A/N: Just a short (kind of filler) chapter so you guys don't think I've abandoned this thing. I've been busy with life and vacation and trying to recover from injuring myself in San Francisco. I may have lost 170 pounds leaving me with a drive to experience life again, but I tend to forget that I'm not as young as I once was and should really practice before riding a bicycle again.

"Oh Katie, that lasagna was heavenly. Where did you get that recipe?" Jim Beckett asked, setting his napkin beside his plate before leaning back in his chair so his now-stuffed stomach had more room.

Kate hesitated, preparing for the onslaught of teasing. "Rick, actually. He's a pretty amazing cook."

"Hmmm, it sounds like you have dinner with him regularly. I'm surprised I am only hearing about him today. He seems like someone you would have mentioned in our phone calls."

"Dad, it's not like that. We are only coworkers."

"Allen Parker is only a coworker, but I've never had dinner with him and I've certainly never shot love eyeballs at him over slabs of meat."

Kate scrunched up her face. "Ew, Dad. That conjures up images I don't even want to think about."

Jim's mouth puckered as he fought off a grin. "Admit it, Katie. Rick is more than a coworker."

Kate shot a hard glare at her father and Jim was surprised he was still breathing, but he managed to volley back a smirk that said, "don't even try to deny it."

Kate huffed out a loud sigh and threw her hands in the air. "Fine, I like him. Are you happy now?"

"Are you?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, the way you and Rick look at each other reminds me of the way two other people looked at each other when their friendship was only a couple months old."

Kate raised her eyebrows and tossed him another contemptuous glare, not wanting to encourage his ribbing, but also wanting him to get to the point.

"When your mother and I were 'just coworkers' we'd catch each other's attention from across the office and I wouldn't be able to look away. She would blush and smile shyly at me and I'd be in a daze for the rest of the day. The few months before I got the nerve to ask her out, I barely got any work done. I got struck by lightning every time I saw her and I'd be rendered useless. When I finally asked her out she told me she was preparing to do it herself since she thought I was going to lose my job if it didn't happen soon." Jim paused, staring past Kate like there was a movie screen replaying his and his wife's courtship behind her. "Your mother was the love of my life and the way Rick looks at you reminds me of the way I looked at her."
"Dad…I'm not in love with him."

"I'm not saying you are, but I don't think it will be very long before that isn't the case. If you are happy with your relationship with Rick as it is, then I'm happy. I just don't want it to be a few years down the line and have you wondering, 'if only…'"

"So what do you think I should do?"

"What do you want to do?"

Having said goodbye to her dad the afternoon before, Kate woke up on Monday morning feeling content. The weekend with her father made her life seem like how it was in New York, only in Hawthorne, she wasn't surrounded by painful memories of her mother. She'd move back someday, but that wouldn't be for a while.

Kate carried her tote bag full of books and other work materials into her office and spotted a to-go cup of coffee sitting in front of her computer. She smiled, picked up the cup and took a long swig already knowing it was how she liked it given the x Rick written on the lid. Once Rick found out how she took her coffee, he started bringing her a cup from the Scarlet Latte every morning.

Rick and Kate were the first ones to arrive for the day, but it wouldn't be long before Willie came in, then the rest of the staff. Kate didn't have much time until then and she feared she'd chicken out if other people were around. She left her office and knocked on the door frame of the office next to her. Rick swiveled around in his chair with a big grin on his face. Kate couldn't help but grin back.

"Hey Kate, how was your weekend with your dad?"

"It was good. How was your weekend?"

"Good as well, especially after my trip to the grocery store," Rick said suggestively.

Kate dropped her head, her hair falling in front of her face to hide her colored cheeks. "I actually wanted to ask you something," Kate pushed her hair behind her ears and looked at Rick again. "Would you maybe want to have dinner at my place on Saturday?"

"You mean like as in..." Rick hesitated, not wanting to be presumptuous, "a date?"

"Yeah," Kate breathed. "I mean if you don't want to, that's fine, I just thought I'd ask. See if you were interested."

"Yes, definitely!" Rick said quickly like Kate would change her mind if he didn't respond within seconds. He then added, "I'd love to."

"Good. Is seven okay for you?"

"It's perfect. I can't wait."

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