A/N: okay, I am aware that it's established in season 7 (I think) that Castle's place in the Hamptons isn't beachfront but I was too far into this when I remembered let's just ignore his totally rational fear of tsunamis. Thanks.
The Hamptons
Friday evening...
She had to remind herself to breathe as she stood slack-jawed, taking in the beauty of his modest summer home.
"So?" He looked at her, taking her hand in his and leading her toward the entrance. "What do you think?"
"I think that, as a writer, you should probably have a better understanding of the word modest."
"Come on, now, Detective," he said with a smirk. "Did you really expect a little beach shack?"
She rolled her eyes with a smile. "No, I guess not."
He placed his hand over the doorknob, ushering her closer in preparation for the big reveal.
When the door swung open, her jaw dropped once more.
She stepped into the open space, eyes scanning the room from one side to the other, slowly taking in the detail.
They entered his home, into the open plan living area. It was spacious, airy, and the coastal-inspired décor was a stark contrast to the darker, modern styling of his loft.
She walked toward the large three-seater lounge, tracing her fingers along the detailed wainscoting as she admired the art that hung on the walls. Her eyes drifted toward the coffee table, where a marble champagne bucket and two flutes sat, surrounded by a scattering of deep burgundy rose petals. She looked back at Castle, an eyebrow arched.
"Is this your go to trick to impress the ladies?" she asked, playfully.
"Ladies? What ladies?"
"Oh, come on," she said, letting out a slight chuckle. "I know I'm not the only girl you've brought here to try and impress."
He took a deep breath. "No," he confessed, walking toward her. "However, I do sincerely hope that you are the last."
She bit down on her lower lip, trying to suppress the involuntary smile, to no avail.
"Well -" She stepped toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "- consider me impressed."
He cupped her face, pulling her close and kissing her tenderly.
"Mm-" He pulled away, excited by whatever thought had just popped into his head. "- I haven't even shown you the best part."
He grabbed her hand and began walking toward the back of the house, dragging her along behind him.
She looked around, trying to take in as much of the house as she could before he led her outside. The grounds were breath-taking; complete with a pool and spa, tennis court and a stunning rose garden lined with native fruit trees.
They walked through the garden and onto the open lawn, where a large picnic rug awaited them with plush cushions and a wicker basket in the centre.
"Is this for us?" she asked as she approached the set up.
"Well, yeah. Who else would it be for?"
Her eyes widened at his nonchalance. "This is a part of your property too?"
"Yeah, right down to the beach-" he pointed toward the water, then moved his hand around as he pointed out the boundaries of his land. "- and the orchards mark the beginning of the neighbours property."
She slowly turned, taking in the views around her.
"Yep. I'm impressed."
He grinned a Cheshire Cat grin. "Well, prepare to have your breath taken away," he said, wagging his eyebrows.
He lowered himself to his knees and shuffled himself toward the wicker basket, pulling an assortment of freshly prepared food out - fruits, cheeses, crackers, nuts - and a chilled bottle of champagne.
"Are you joining me or are you just going to stare all evening?"
Twenty minutes later he topped up their flutes, huddling up to her as they gazed out across the water.
In the horizon, the sun met the ocean. Gulls circled in a symphony of colours - purple, pink and orange hues that rippled in the water's reflection - as the sky's vibrance slowly faded and a peaceful darkness feel over them.
"That was -" she shook her head, trying to find a word to accurately summarise the beauty. "- just, gorgeous."
"Really beats the city sunsets, right?"
She let out a huff of laughter. "Yeah."
They let the peace and quiet settle over them while they sipped on their champagne.
"This reminds me of my dad's cabin," she shared after a few minutes of quiet thought.
"Yeah?"
She nodded. "I mean, the cabin is a little more... rustic," she said with a smile.
He sat silently, watching her expression change as she took a trip down memory lane.
"But, when I was a kid we would all sit by the lake and watch the sun setting. Dad loved to sit by the fire and keep guard while Mom and I looked up at the stars."
"Keep guard?" he asked, hoping she would continue to share these memories with him.
"Yeah, I was terrified of bears," she laughed as she explained.
"Were there many bears in the area?"
She shook her head, no. "The occasional sighting but not enough to warrant the level of fear I had as a nine year old. Not that I would admit to being scared, though. I would just cling to the nearest adult and act like that was totally normal. Every night we spent out there, Dad would offer to keep watch and act like it was because he was worried."
"So you didn't feel embarrassed," he finished her thought.
He could almost picture it; a young, headstrong Kate insisting she wasn't scared, but telling her father that keeping an eye out wouldn't be a bad idea, but only if he wanted.
"Let's stargaze," he suggested.
"You want to stargaze?"
"Yeah," he confirmed cheerily. "For the good old days."
"Castle, you won't be able to see any stars for at least an hour, probably more," she argued.
"So, we'll wait." He adjusted his position, laying back on the rug and propping himself up a little on cushions. "What, you got something better to do?"
She smiled. "No."
She shuffled down the rug, turning so that she could lay back against him, using his thigh as a pillow for her head.
Instantly, his fingers began combing through her hair as it splayed out across him.
"What do we do now?" she asked, staring at the blank canvas of deep blue-violet that covered them.
"Shhh! Just wait," he whispered. "Listen to the sound of the waves, let the nothingness relax you."
She closed her eyes, focusing on what she could hear.
Waves crashing against the shoreline.
The distant screech of fruit bats and the powerful whoosh of their wings as they take flight.
The melodic hum and chirp of grasshoppers in the grass.
The yip and howl of a coyote in the distance.
She sat upright, eyes scanning the grounds around them.
"Was that-?"
"I think so!" he interrupted before she could finish her question.
He sat up, too, joining her frantic search for the four-legged friend. But in the short amount of time that had passed since the setting of the sun, the darkness around them had grown rapidly.
"You ready to go inside?"
"Uh-huh," she said, nodding as she started to toss everything back into the picnic basket.
Castle stuffed cushions under his arms and lifted the picnic rug as soon as she stepped off of it.
They practically ran back to the house in a fit of laughter.
"Maybe next time we can bring your dad," Castle puffed, trying to catch his breath. "He can stand guard."
"Shut up!" She swatted his shoulder playfully.
Saturday...
He woke up encased in warmth. The plush comforter that covered them both, her body curled up against his back and her arm draped casually over his waist enveloped him securely.
He wasn't used to be the little spoon - and he wasn't sure exactly when they had ended up this way - but he kind of liked it.
He knew that she was awake because he could feel her pressing soft, fluttering kisses against his back, between his shoulder blades. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, letting her know that he was awake, too.
"Sorry if I woke you," she whispered, pressing another kiss to his shoulder before propping herself up on her elbow, leaning the side of her head against her open palm so that she could see him.
"Mm," he groaned. "Sun."
The sleepy haze was so thick in his voice, she couldn't help but smile.
She looked over to the large bay window, bright morning sunlight streaming through the glass panes. She had mentioned last night that they should probably close the curtains, but he didn't want to get out of bed, and had hugged her closer when she tried, so they stayed open.
"I do believe that is your fault," she teased. "Come on, get up. I'm hungry."
She pushed on his back, rolling him toward the edge of the bed.
The looming threat of falling on his face was enough to fully wake him up and he used all his strength to resist against the force, rolling back toward her.
She was strong, but he was stronger, and slowly his body inched closer to her again.
Her arms began to cave, so she reinforced herself by pressing her shins to his back and pushing with her legs. He knew that, unless he wanted to end up on the floor, he would have to play dirty. He reached behind him, grabbing her leg and pulling it over his hip, tickling the sensitive spot behind her knee.
She squealed, twisting and contorting her body, trying to free herself from his grasp. Her laughter - joyous and unrestrained - filled the room; the most beautiful, euphonious sound that absolutely filled his heart.
He stopped his ambush, allowing her a moment to catch her breath and calm the body's response.
She smiled wickedly as she cupped his face.
"You win," she declared before pressing a sweet kiss to his lips. "This time."
She untangled herself from him, pulled herself from the comfort of the bed and headed downstairs in search of sustenance.
He stood by the edge of the pool, dipped his toes into the water to test the temperature.
It was perfect - heated to 77 degrees - not too warm, not too cold.
He looked up as she approached; his mind going completely blank as he took in the sight.
She hadn't straightened her hair after her shower that morning, and the unruliness of her natural waves had been a pleasant surprise. Even now that he had had time to get used to them, he was entranced by their gentle bounce as she walked.
She wore a faded, stoney blue-grey linen button up that covered her swimsuit but left little else to the imagination. But the dull tones of her clothing did nothing to mask the vibrancy of her beauty.
This version of Kate Beckett - the unbuttoned, untamed, full of life and laughter, summer goddess version - was very quickly becoming one of his favourites.
Finally, he noticed the book that she was cradling under her arm.
"You're not going to get in?" he asked, not even trying to hide his disappointment.
"Not right now," she said, holding her hand to her forehead to block some of the sunshine from burning her eyes.
"Why not?"
With her free hand, she held up her book, waving it in front of her.
He took the book from her hand, studying the cover.
"Romance?" he asked, intent on teasing her. "No one actually reads this stuff."
She looked at him, mouth agape. She took the bait.
"I do!" She snatched her book back from him. "A lot of people do. It's more popular than mystery," she added, with bite.
"You prefer mystery though, right?"
She shrugged, stepping closer to him. "My favourite author hasn't written much lately," she teased right back, her eyes dropping to her finger as she traced a line down his bare chest.
"Maybe he's been busy?" he offered the poor defence.
"Maybe he should prioritise what's important."
"Oh, trust me, he is."
He cupped her face, pulling her closer until their lips met.
She blindly tossed her book to the side, hoping it would land on the sun lounger she knew was there somewhere, so that her hands were free to roam through his hair.
Feeling the curve of his lips as he smiled against her, she instantly knew what he was thinking, even before his body began to pull back.
"Don't," she warned, her words disappearing into his mouth.
"Don't what?" he questioned playfully, knowing all too well what she was warning against.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her deeply as he began to slowly move them both closer to the edge of the pool.
"Castle." His name was merely a moan, as she tugged on the hair that tangled through her fingers.
His wicked laughter was the last thing she heard before she felt them shift off axis, gravity pulling them toward the water.
She braced herself for the chilling embrace of the pool, pleasantly surprised when she splashed into tepid water instead.
She was being pulled to the surface before she had a chance to adjust. With her head above water again, she wiped her hands over her face to rid herself of the excess water before opening her eyes. She was greeted by Castle's proud smirk.
"I hate you," she said, thrusting her open palm forward, sending a wave of water in Castle's direction.
He dodged the splash, laughing. "No you don't. Not even a little bit."
She lurched forward and he grabbed her hips, pulling her body against his as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Not even a little bit," she confirmed before kissing him tenderly.
His lips tasted of chlorine, but she didn't care because soon enough the taste was overpowered by coffee and hints of mint, the taste of him.
That evening, they sat in the cosy little French restaurant, sipping on their wine and staring into each other's eyes. It was almost as if they were the only two people in existence; the only thing keeping them from slipping entirely into their own little universe was the constant hum of chatter in the atmosphere.
He watched her as she leant back in her chair, one arm resting across her torso, the other lifting her glass to her lips once more. She drained the last sip of her third glass, placing it back on the table with a smile, the effects of the vin de table obvious in her eyes, in the way she giggled at his jokes and had to be touching him - her hand over his on the table, her foot brushing against his leg - throughout the evening.
She was tipsy, care free, and he loved it.
"Want to get out of here? Go somewhere a little more private?"
Her eyes glimmered in a way he didn't think possible as she smiled that full, bright smile that filled his heart to the brim.
This woman was like magic. Every little thing she did - every touch, every glance, every kiss - had him falling, dangerously. It had never happened this quickly before; not in a way that felt so certain, so secure.
"I thought you'd never ask," she replied playfully.
He motioned for the check and the charming young waitress that had been serving them all evening placed the book on the table.
Kate reached for it, but he snatched it up before she could.
"Will you ever just let me spoil you, without resisting?" he asked with a frustrated smile.
She shrugged. "Probably not."
He slipped cash into the book, placing it back on the table and motioning for it to be collected before standing, taking Kate's hand and pulling her to her feet.
"Shall we?" He stuck out his elbow and she linked her arm through. " I was thinking we could walk home."
She smiled, loving the way he so casually said home, and how it truly had felt like she was at home, here with him.
As they walked outside the restaurant - and out of the air conditioning - the warmth of the night hit them, like walking into a wall, but the gentle sea breeze offered a nice reprieve.
He shrugged his jacket off, draping it over his forearm before wrapping his free arm around her waist.
She leant her head against his shoulder, focusing on the feel of his hand on her hip and the soft click-clack of her heels against the pavement as they walked in a comfortable silence. She found it satisfying, watching as his black leather Oxfords moved perfectly in time with her bejewelled silver peep-toe heels.
As they walked down the esplanade, moving further away from the restaurant and closer to the coastline, his suit and her cream, lace cocktail dress began to stand out among the crowd of casual coastal attire. But, soon enough - as buildings became scarce and the crowds began to thin out - their world slowly returned to being just the two of them.
They walked the grassy verge along the road until grass slowly morphed into sand. As the ground beneath them softened, she stopped to remove her heels, placing a steadying hand on his arm and slipping the thin straps from her ankles.
"Much better," she declared as she stepped through the sand easily.
He hooked his index finger through both straps, pulling the shoes from her hand as they continued walking. After just a few steps onto the soft sand, he paused to rid himself of his own shoes and socks. He skilfully balanced them in one hand so that he could intertwine his fingers with hers as they walked.
They passed a few groups of people - night surfers, a small gathering of people around a bonfire, something that looked a lot like an awkward first date - as they walked, but as they moved further down the coastline, the beach became quiet and soon enough they were completely alone.
They moved toward the water, walking along the firmer, wet sand where the tide hadn't fully reached yet.
They walked for almost a mile until the unmistakable sound of Coltrane drifting through the air from one of the mansions that backed onto the beach.
Without saying a word, he stopped walking and gently pulled on her hand. Her body turned toward him in response.
"Care to dance?" he asked, pulling her closer.
She looked up at him, the moonlight reflecting in her eyes as she smiled brightly.
"I would like that."
He tossed their shoes away, onto the soft, dry sand where they would be safe from the incoming tide, before returning his attention back to her. Her hands moved to his chest as he placed his at the small of her back, pulling her to him.
They swayed together, not at all in time to the music playing, but instead to their own rhythm. Time seemed to freeze as they gazed into each others eyes.
Eventually, the song came to an end, but their dance did not. She snaked her arms up his body, wrapping them around his neck. Nothing had ever made her feel as secure as she felt in his embrace. In his arms was exactly where she wanted to stay.
Drawn to each other by some magnetic force, their lips met in a slow and tender embrace. Nothing had ever felt quite like this before. Like home, like a promise of forevermore.
Waves rolled in, crashing against the shore and the first swell of the high tide rushed over their bare feet.
She gasped, the shock of the freezing water forcing them apart.
"Well that was... refreshing." He laughed, and so did she.
The water pulled out to sea again, the pull of the water string beneath their feet.
He frowned slightly, leaning in close to her before whispering, "My pants are wet."
She arched her brows. "What?" she laughed.
He looked down at his feet, and she stepped back to follow his eyes down. Another wave rushed over their feet, water swirling around their ankles, his pants submerged and dancing in the movement of the water.
She laughed, then moved her gaze back up to his face, bottom lip pouted theatrically.
"I suppose we should get you home then," she said as she moved back toward him. "Get you out of those pants."
"I can get behind that idea."
"That is not what I meant," she corrected, but he just rolled his eyes.
"Sure." He teased, wrapping his arms around her waist, lifting her and spinning.
"Race ya!" he exclaimed as he planted her feet firmly back on the sand.
She pushed his arms from her waist as she took off down the beach. He followed, close on her heels, when suddenly she stopped and he almost toppled her over.
"Shoes!" She laughed, doubling back and grabbing her heels from where he had tossed them in the sand.
He backpedaled, too, fumbling for his shoes and jacket while she ran off ahead of him. His competitive nature kicked in and, desperate to not give her too much of a head start, he reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her back toward him.
They both laughed so hard that after just a few minutes of stumbling and fighting for the lead, they were both weak and clumsy, tripping over one another.
He knew he couldn't win this race, but he sure as hell wasn't going to hand her this victory. He wrapped his hands around her waist, falling to the ground and bringing her down with him.
"You're such a cheater!" she accused, laughing, as she untangled herself from his arms and lay back in the sand.
"Oh, I'm the cheater? That's rich, coming from you, little miss push-and-shove!"
She sat upright and shrugged. "You were holding me back!"
He sat up, brushing the sand from his shoulders. "Oh, I see how it is."
"It's a cutthroat world," she said through her smirk. "You think I'm going to go easy on you just because you wine and dine me?"
"I was hoping it would grant me a little leniency, yes."
She pursed her lips as she shifted onto her knees. "Okay, I concede." She pressed her lips to his, a sweet, chaste kiss. "But, you owe me," she added suggestively.
"That sounds fair."
Sunday...
It was late when she woke up. She could tell by the intensity of the sun shining through the slightly cracked blinds and the fact that Castle - an avid fan of sleeping in - wasn't beside her.
She looked around the room, peaking through half-shut eyes, but there was no sign of life coming from the adjoining room or en suite.
She tossed the blankets back, pulling herself from bed. Stifling a yawn as she plodded down the hallway, she started the search for her partner. The enormity of this place was still sinking in.
Downstairs, she wandered toward the office, the click-clacking sound of a keyboard growing louder as she moved closer. She pushed on the door and it creaked open, revealing a preoccupied Castle.
He was sitting, leaning back in his office chair with his feet perched on his sleek, oak wood desk, crossed at the ankles. His laptop rested on his lap, his eyes glued to the screen.
She leant against the door frame, unsure of if he had even noticed her presence.
"Good morning, sleepy head," he said with a smile, peaking over the top of his laptop screen.
"Good morning."
"There's breakfast in the fridge," he informed her as she walked toward him, around the desk, and stood behind him. "Just some fruit and yoghurt."
She leant down, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "Thank you," she hummed as she pressed a kiss to the side of his head.
He saved his progress, dropping his feet to the floor and moving his laptop onto the desk.
"Don't stop on my account," she insisted, moving back to the other side of the desk. "I don't think I've ever seen you in the zone like this."
"Yeah, it usually takes a lot of mental preparation to get into this kind of flow." He reclined again, feet taking their place on his desk and laptop slipped down to his lap. "But, I woke up inspired, I guess," he added with a smirk.
"Well, don't stop. I'll go have breakfast and then I'm sure I can find some way to entertain myself for a while."
"But I brought you here to spend time with you, not to lock myself in here," he argued. "I just need like five more minutes."
"Uh-uh, write. When the inspiration runs dry, come find me and maybe I can inspire you a little more." She waggled her eyebrows playful before turning and walking away.
"See, how do you expect me to write when you do things like that?" he called out.
"I'm sure you will find a way." Her voice echoed from the hallway.
He tapped happily at his laptop, finishing up the final sentence of his chapter. He would, of course, have to go back through and proof read his work, make sure it was actually legible, but for now he was satisfied.
He saved his work and shut down the device before standing - for the first time in hours - and stretching out his stiff limbs. He laced his fingers together and lifted them above his head, stretching as he plodded out of the office and toward the kitchen.
He did intend on getting himself a snack, but what he found instead was much better.
Kate stood, hip jutted and leaning against the kitchen counter. In the crisp white of his kitchen, her vibrant floral summer dress stole the show.
The halter neck and low back combination left him very much enjoying his view from behind her, watching the muscles of her back flex as she reached across the bench.
His eyes drifted down; the dress was short. Shorter than he'd ever seen her wear, accentuating the length of her legs.
He liked this dress. This dress did things to him: wonderfully distracting things.
He walked toward her, hands instantly reaching for her. He skipped her waist, the usual starting point for his adventurous hands, and pressed his palms to her thighs. Fingertips drifted under the ruffled fabric that hung loosely, as he pressed his lips to her bare shoulder.
She leant back into his chest, tilting her head away to welcome his kisses as he moved his attention to her neck, and humming when he got to that spot she liked.
"Are you baking cookies?" he asked, taking in the assortment of ingredients she had on the counter.
"I didn't expect you to be finished yet, I was going to surprise you with some of my famous white chocolate and macadamia cookies," she said with a proud smile. She turned in his arms. "Did you get much writing done?"
"I did, actually. Finished up a chapter. Very hot, may I add."
"I'm so shocked," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"What can I say? My muse has been very inspiring of late."
He closed his mouth over hers, a short and sweet kiss before pulling back.
"Can I help?" he asked, moving his attention to the cookie preparation on the bench behind her.
"Sure," she said with a smile, turning back to her task. "You can start by telling me in which of these million cabinets would I find a cookie sheet?"
"Million cabinets," he muttered as he shuffled across the kitchen and reached into one of the overhead cabinets. "It's not that big."
She rolled her eyes, accepting the tray that he passed across the island counter.
He became the perfect student, assisting as she combined the ingredients. Once the dough was ready, he dug through one of the drawers, pulling out heart-shaped cookie cutters and passing one to her.
"Cute," she commented, cutting her first from the dough.
"Alexis loves my Valentine's cookies," he explained with a smile.
Images of Castle and his daughter baking together filled her mind. She had always held great respect for Castle as a father and enjoyed the small glimpses he offered into that part of his life.
She had had limited interactions with Alexis outside of the few days she interned at the precinct and, while the girl was always polite and friendly, things were different now.
Kate hadn't done this before - dated a man with a child, with priorities that weren't her - and she would be lying if she said that didn't make her nervous. She just hoped Alexis liked her as much as she liked the girl.
Once the tray was filled, they placed the cookies in the oven to bake.
She started to clean up the mess, pack away the ingredients, but Castle had other ideas.
He moved behind her, his hands on her hips, peppering a trail of kisses along her shoulder and up her neck, lingering at the sensitive spot behind her ear.
She moaned as she leant against him, more than happy to allow herself to be distracted by him.
She turned, wrapping her arms around his neck and capturing his lips, kissing him deeply, hungrily.
His hands were all over her, exploring every inch of her and still desperate for more. He was insatiable when it came to her, he could never grow tired of this.
His palms smoothed down her sides, gripping the back of her thighs and lifting her onto the countertop. She parted her legs so that he could rest in between them as they continued to kiss passionately.
They broke apart when the need for air overpowered their desire for one another, but he wasn't done yet.
He pressed his mouth to her cheek, moving down to her jawline, placing open-mouthed kisses along the bone.
"I know we've only been doing this for a little while now," he said softly, continuing on his path.
"Yeah..." Her voice trailed off, distracted by the feel of his lips on her jaw, the warmth of his breath against her skin.
"And I'd hate to ruin things by saying something stupid"
She looked at him, brow furrowed in feigned confusion. "Since when do you worry about that?"
He smiled, returning his lips to hers.
"Shh," he hissed against her mouth, the vibrations eliciting a giggle from her that filled his heart with joy. "Don't ruin my moment."
He kissed her tenderly and she melted into his touch, almost forgetting they were mid-conversation.
"Sorry," she said with a smirk, playing with his in-desperate-need-of-a-cut hair, pushing it behind his ear. "Please continue."
But she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, and tugged on the fabric of his shirt. It was all very distracting.
"I'm falling in love with you, Kate." He whispered the confession, as if the volume of his voice would be the thing to scare her away.
She stopped her movement, releasing her grip on his shirt just a little bit, barely noticeable. Except, with his heart threatening to pound right out of his chest and his nerves on high alert, he noticed everything; the way her eyes studied his, the way she swallowed, hard.
She stared in silence, for what felt like forever, and he cursed himself and his big mouth for rushing things, for allowing his heart to overrule his brain, for scaring her off.
"More and more every day," he added.
His brain had left the building, apparently. Malfunctioned, completely. But, why not? He couldn't make things worse.
But then she smiled, so brightly, and he knew. Even if she didn't say it back, he knew she felt it too.
"I love you, too," she whispered, pressing her lips to his.
He was bursting at the seams; joy, love, promise.
Filled with a new desperation for each other, their kiss deepened and everything began to escalate, quickly.
"Castle." His name was a breathless, lust-filled moan against his lips. She pulled away ruefully. "I have to take the cookies out of the oven in, like, ten minutes."
He wasn't deterred. "Is that a challenge?"
He gripped her hips, pulling her closer and holding her against him as he stepped away from the bench. She laughed, tightening her legs around his waist and clinging to his chest as he carried her out of the kitchen and upstairs toward the bedroom.
Their cookies burned, but they didn't care.
Monday morning...
She arrived at the precinct just moments after Ryan and Esposito, catching up to the in the lobby as they waited for the elevator.
"Morning, guys," she greeted as she approached.
"Morning," they returned in unison with a smile.
The elevator doors opened and they stepped in.
"You look refreshed," Esposito commented as he pushed the button to take them to their floor. "Enjoy your weekend?"
"I did. Thank you, again, for covering for me."
"No sweat."
"Did you get a call?" she asked, genuinely hoping he hadn't been too busy.
He laughed, but he was not amused. "Oh yeah. You'd think I was the only damn cop in the city on call."
She grimaced. "I'm sorry."
Esposito shrugged, offering her a smile. "Worth it, if you enjoyed yourself."
"I did," she assured him.
The boys exchanged a glance.
"You know, we're all happy for the two of you, right?" Ryan said, breaking the short silence.
The elevator dinged, signalling their arrival on the fourth floor.
"I know," she said as the doors opened.
"But we are going to have to give you both hell for this, just so you know."
She smiled, shook her head. "I wouldn't expect anything less."