AN: Surprise! I may not have free time tomorrow, so enjoy this day early chapter. As always, thank you for your kind words.
CH5
It had been a couple of weeks now since Castle had walked through the doors of her bakery. He still came by twice a day, once in the morning and then at closing time to help her out. She felt a little odd at first having him help since she wasn't paying him, but he assured her that leftover baked goods, coffee, and her sharing stories about previous cases were a perfect way to repay him.
Today was going to be different. She wasn't at her bakery. She was home. Her dad assured her that he would be able to handle everything (along with the part-timers she had hired) and that she should rest. She had woken up not feeling well and she didn't want to get her customers or her father sick. She took to the couch as her resting spot for the rest of the day, not bothering to change out of the yoga pants and oversized t-shirt she wore to bed. She had enough energy to make herself coffee and some toast. She was just about to open up her laptop when she heard a knock on the door.
She knew it wasn't her dad, he was working….so who the hell could it be. Her PTSD kicked in a bit, as her first instinct was to grab her gun. She fought past it and got up from the sofa. She cautiously made her way to the door and looked through the peephole. "Castle?" How did he know where she lived? He was carrying a bag, a box of baked goods (she presumed), and two coffees from….her dad that's how he knew she was home.
She opened the door to let him in. "My dad told you where I lived?"
"He also told me that you were sick and I volunteered to bring you some food. He said that sometimes you forget to take care of yourself, so I graciously volunteered to come to make sure that you were doing okay." She stepped aside to let him into her apartment. "This is a nice place you have here." He saw the coffee and the piece of toast on the coffee table. "Glad to see that you tried to eat something. Besides bringing you some croissants, bear claws, and coffee I also have some medicine, a container of orange juice, some tea bags, honey, and my favorite chocolate. Chocolate always makes things better."
"You didn't have to do that."
"Hey, I have to take care of my favorite baker because I might have had a sip of the coffee your dad made and it's not the same as the way you make it."
"I've placed a small amount of nutmeg in your coffee since you've been in."
"Are you sure you don't have my Twitter notifications turned on?"
She shook her head. "No, I just remember…. Never mind." Shit, her being sick wasn't helping her keep her little secrets.
"Oh no, Katherine Beckett, you need to finish that sentence. How did you know I like nutmeg in my coffee?"
She sighed. "We met once...before you came into Johanna's."
He looked shocked. "We did? Why don't I remember you?"
"There were a lot of people there that day. It was at a book signing. I happened to be there and overheard you ask someone, I assume your assistant or publisher, for a cup of coffee with nutmeg."
"Were you there for the book signing or a murder?"
She bit her lip, not wanting to share this with him just yet. "The former."
"So you are a fan!"
"Of the genre."
"Way to stab me in the heart."
"I'll make it up to you by adding nutmeg to your coffee."
"No, you're supposed to be resting. Sit down and make yourself comfortable. I do have another surprise for you."
She sat down on the sofa and grabbed a bear claw. "What's the surprise?"
He pulled out the manuscript of 'Heat Wave' and handed it to her before he sat down in the chair by the sofa. "I changed the title since the last time we spoke about it, but as promised I am letting you read it. I figured it would be a good get-well-soon gesture. Black Pawn is more than thrilled that I have given them the first draft of a new series."
"Series?"
"I got approval from Captain Espositio and Detective Ryan that I can come back for my next book….just as long as I had two characters based off of them too."
"So I guess you'll be one of my regulars for the foreseeable future?"
"Even if I wasn't shadowing Ryan, I'd still come in every day to see you."
"Why?" She didn't realize she said that out loud until she heard the words. She could tell he wasn't expecting her words too.
"I really like you, Kate. I mean, yes you are beautiful, but….there's more than that to you. You're extraordinary. If you don't believe it, read the dedication."
She opened up the manuscript and took a look at the first page where the dedication read, 'To the extraordinary KB and all my friends at the 12th'. He dedicated a book to her!? "You didn't have to…"
"I know I didn't, but it's true. This book wouldn't have happened without you. I will always be grateful to you for that."
She would have kissed him if she wasn't sick. Maybe it was the medicine that was making her want to give in to the temptation that was Richard Castle? She shook the thoughts mentally from her mind. "Thank you. I'll make sure I tell you what I think."
Castle made himself comfortable in the chair. "I'll be here."
"What? No, I can't read while you're watching me."
"Well, I'm not leaving until you're feeling better. No one should be alone when they're sick."
"You live alone and I'm sure you have gotten sick."
"And it sucks. That's why I'm here to make your sick day more enjoyable. If you don't want to read we could watch… you don't have a T.V in here.."
"I don't have the time to watch T.V."
"Well then, if you don't mind, I'll set you up with my Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus accounts on your laptop. You'll be free to watch whatever you want. Of course, I'll give you my recommendations."
"Castle, you don't have to do that. I'm fine with just reading. I don't want to get you sick."
"Concerned about my well-being?"
"Again, you're a good tipper."
"Alright, but can I at least see your phone?"
"For what reason?"
"In case you change your mind about either the company or you want to watch the Mandalorian. I want you to have my number." She took out her phone and unlocked the screen. She went into her contacts and hit the button for a new contact. She then passed the phone to him. He smiled and typed in his number before sending himself a text (so he could have her number) handing it back to her. He stood up from his chair "Is there anything else I can do for you before I go?"
"Ruggedly Handsome Castle?"
"You've called me that before, so I thought it was fitting."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm changing that and no, I don't need anything else." She was getting up when he placed his hand on his shoulder to stop her. They both locked eyes with one another. Even though there was fabric in between his hand and her skin, they both felt that touch. Thoughts from both of them involved what it would feel like to just have their skin touch. It was like they both snapped out of their thoughts at the same time.
"I should get going."
"Yea, I was going to say you better get going so I can start reading."
"Feel better, Kate." With that, he made his way to the door and exited her apartment, making sure to lock the bottom lock before he exited so she wouldn't have to get up.
