Slow Burn
Chapter 13
Just as Kate is considering trying to lick the glaze off her porcelain dessert plate or contemplating setting fire to the centerpiece for some diverting fun, the band arrives to begin setting up for an evening of dancing and entertainment.
The volume of chatter rises as soon as the musicians begin testing their mics and tuning their instruments. People get up from their tables and move around the room, greeting friends and relatives that they haven't seen since the last family wedding, anniversary or funeral.
Lanie, Esposito, Castle, and Kate remain at their own table with two other couples who are also in their thirties. One of the women, an attractive brunette called Callie, is a neurosurgeon. She and Lanie have been talking shop for the last half an hour, affording Kate a break from her best friend's watchful eye.
In an effort to appear polite and sociable, though they really don't want to move and Kate finds the whole ritual old-fashioned in any case, Espo changes seats and invites Castle to do the same so that the four men can sit together and talk about whatever a homicide detective, a mystery writer, a high school chemistry teacher, and a banker find to talk about over coffee and petit fours.
Kate stands when Castle does. A mix of longing and concern flashes across his face. But she smiles at him and surreptitiously squeezes his elbow. "Ladies room," she explains quietly. In truth, she plans to go outside for a little air and a break from the overwhelming din of so many people talking at once.
Castle nods, his gaze remaining fixed on her face, her mouth. His hand finds hers and he clasps it for just a second too long because Lanie sees and no doubt lip reads when he whispers, "Hurry back," before letting her go.
When Castle joins the men, Esposito tips his chin in Beckett's direction. "What's all that about, bro?"
Castle seethes inwardly. Kate was right about them being watched as if they are perps under surveillance. This is the downside of hanging with cops: they miss nothing. Castle channels his mother to improvise. With a convincing, offhand shrug, he says, "Just asking Beckett when she thinks they'll cut the cake." Espo considers his answer for a moment before he nods and decides to let it go.
The men talk about sports.
Castle listens but doesn't really engage. His attention is focused on the large set of double doors he last saw Kate disappear through as he waits for her to return. He feels like he's in a dream today, a dream where every wish he has comes true, and Kate is the one making it possible. For once in his life, he doesn't have to charm, or scrabble, strategize, fight, bribe, or persuade. She's leading the way because she wants the dream as much as he does. It's the best feeling in the world.
"Yo! Castle. You with us?" Esposito asks, bumping Castle's shoulder.
"I'm…sorry, what?" Castle asks distractedly.
Kate is walking across the floor, gracefully dodging kids, adults, and around tables and chairs as she heads back towards their table. She is a sight for sore eyes. Her dress hugs her figure perfectly, just the right side of too tight, and her height in the heels she's wearing sets her level with or just a little above most of the men at the wedding reception. Her hips sway and her arms swing, her gait and shoulders loosened by champagne and her good mood, and her hair bounces and shimmers against her back as she walks. She looks like a goddess to Castle and judging by the covetous looks she's attracting from the many other men who're now openly staring as they track her progress across the floor, he's not alone in this assessment.
When she reaches her seat on the opposite side of the table, she gives Castle an apologetic smile because she's forced, for the time being, by good manners into conversation with Lanie and the three other woman.
It's sweet torture for both of them.
As Espo pesters Castle for an answer to a question he hasn't even heard, he feels a surge of absolute relief when the lead singer of the band taps the microphone to announce the happy couple is about to take to the floor for the first dance. Everyone at the table stands to applaud as they watch Kevin lead Jenny to the middle of the room where the newlyweds begin to move to a cover version of "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton.
Gradually, the whistling and hollering subside, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen plus both sets of parents join the Ryans on the dancefloor. When the band invites the other guests to join the wedding party, the rest of Kate and Castle's table sit down to resume their conversation.
Kate turns to make eye contact with Castle, only to find him already looking at her. She's just indicating the dance floor with the trails of her eyes and the jerk of her head when she feels a hand land on her arm. She turns around to find a tall man of about Castle's height standing behind her. He is slightly older and classically handsome, with a squared off jaw, salt and pepper hair, pale blue eyes, and he has his hand held out in front of him for Kate to shake.
"You look like a lady who knows her way around a dance floor. I'm Brett Carthage. Would you care to dance?"
Castle watches the man proposition Kate, and his heart feels like it's being crushed. Beckett is shaking the man's hand, but before she can even say anything, Esposito is poking Castle in the back and urging him around the table. "You've got to fight for her, man," he says. "Don't drop the damn ball now."
Castle is jolted out of his misery and he rounds the table with purpose. He gets as close as he dares before slipping his arm around Kate's waist. The gesture is possessive, predatory, high-risk alpha male behavior that would have earned him a sharp rebuke or a smack from Kate just a few days ago. But now she surprises him by leaning into his side and giving him a sparkling smile.
"Castle, this is…" She fakes not having heard the man's name, or not having paid attention; both she and Castle know that cannot be the case. "Sorry. It was Brett?" she says as if a question. When the stranger nods, his disappointment quickly obvious, she says, "Brett, this is my…fiancé, Rick." The pause she takes to lower her voice and debate the manner of the introduction takes a mere nanosecond. It is a hesitation to which poor Brett is oblivious.
"Babe, you promised me the first dance, remember?" Castle says. He's smiling, maintaining his composure by trying to keep his tone light, but Kate can see how much it means to him that they do this together for the first time.
She turns back to address the handsome stranger. "Brett, it was lovely to meet you. But…as you can see, I'm promised, I'm afraid," she says, leaning even closer to Castle.
On the other side of the table, Lanie's eyes are out on stalks and her mouth is hanging open. Brett shakes Castle's hand, makes a few polite noises about what a lucky man he is, then he quickly departs. Esposito gives Castle an enthusiastic thumbs up.
With Brett humanely terminated, Kate and Castle turn their backs on the table. He drops his arm from around her waist and immediately begins to apologize. "I know you'd never normally allow anyone to treat you that way. But when that guy appeared, I…I just saw red. I'm sorry. I've been looking forward to dancing with you all day. I love this song. Ever since we met, whenever I hear it, it makes me think of you." He pauses for breath. "Can you forgive me?"
Castle's eyes widen in surprise when he feels her take his hand and tug. "Song ain't over, Castle. They're not even halfway through." She leads him towards the floor. "Come on. Dance with me."
They've just settled in hold when the singer reaches the lyric, "And the wonder of it all, is that you just don't realize how much I love you."
Castle joins in, singing these words quietly into Kate's ear. She grips his hand tighter, bringing it between them to rest against her chest.
A heavy moment passes in which neither of them speaks. They're on the edge of the floor, barely moving, merely turning in a slow circle that more or less keeps them on the same spot, away from everyone else.
"This is the closest I've ever been to you, the longest I've ever held you," Castle whispers against her temple, so sincere and honest that it's almost fevered.
With these words, he seals Kate to him forever.
No rings, no minister or priest, no white gown or wedding vows could prove his love or mark his commitment with more meaning and intensity than the reverent tone of his voice and the gentle press of his hand to the small of her back when he makes this simple confession.
These words tell her everything; they mean everything.
Kate drops her head onto Castle's shoulder. Her arms are now completely entwined around his neck, the front of their bodies flush with one another. Every time they take a step or breathe, their thighs brush and her chest swells against his. Kate is beginning to understand the crackling origins of a wildfire in the worst (best) and most elemental way.
"People will see," Castle whispers in warning when her cheek lands against his shirt and she snuggles in against him.
But if anything, Kate moves closer. "At this point, I don't care," she says, meaning every word. "Let them look."
The song eventually comes to an end, but Kate and Castle are oblivious to the world around them except for one another. They continue to turn in their lazy circle, their feet moving automatically to prevent them from simply standing on the spot with their arms wrapped around one another, which really would be a spectacle.
When the tempo increases and the volume jumps, they are jostled by a crowd of young women who rush screaming onto the floor to take part in a group dance routine.
Kate leads Castle back to the table, and this time they retake their old seats so that they are next to one another. To an outside observer, they appear to be in something of a trance. They are processing, separately and together, all the changes that have taken place over the last couple of days. There is a lot to think about.
Someone has put a bottle of beer at Castle's place and Kate has been given a fresh glass of champagne. She's on the verge of having had too much to drink, but she lifts the glass to sip because she's thirsty and they have a lot to celebrate. "Cheers," she says to Castle. "We won't win Dancing With the Stars, but long may we continue to dance together."
He smiles so brightly at this joyful, optimistic toast, and she watches with a thrill as his bright blue eyes roam her face, taking in every detail so unabashedly. "I couldn't have put it better myself," he finally says, nodding. "Maybe one day we can take lessons."
"And then take up cruising," she suggests, joining him in knowing laughter because they share an understanding that they will do neither.
Whatever they do end up doing, they quietly celebrate the fact that they will be doing it together.
Eventually, they are forced to spend time apart, dancing with their friends and a few random strangers. Around eleven, Kevin and Kate take to the floor while Castle leads Jenny out to dance. No one asks them what is going on, not even Lanie pokes her nose in when she and Kate are dragged off to boogie with a group of flower girls to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." It's as if they have witnessed the profound change in their friends and have decided to give it the space it needs to breathe without any interference or prodding for once. In a strange way, Kate finds this more unsettling than being grilled.
She's taking a breather, drinking yet another glass of champagne, her shoes kicked off, her feet up on Castle's chair as she watches him move across the floor with Jenny. He is a head-turning, handsome man and a very good dancer when he's given the opportunity to show off his skills.
"If you could see your face right now," Kate hears Lanie whisper in her ear just as she takes another sip of champagne and the bubbles rush up her nose.
Kate coughs and splutters, grabbing a napkin off the table to blot the drips that land on her dress.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you," Lanie says, patting her back as she sits down beside her. "I've just...never seen anyone look so in love."
Kate opens her mouth to dispute Lanie's observation but then she thinks better of it. "Good," she says instead. "Good. Because you're right. That's how I feel."
Lanie smiles. "Good for you, girl. I'm glad you finally figured it out."
Kate nods. "We did. We're figuring it out together."
"And how does that feel?" Lanie asks.
Kate thinks for just a second before she replies. "Pretty damn wonderful."
She senses Castle before she feels his hand land on her shoulder and trail across her back. "What's wonderful? Were you ladies talking about me again?" he says cockily.
Lanie winks at Kate and stands. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone." Then she surprises everyone by kissing Castle on the cheek. "Take care of her. We're all rooting for you."
When Castle sits down in the chair Lanie just vacated, Kate lifts her legs and places them across his lap. "Wow! I feel like I just had my card marked by a mafia don," he says, watching Lanie samba out onto the dance floor, dragging Javi along behind by his necktie.
Kate laughs and closes her eyes. "Ah, don't worry, Castle. I'll protect you."
When she fails to open them, Castle smooths his hand down her bare shin. Her skin feels like silk beneath his caress, and he watches her shiver at his touch. "Hey, Kate," he says gently. "Don't fall asleep on me."
Woozily, she opens her eyes and holds up her glass. "Might have had a little too much of this."
He takes the champagne flute out of her hand and carefully places it on the table. "Okay. Let me get you a cup of coffee then we'll call it a night."
"No coffee," she groans, shaking her head.
Castle grins. "You look and sound adorable. But you're gonna be a bear with a sore head in the morning if we don't get you drinking some water and maybe a couple of Advil."
"Did you tell Kev and Jenny about the honeymoon suite?" she asks, blinking at him when the disco ball showers them in sparkly light.
Castle nods. "They were delighted. Over the moon. I told them it was your idea."
"Aw, you didn't have to do that."
Castle shakes his head. "No, no. Credit where it's due." Then he clears his throat and nervously smoothes his tie before adding, "I also might have told them that it was our gift to them."
There's silence for a moment before Kate lifts her legs off his lap. She plants her feet on the floor and sits up, reaching for a glass of water. Castle watches her warily while she drains the contents in one go, wondering if she's mad he didn't discuss it with her first. But then she places her hand on his knee and strokes her thumb over the fabric of his navy pants. "I've had enough to drink for one night, and my feet are killing me. Do you think anyone will notice if we sneak out before they cut the cake?"
Before today, Castle would have said something whiny and petulant about missing out on a slice of wedding cake. Right at this moment, he's more concerned that Kate is ignoring the unilateral action he took without consulting her. "Kate? Did you hear what I said? Are you mad at me?"
She looks right at him. Her eyes soften on his face and the faintest trace of a smile appears on her lips. "Castle, did you not hear what I said?" she counters. Her gaze flickers upwards to the floors above their heads. "I think it's time we called it a night. Don't you?"
She leans on his shoulder for balance and she wobbles a little as she steps back into her vertiginous heels. Then she turns to offer him her hand. "You with me, partner?"
Castle smiles wider than she's ever seen him smile before. "Oh, I am with you all the way, detective. Lead on," he says, lacing their fingers together as she pulls him up and tows him out across the floor.
TBC...
A/N: If there's one song I've had in my head the entire time I've been writing this story it's Kacey Musgraves' "Happy and Sad." It's a beautiful song and the words fit pretty perfectly with this chapter. If you haven't heard it I urge you to YouTube it and listen. Thank you for your messages. Please keep 'em coming. Liv