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Chapter 7

As soon as the door to the hotel suite was opened by the bellhop Castle bounded through like an excited puppy. He paused to look around quickly. Spotting the large windows he raced over and gazed out.

"Look Ma, top of the world!" He said excitedly.

"Castle, really?" Beckett said, channelling Detective Kevin Ryan. "That's your Jimmy Cagney?"

Castle turned from the window to find Beckett standing with her arms folded across her chest looking unimpressed. He looked a little deflated, gave a shrug of his shoulders and then a grin leaped to his lips.

"My De Niro is better." He announced waggling his eyebrows.

"No, it's not."

"Okay."

Beckett felt a little stiff and tired from the long flight. She was not feeling up to one of his usual nine year old on a sugar rush displays. He seemed to sense it. On the ride in from the airport Castle and Bluey chatted away catching up on things. She kept an ear on the conversation as she leafed through an information booklet on Melbourne that Bluey had presented her. Castle had been given a silly hat and she had been given a tour book. She reckoned she had gotten the better end of the deal. From time to time she looked out the window at the passing sights. She was grateful Castle had forgotten that silly hat in Bluey's car.

Beckett slowly unfolded her arms and took in the suite. Her head turned around taking it all in. Her eyes widened as her mouth fell open in surprise. She had been in some large hotel suites in her time but this was big and impressive. The décor was of contemporary design with a colour scheme of light brown, off white and cream. There was a living room with a large L-shaped couch, a separate dining room, there was also an office. In each area there was a large flat screen television. It was more an apartment than a hotel suite.

"Come over and take a look at the view, Beckett." Castle called out.

Beckett crossed the living room and joined him by the window. Again her eyes widened as before her was the Yarra River. She could see several rowing boats sculling their way along the water at a steady pace. On the other side of the riverbank were gardens and parks. She had not seen so much greenery in a long time. Further on in the middle of the gardens was a large white mansion, that was known as Government House. A short distance from the mansion was a large square shaped grey building. This she knew from reading the book that this was the Shrine of Remembrance, the war memorial that had been built after World War One. An impressive memorial for the fallen soldiers.

In the distance she saw the bay and could just make out several large container ships riding at anchor. She liked the idea of having a beach close by.

Looking down to her right she saw trams trundling along the tree lined St Kilda Road. On the other side of the road was the Arts Centre with its tall white spire straddling the roof, beyond that, soaring skywards was the Eureka Tower, an apartment and office tower which as she remember from reading the book, the tallest building in the city. Coming from a city where skyscrapers were the norm she found that Melbourne had a nice blend of buildings, old and new, tall and not so tall. What impressed her even more were all the trees that lined the city streets.

She looked over to her left and saw the sports stadium which was the Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of the premier sporting venues in the world and was one of the oldest. During the summer cricket was played there, a game she had never been able to get her head around, though she had tried. This was also the home of Australian Rules Football. It was played during the winter months. She had caught a game or two on a sports channel late at night and could not believe how those guys could run around, tackling their opponents with bone crunching intensity without any protective gear at all! Their athleticism was amazing and some of them didn't look too bad in those shorts they wore, she recalled.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Castle said.

"What, the stadium?"

"I mean all of this..." Castle's arm swept across the window taking in the entire view.

Beckett slowly nodded her head in agreement.

"Excuse me sir?" Said the bellhop. "Would you like me to take your luggage to the bedroom?"

"No leave them where they are, we'll take care of them." Castle replied. He left Beckett standing by the window and went over to the bellhop.

"If you need anything sir, you only have to call." The bellhop said pointing to one of the telephones in the suite.

Castle tipped the bellhop and showed him out. On closing the door he turned around and regarded Beckett as she stood gazing out the window at the sights before her.

"So what do you want to do first?"

Beckett looked over her shoulder.

"Did they have to book a suite?" She asked.

"Don't you like it?" Castle replied, the smile on his face faltering.

"I love it."

"But?"

"It's so big." Beckett turned around fully to look at Castle and waved her arms around. "So very big."

Castle's smile returned and he gave her a shrug of his shoulders.

"Are you planning some party that I don't know about?"

"I figured there might be moments you'd want your own space. An ordinary hotel room would just make you cranky."

"What?"

"Irritable." He explained. "I think you really should study that dictionary a little more."

"I do not get cranky." Beckett said in a firm voice.

Castle held up both his hands, silently suing for peace.

"Why couldn't they have booked two hotel rooms?"

"I don't know but I'll make a point of asking Paula when next I speak to her." Castle informed her. "So what do you want to do first? Want to check out the bedroom?" He grinned.

Together they found the bedroom. Beckett walked in first and on seeing there was only a king size bed she rounded on Castle. She didn't look very pleased.

"If you think we're going to share the same bed, then you're very sadly mistaken, mister."

The witty remark he had at the ready died on his tongue under her withering glare. An astonished look was on his face. He pointed to his right.

"There's another bedroom next door." He said slowly.

"Oh." The anger she felt suddenly deflated.

He held her gaze as he turned serious.

"I made a promise, remember? I would be a gentleman."

Beckett stared back at Castle and saw him put his hand on his heart, just like he had back at the precinct. All of a sudden she felt a little foolish. She could feel her cheeks start to blush with embarrassment.

"Now I'll bring your bags so you can get changed." Castle announced with growing enthusiasm, ignoring her discomfort. "I don't know about you but after a very long plane trip I have this need to go out and stretch my legs."

Before Beckett had a chance to respond Castle raced out of the bedroom. She shook her head more at herself than at Castle. How could she have doubted him? In all the time she had known him she could not recall him having broken a promise to her. If he had promised to be a gentleman then that is what he would be.

Putting aside this train of thought Beckett turned and examined the bedroom. Castle returned a few moments later carrying her luggage.

"I want to do a bit of exploring." He announced.

"That sounds like a good idea." Beckett replied. "I could do with a stretch of my legs too."

"Okay, that sounds like a plan to me." Castle said happily.

Emerging from their hotel they walked down Collins Street. Castle had changed into a blue shirt and matching pair of trousers. Beckett was wearing a light blue tee shirt and light cotton tan pants. The heat had grown even more since their arrival. The worst of the sun was kept at bay by the shade of the trees that lined the street.

"Maybe we should jump on one of those trams?" Beckett suggested.

"Huh?" Castle's attention was focused on his phone and to the map of the streets of Melbourne that he had called up.

"I was thinking we should go on a ride on one of those trams."

"Maybe later, let's just keep walking."

"And where are we going?"

"Where ever the road takes us."

Beckett cast a look in his direction and found him smiling at her. She returned the smile.

They walked only a short distance before Beckett's attention was caught by the sight of the high end fashion boutiques. She almost pressed her face against the front windows as she stared at the clothes on display. She declined Castle's suggestion they go in and have a look. Moving on it was not long before Beckett found a boutique in which she did go in to have a look.

Beckett was looking at her reflection in mirror admiring how the dress fitted to the contours of her body. A smile played on her lips as she turned one way and then the other. To say she liked this dress was an understatement. This was the last of six dresses she had tried on. She had chosen three that she liked and Castle had found three he liked. He had been the one who had chosen this one.

At first she wasn't going to try on the ones he had selected but he had insisted and eventually she had been worn down by his pleading and relented. She was glad she did. The first two she liked. This one she loved. It was black and sleeveless with the front cut modestly. The hem was just a tad short but that was all right she had worn dresses shorter than this. But this dress made her feel sexy.

Truth be told she had like all three of the dresses he had chosen. Damn the man, he had a good eye. She still had not forgotten that beautiful red dress he had given her for that charity ball they went undercover for.

Through the mirror she noticed Castle using his hand to fan his face.

"What?" She said turning around to look at him, frowning.

"Looking at you in that dress..." He said, as he continued to fan himself. "I suddenly became all hot and bothered." He flashed her a cheeky grin.

Her frown vanished under the smile that blossomed on her face. It secretly pleased her to know that she had that affect on him. Turning back to the mirror she continued to look at herself.

"Can I say you look fantastic in that?" He asked.

"You may."

"You look fantastic in that dress."

"Well Castle you'd better burn the image in your head." Beckett said with a sigh.

"I've got a better idea."

In the mirror Beckett saw him pull out his phone and aim it at her. She turned around.

"Castle, no!"

"Too late." He chortled as he took the snap.

He looked down to the screen to see what he captured and it brought a smile to his face. The look of surprise on her face was adorable and in that dress...Quickly he pocketed the phone before she had thoughts of taking it off him. He beamed back at her disapproving look. She glared at him for several moments before shaking her head and turning back to the mirror.

"This is very nice." Beckett murmured, continuing to admire the dress. "It's a shame that I can't afford it."

"Why ever not?"

Beckett looked over her shoulder and gave him one of her trademark looks. "Not all of us are rich best selling authors, remember?"

"I could buy it for you?" He offered hopefully.

"That's awfully sweet of you Castle but I can't let you do that."

"But you look so great in that."

"No Castle." She said with finality.

Beckett shook her head sadly. Of all six dresses this was the one she wanted the most but she could not accept it as a gift from him. She would not feel right about that.

With great reluctance Beckett dragged herself from the mirror and headed into the changing room. Once she was out of sight Castle motioned to the sales assistant.

"Yes, sir?"

"I'm going to buy all the clothes, my friend has tried on." Castle announced. "But don't let on, okay? I'm going to surprise her."

The sales assistant's face lit up with surprise and delight.

"Yes, sir I understand. I'm sure she will be very surprised."

"I expect so." Castle agreed. A sober look settled on his face. "And after the surprise has worn off she'll kill me."

"But she'll be well dressed doing it."

Castle chuckled at her joke.

"Well this sale is certainly going to make me employee of the month."

"Well deserved. Here's my card." Castle handed over his credit card. "Send the clothes to my hotel."

The sales assistant headed over to the pay point and quickly set about racking up the bill.

Shortly Beckett emerged from the changing room dressed in her tee shirt and pants. In her arms were the clothes she had tried on. Castle rose from the chair he had been sitting in. He could tell by the look on her face she was a little sad at having to give back the clothes. He hated to see her looking sad.

"Just leave the clothes on the chair over there I'll take care of them." The sales assistant called out.

"Come on Castle, let's get going before I change my mind and do some serious damage to my credit card." Beckett said with a sigh.

Beckett started for the door and Castle turned to follow her.

"Excuse me, Mr Castle?" The sales assistant said. "Could I get your autograph please?"

"Certainly." Castle said cheerfully and approached the desk. "And your name is?"

"Jodie."

He stood at the desk making sure his back was to Beckett. With a conspiratorial grin the sales assistant placed an opened hardback book in front of him with the credit card docket on top. He accepted the pen the girl handed over. He signed the docket and then noticed the book was Nikki Heat. He autographed it with a flourish and then added his hotel and room number.

"You are my favourite author."

"That's very kind of you to say."

"Thank you Mr Castle."

"You're welcome, Jodie."

"Please take one of our cards." Jodie said, smiling. "Just in case the lady changes her mind. We're open all weekend."

Castle smiled as he accepted the return of his credit card. He pocketed it quickly, gave the girl a wink and quickly trotted up to catch Beckett as she left the shop.

"I'm in desperate need of a coffee, Castle." Beckett announced. "Bluey said something about the best coffee in the world can be found here in Melbourne."

"I wonder if they have bearclaws in these parts?" Castle replied.