"Coffee?" Castle asked as he and Beckett re-entered his house and he headed for the kitchen.

She followed, glancing at her watch. It was getting late and she really needed to head back to the city if she was going to make it there before it grew dark but she did need to talk to Castle; there was still the matter of the contract to sort out.

"Thanks, ill have a quick coffee and then I need to head back," she replied, leaning against the kitchen counter and watching as Castle made the drinks.

"Head back?" he questioned with a slight frown.

"Yes, head back to the city, you know, where I live and work Castle," she replied sarcastically.

He dropped the spoon in the coffee cup and turned to her. "But what about the case?"

"What about it?" she asked.

Castle looked as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What about it?" he echoed. "We need to solve it! You and me, find the bad guy."

"Castle, this isn't my jurisdiction. I don't work here, I can't just drop everything in New York and come here to solve this case."

"But, but…what about the story?" he blurted out.

"What story?" she asked.

"You know, every crime has a story. Don't you want to know why? Why the guy used the scene from 'Heat Wave?', why someone wanted Moon dead?"

She shrugged, feigning disinterest. She knew what he was up to, if he got her to stay for this case he'd think that they would be back working together for good but she had already made up her mind, case or no case, she had to stick to her guns. Nevertheless, on instinct she couldn't help but add,

"We don't know the sex of the murderer."

"What?"

"You said 'guy', 'why did the guy use the scene from Heat Wave?' It could have been a woman," she pointed out.

Castle grinned. She wouldn't be able to resist this case.

"Sure," he said, handing her a cup of coffee and taking a seat at the breakfast bar, "it could have been but…" he sighed, "guess you'll never know if you're going back to New York."

She rolled her eyes. She had already known that she would probably want to assist with this case but for now, she didn't need to let him know that for sure.

"If," she pointed at him, "And I said, if," she stressed, "we were to work on this case…"

His smile grew.

"…I still need to go back, A, to arrange it with Montgomery B, to collect some clothes and C, you still need to sign the contract."

"You don't need to go back for me to sign the contract," he said smugly, picking up on her error and taking a sip of coffee.

She tutted. "You know what I mean. I need you to sign something but…" she sighed, "be aware that if you sign the second contract it has conditions. You won't be able to just leave on a whim when you feel like it; it's not good for the team."

She had insisted on those conditions just in case he had refused to sign the first contract and she had to resort to the second. She was certain that would deter him because, after all, it's not as if it's his job or he's getting paid for it and yet he'd be bound to the contract as if it were. Besides, a man like Castle was not going to want to be pinned down.

"I'll bear that in mind," he replied, not at all put off but equally not willing to show his hand to her yet. He'd work this case with her and then… let's face it, he was going to sign the second contract. How could he not? There was something between them that hadn't come to fruition yet and he just couldn't give up on it, even if for some reason she was willing to. But even that afternoon, when she had come determined to break up their working relationship, he had sensed that she was struggling to do it. "So," he began with a knowing smile, "Montgomery shouldn't have any problems with you staying here for a while, considering that he's given you time off."

She looked up from her coffee cup with a frown. "Time off?"

She was being evasive.

"Sure," he went on to test out his theory. "I mean, if he wanted me to sign a contract he wouldn't send out his best investigator all this way."

Her frown deepened but she failed to answer him, taking another sip of her coffee instead. He noted her reaction and continued,

"Let's see…" He pictured the scenario, "I leave for the Hamptons and you've lost your right hand man, your investigation buddy. You pine for me…"

Her head shot up and she laughed loudly. "Pine? I don't think so."

"Sure, you pine away because you miss my charm and the witty repartee we so often shared."

She rolled her eyes. He continued.

"You throw yourself into your work, staying late most nights and Montgomery can see how it's affecting you."

She stared at him, willing herself not to show any reaction to his words because, annoyingly enough, most of them were true.

"Finally he insists that you take some time off and sends you out here to see me with the contract, which he knows I wont sign, hoping that you will stay a while and enjoy my entertaining company, kick back on the beach and bring me back to New York afterwards to re-establish our awesome working partnership… and we all live happily ever after," he smiled.

She laughed. "You live in a dream world. Besides," she began with a polite smile, "I can see another beautiful relationship blossoming for you Castle."

He threw her a look of confusion.

"Yes, a certain Swedish investigator who couldn't fail to notice your, what was it?" she pretended to think, "Oh yes, 'charm and witty repartee,'" she quoted him.

He stopped with his coffee cup half way to his lips, looked at it and then put it down again as if the thought of Karlsdotter had put him off it.

"That's another reason why you have to come back, you can't leave me with her!"

"Well, if I do come back I won't be staying here anyway," she announced.

He frowned. "Why?"

"Because it's not professional," she replied. More like it was too personal and she really needed to distance herself from him, not make their relationship more intimate. "And talking of professionalism," she said, putting down her coffee cup and leaning back on the breakfast bar to take a good look at him. "What's been up with you today?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Castle said, feeling his heart rate increase a little by the way she was scrutinising him.

Her eyes darted around his face. "You've been very touchy feely today."

His heart raced more. "Touchy feely?"

"Yes. Hands in places they shouldn't be," she added.

He gave a small laugh and glanced out of the window, not having a clue how to reply to that.

"Castle?" she called, leaning towards him.

He turned his head to her. "Hmm," he responded innocently.

She was grinning from ear to ear. "I never thought I would see the day, you're blushing," she observed.

He laughed. "Nah, I don't do that."

She chuckled. "You do now."

"Anyway," he came back, "I know you enjoyed it."

It was a throw away comment meant to deflect from his own embarrassment but for some awful reason she didn't know how to react to it so she simply laughed and glanced away, a lot like he had done. Damn, why had she reacted like that? Castle did a double take and watched with amazement as color flooded her cheeks.

He leant back on his seat with a grin like a Cheshire cat. "Well, well, well, Kate Beckett, could it be that you're blushing too?"

"Don't be ridiculous," she replied, blatantly contradicting her words with her glowing cheeks.

He laughed loudly. "Now don't deny it," he teased, "you've been lying awake at night imagining my hands on you, haven't you."

Her blush deepened. Damn it, what was wrong with her? He delighted in the sight of her composure crumbling and what it implied.

"No Castle, just imagining my hands on you…around your neck," she replied. Standing up suddenly. "Now, if you've finished with your childishness I'll be heading back."

His smile never faltered, he was in his element. He followed her to the door, taking the opportunity to get a last good look at her before she left. God he hoped she would be back soon. Things were just beginning to get really interesting.

She turned to him at the door. "Well, ill be in touch. Just think about those contracts," she reminded him.

"Ah," he said suddenly, "Hold on, you need my landline number."

He disappeared and returned with a slip of paper which he handed to her. She tucked it away in her jeans pocket.

"Goodbye Kate," he smiled before leaning towards her and whispering in her ear. "And sweet dreams tonight eh," he said, tapping her on the rear.

She growled and pushed him away, striding back to her car, getting in and slamming the door shut. In seconds she was speeding out of the driveway.

I WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHAPTER TO POST WITHIN THE HOUR.