Dedicated to JennKyle. Thank U for faithfully reviewing every one of my chapters for every story. It means so much.
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"Lanie, muy bonita amiga," Javier strolled into the morgue looking mighty fine in tight Levi jeans and a charcoal-colored pullover shirt that fit like a second skin. "How are you today?"
She took in his bright eyes, devil-may-care smile and cocky stance and knew immediately something was up. "I'm doing great, but you certainly didn't haul that sexy Hispanic ass of yours down here to check up on me… Skip the niceties and get down to business."
His laughter made her wish she could hear it on a daily basis.
"No one can accuse you of being subtle."
"No," and her dazzling smile made his heart skip a beat, "I'm definitely anything BUT subtle."
"Mmm," his dark eyes appraised her sleek, straight hair, twinkling eyes and shiny, glossy lips. "I agree. You have other, - " his eyes noticeably dropped to her breasts, "more desirable qualities."
From Lanie's quirked eyebrows and her, 'Don't-try-to-smooth-talk-me-Javier-Esposito' expression, he decided it was time to turn on the famous Esposito charm. He leaned into her and asked huskily, "How would you like to make my night?"
Oh Gawd, the way he asked that question had her insides quivering and thinking of a hot, stormy night wrapped up in his hot, horny arms.
She looked at him skeptically. "It depends on where this night is going to happen."
"Castle invited us all tonight to The Old Haunt."
She looked into his captivating, cappuccino eyes and saw something that she didn't quite like. She crossed her arms beneath her breasts and tapped her toe against the linoleum. "What's the catch?"
He had the nerve to look slightly uncomfortable. "Umm, I need a painless favor from you to ensure the night works out perfectly."
Her response was firm, immediate. "Nuh-uh. Nada. No way, Jose."
Javier rewarded her with that bad-boy grin of his that he knew she couldn't resist. "You know it does wicked things to my body when you call me by my middle name."
"Knock off the sweet-talk Javi and open up your ears. I said, 'No!' – The last time I did you a favor I ended up in Jersey at a family picnic where your deaf Grandmother screamed in my ear that she's only living for the sole purpose of meeting her first Great-Grandchild."
Javier had the gall to look sheepish. "I know Lanie, but it was sincerely a compliment. She really liked you and – "
She interrupted him, saying humorously, "And then she had the nerve to ask me when we were going to start trying."
"What can I say?" He leaned into her personal space exuding that macho-man persona. "My Abuela loves me and was obviously smitten with you."
"Uh-huh," she shook her head from side to side. "So as I see it, you owe me a favor now, - NOT the other way around."
His forehead creased into a frown. "But Lanieee, the favor really isn't for me. It's to help Beckett and Castle finally open their stupid, stubborn eyes and succumb to their attraction."
Her wide, liquid eyes and quick intake of breath betrayed her surprise.
"Ryan and and I are sick and tired of the unresolved chemistry between Mom and Dad and we need your help."
"Ryan's in on this?"
"Yes."
"You two lame-brains will never be able to pull off something this big."
"Don't I know it. Why do you think I'm coming to you?" His voice dropped an octave. "You brilliant, beautiful, African-American Goddess, you."
On the inside, her heart was palpitating with happiness over his words but she scoffed, "You're laying on the flattery pretty thick…You must really be desperate for my help."
"We are," and he batted those beautiful eyes of his.
"Okay, spill. Tell me your plans."
"Well, we recorded a very interesting conversation with Castle where he hints, - mind you, 'hint' being the proper term, that he's been waiting for Beckett since his relationship with Gina ended."
By the tone of his voice, Lanie knew that meant trouble with a Capital T. "Oh my God! You recorded a conversation where Castle's love life is your main topic of conversation?"
The tabloids might pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for that juicy little number.
"Oh, hell no! We just poked and prodded him a bit." Javier's gleeful smile hinted that they had surely done more than that.
"You razzed her boy?" she asked critically, inwardly craving all the intimate details.
"You could umm say that… Beckett hauled in a flirty stripper today and banned Castle to the observation room… Ryan and I, -" his face glowed with pride, "may have ribbed him a bit as we tried to get him to admit that he wants to bed Beckett."
"Uh-huh, I'm sure you did." Lanie's smile grew as she absorbed Espo's haughty expression. "They're two ways it could go… Either Kate dies with laughter over your ingenuity or she's so pissed off that she feels the need to defend her man… Mmm," Lanie brought her hand up to her chin and rubbed it thoughtfully. "Option number two has distinct possibilities."
"Castle invited us all tonight for drinks at The Old Haunt. Ryan and I need you to make sure Beckett comes, as well as devise a plan to get her down into his office so she can hear the recording."
"I have to listen to it first."
"Your wish is my command." He bowed slightly as he pulled a thumb drive out of his front pocket.
"Now get out of my morgue so I can concentrate on work. I'll get back to you within the hour."
"If this scheme works, chica, I owe you big time."
"If this works, I expect a home-made-Latin-dish-to-die-for." And she licked her lips as she thought naughtily, Plus a little Latin love on the side.
"You got it!" He outrageously winked at her before sauntering through the swinging double doors.
Thank God, she'd just finished examining her last body about 25 minutes before as paperwork could wait.
Once Esposito's fine ass was out of sight, Lanie quickly headed to her computer and inserted the thumb drive. She plopped her earbuds in and sat back to relax and enjoy the show.
….
The stripper's name is Candy Land? Lanie thought humorously but her smile immediately fell when she heard Espo's cat whistle and then,"I'd play on her game board any day."
Her favorite Latino was going to pay for that comment.
Her smile officially returned when she heard Castle say the he was not interested at all in the stripper. Good for you, Writer Boy.
She chuckled while picturing Candy Land in a sundress carrying a Nikki Heat book attending one of Castle's book signings. Yep, she'd most certainly want her chest signed and undoubtedly would find a way to slip Castle her number.
Lanie's ears pricked up at Espo's voice. "Man, I'm envious of your life… All those choices of beautiful, willing women."
"Yeah Castle, you must be one of the most satisfied men on the planet."
"We – lll," Castle drew out.
She had to give praise where praise was due… The boys had done a clever job drawing out of Castle that he was no longer the Playboy of years past, - and if she hadn't of witnessed it firsthand, she just might have difficulty believing that was true.
She smiled over Espo pushing Candy Land at him: "Well, I'd bet that if you got yourself a taste of Candy Land that you might find yourself back on the Casanova track."
She felt like clapping aloud with Rick's astonished but firm, "No, no. She's definitely not my type."
"Not your type? - Blond, beautiful, in a slutty-kind-of-way with skyscraper legs and enormous breasts? Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
Ryan's clear voice replied, "He's fine, Espo. We both know his type is more a brunette with skyscraper legs and a domineering personality who knows how to handle handcuffs."
Oh My God, Ryan didn't just go there, did he? - Yep, he did.
Lanie almost made a Kate-move by rolling her eyes at Castle's, "We're JUST friends, guys."
Just friends? If they're just friends than I'm as white as Brittany Spears.
Lanie wished she hadn't have chosen right then to take a sip of her luke-warm espresso as Ryan jibed, "Castle, we're afraid you're about to lose your Man Card."
"Si, afraid you've lost your cojones."
She choked on the caffeinated beverage and spit out droplets on her scrubs. Those boys certainly do have some cojones.
She was surprised that Castle sounded uneasy as he tried to reassure the boys that his Man Card was still present and well-deserved.
Ryan had the nerve to ask him when he last had sex? Kate just might bust his ass for that one.
She couldn't stop chuckling over Javi's, "Jeez, it's worse than I thought, Ryan… He has to think about the last time he got laid."
"Yeah, it's been so long that he can't even remember."
Lanie couldn't believe the next words that came out of Castle's mouth..."It was when I was with Gina."
The man hasn't had sex in a year and a half? Jesus, he's got it bad for Beckett.
The giggles started at her abdomen and rose to her diaphragm and burst out her throat as Ryan told him he needed to have a physical to make sure his junk worked properly and then Javier emphatically suggesting that he needed to see a Sex Therapist.
"Our boy here is waiting for our long-legged, controlling boss to wet his dry spell."
I'd bet a thousand bucks that Ryan's on desk duty for that comment.
"Sure looks like it.. Jeez Castle, we've always known you were hoping to get her in the sack but going that long without some mattress mambo means - "
Lanie could clearly picture Castle's face as he droned, "Enough already." The intonation of his voice clearly stating that he was uncomfortable with the conversation.
It didn't slip past her that the most likely reason for that was, - he's definitely waiting for Kate to 'wet' his dry spell.
And at Castle's, "No chicas for me, Espo. I've already got one bad-ass woman I can't control," Lanie pulled out her cell phone and texted Kate: You're not allowed to say, No. I need a Girl's Night Out tonight. 7 pm. The Old Haunt.
She didn't think her grin could get any larger, but with Kate's reply, her cheeks hurt from smiling. Count me in. I can't express enough how much I need a Girl's Night out. No men allowed. ;)
Lanie's brown eyes crinkled from her plastered smile. She called Javi and said joyously, "It's on... Those two are in for the surprise of their lives."