my help. "

She handed him a broom. "Sweep." She never imagined having Richard Castle in her bakery nonetheless having him sweep the floors. "Just leave over here for last. I'm going to prepare some dough for tomorrow morning."

"That sounds so much more fun than cleaning."

"Hey, you offered." He pouted as he started sweeping. She shook her head. "So what happened today besides you went to go buy me a coffee machine?"

His pout went away and he had the biggest smile she had ever seen. He told her how he arrived and didn't throw up. How he went down to the morgue and met Lanie, who he found out was Kate's best friend and also Esposito's on and off-again girlfriend. He told her how they used a whiteboard to map out their suspects, how he saw Ryan interrogate someone, and how they had to chase him before being able to interrogate them.

"It sounds like you had a busy day."

"I didn't even get to the best part. I saw this beautiful woman and she gave me coffee."

She looked at him. "Beautiful huh? You sure you don't want her to be just another one of your conquests?"

"I could be one of hers."

She smirked as she took the broom from him. "Thank you for helping. I do appreciate it."

"Until tomorrow, Kate."

"Why don't you say goodbye or goodnight?"

"I'm a writer. Goodnight is boring. Make sure you lock up behind me."

"Castle, I have a gun."

"Please tell me you have a leg holster."

"Wouldn't you like to know. Goodnight, Castle."

Oh, he definitely would like to know. Pat her down until he found it. He mentally shook his head to get those thoughts out of his head. Normally, he would have acted on those thoughts. However, Kate was….different. He just didn't want a one-night stand with her. She was on his mind since they met and he had a feeling she was going to stay there. So instead, he exited the bakery and would walk home to write.