The Old Haunt was surprisingly full of customers for a weekday. The music was festive and lively and the patrons even more so. Kate smiled broadly as it was the perfect rendezvous spot to blend in and go unnoticed. She and Lanie would be able to talk freely without prying ears.
A young, pretty, tall hostess with mid-length, light brown hair and hazel eyes approached them. Kate was grateful she didn't recognize (she glanced at her name tag) Sierra as tonight she didn't need to be seen as, 'the-owner's-muse'.
Lanie couldn't help her growing grin because Sierra could pass as Kate's little sister.
Well, she's certainly a testament to where Castle's heart lies.
Sierra greeted them with a friendly smile and asked if they were joining another party.
"It's just us, tonight," Kate said. "Can we get a secluded booth in the back?"
"Certainly. Follow me."
Sierra of course recognized Detective Katherine Beckett. Upon being hired, she was shown a group photo of the owner's friends, - more like family in Mr. Castle's eyes… All the Officers from the 12th Precinct had beers on the house. Detective Beckett was certainly a beauty with her trim body, shiny locks and dazzling smile. The feminine, mint green blouse Kate wore brought out the green in her eyes and Sierra complimented her on the trendy bohemian skirt.
"Thank you, Sierra. I was just telling my friend here how lovely she looks out of uniform," Lanie said sincerely.
"I still can't believe you were able to convince me to dress-up."
"Hey, us ladies deserve to dress-to-impress once in a while. We need to keep the men on their toes, drooling over our assets."
Kate looked at the form-fitting, red dress that emphasized every one of the M.E.s curves and thought, 'Yep, Esposito would certainly be drooling if he saw you right now, but she said instead, "Uggh, I thought this was a 'No Men' outing."
"No," Lanie teased, "All I said was that I needed a Girl's Night. I never agreed to your suggestion of, 'No Men Allowed.' … Plus, you knew there was always the possibility of us running into Castle if we came to the Old Haunt."
She felt an uncharacteristic blush rise to her cheeks, but she refused to admit that she truly hoped her annoying, handsome-as-hell-partner also happened to be at the bar tonight.
She was also not going to reveal that she secretly loved that Lanie had insisted on her wearing a skirt. And NO, she wasn't telling her gossipy African-American friend that she'd purchased this particular mint-colored blouse with her arrogant, funny partner in mind because it brought out the 'green hues' in her eyes. And no, she wasn't telling Lanie that she picked out this particular bohemian skirt because it made her feel less like a cop and more like a desirable woman.
Sierra seated them and asked if she could start off their drinks.
Lanie laughingly said, "I'm ordering for you tonight, Kate," thinking that if she got her a little bit tipsy it might make her more susceptible to Rick's charms. "Two Sex On The Beach's, and throw in a maraschino cherry in one of them please."
Kate raised one eyebrow comically, "Sex on the beach?"
"Well I figured since you haven't had sex since hunky Doctor Josh that you might as well get a taste of it anyway."
Thank God she wasn't sipping a drink right now or she would have choked and spluttered it all over the table.
"Hmm," Kate said smirkingly, "What makes you think I haven't gotten any since Josh?"
Laine's exasperated expression make Kate laugh out loud. "Are you kidding me, girl? With your uptight demeanor and the way you look at Castle, you obviously haven't done the horizontal hussle in months."
Kate opened her mouth to protest but Lanie held up the palm of her hand, effectively stopping her.
"Don't even try to deny it… Like Duran, Duran says, 'You are hungry like a wolf, - and for one specific, famous author."
Kate rolled her eyes and then looked thoughtfully at Lanie's growing smirk which clearly stated, 'You-know-I'm-telling-the-truth-so-don't-fight-me- on-this-and-just-admit-it.'
"Come on, Kate. You can tell me anything, and if you asked me to keep my pretty mouth shut, I wouldn't breathe a word of it to anyone."
"Lanie, everyone knows that if they want the latest relationship gossip to head down to Gabby Parrish's office."
"You're conveniently leaving out that they also come to me for the best relationship advice as well."
As Sierra approached them with their drinks Lanie begged, "Spill. It's therapeutic you know, and I can be just as good a listener as Dr. Burke."
Kate threw her a look which portrayed, 'Be-quiet-as-we're-about-to-have-company.'
As the hostess placed their drinks on the table she said, "They're on the house… The gentleman behind the bar said that the two most attractive women here shouldn't have to pay for their drinks."
A set of chocolate eyes and hazel ones both turned at the same time to the bar.
Kate gasped when she saw him.
Rick's perfectly coiffed, sandy hair brushed to the side. His bluer-than-blue orbs sparkling in the fluorescent lighting, his cheeks touched with a smidgeon of pink due to his exertion behind the bar.
Rick in a tight, navy blue Mets baseball T-shirt that hugged his biceps and showed off his spectacular guns. He raised a tumbler and began shaking it. Her mouth fell open in astonishment as she literally gaped at the size of his upper arms. 'Spectacular' was an understatement as she wouldn't be able to span both her hands around the muscle.
Mmm, she thought naughtily, he'd easily be able to pick me up and hold me against the wall while he fucked me senseless.
Lanie found her voice first and with envy in her tone said, "Holy shit! You've been holding out on me. Why haven't I ever heard about his Statue of Liberty guns? ... I would never tire of looking at those massive biceps... If I were you, I'd be demanding that he wear short sleeves to work D-A-I-L-Y."
Kate chuckled at Lanie's undisguised enthusiasm. "Mmm," She took a long sip of her fruity drink, her eyes never leaving Rick's body, and replied, "I couldn't have said it better myself."
Lanie harrumphed, "I'm mad that you've been keeping this from me."
"I seriously had no idea."
"That man's body would do a woman good... You'd better jump on him quick, girlfriend, before some 20 something bimbo decides she needs him to satisfy her Daddy issues."
'Yeah,' she licked her suddenly dry lips, 'he could certainly satisfy some of my issues.'
Said man that would do a woman's body good, blast him, looked all relaxed and happy and just plain edible with his gorgeous ocean blues and sexy smile with sparkling white teeth.
While she appraised him, (or more correctly 'gawked' at him) Rick caught her unawares and his eyes glued with hers. He raised those thick eyebrows and tilted his chin just so and pasted that cocky expression on his face which screamed, 'I-know-that-you're-not-immune-to-my-charms-Detect ive-and-I' m-dying-to-show-you-the-magnitude-of-those-charms- in-the-bedroom.'
One of his entrancing eyes closed in a flirty wink and then his lips moved sensuously.
If she had to guess what he mouthed, she thought it might be, "Hi, Kate. You look lovely." But then again, with the way her mind was floating in the gutter currently, it could have been, "Hi, Kate. I want you badly."
She didn't think the view of him could get any better as there was not a single hair out of place on his head. (Which made her wonder what that thick head of hair would look like after a round of frantic sex) The rosy sheen to his cheeks brought out the masculine curvature of his jaw and the T-shirt highlighted his broad pecs, not to mention those bulging biceps that tapered down to his lean forearms and large hands.
Umm, his hands.
Hands that create those intriguing, stimulating words. Hands that write Nikki Heat. Hands that bring you luscious coffee every morning. Hands you dream about touching you intimately.
They're stimulating and luscious and Oh Gawd, he walked around the bar in True Religion jeans that were excessively tight in all the right places, … making his thighs look freakin fantastic, and (gulp) like he was very happy to see her.
Now, - how do I get him to turn around so I can look at his ass?
"You'd better close your mouth Kate or Castle might just get the impression that you're attracted to him," Lanie jested.
Kate threw her her famous 'death glare' as Castle sauntered to the table.
"Writer boy, you look smashing dressed like a civilian."
"Thank you, Lanie," his grin encompassed them both. "Might I return the compliment and say you two ladies look absolutely beautiful tonight." He grinned bashfully as damn, that was the understatement of the year.
Kate sitting before him with her hair upswept in an elaborate twist, showing off her model cheekbones and pink, lush lips, - dressed like a refined lady, (mind you, - the sexiest, hottest lady that he'd ever seen) in a mint green, chiffon top that made her eyes shimmer and barely skimmed the top of her breasts. The fabric flowed over her shoulders beautifully, exposing her delicate collar bones (making him long to taste the creamy flesh there) and if he gazed close enough, he'd be able to see what color of lingerie she wore beneath.
But no, (he tried to convince himself) - he wasn't that much of a cad to leer at the tempting, almost see-through blouse.
Eyes up, Rick. Eyes up.
His eyes dropped though to the summery, white bohemian skirt that resided just above her ankles. A skirt that could easily be hiked up past her thighs and give him full access to what lied beneath.
"I vote that you two women should wear something like this to work."
Kate couldn't contain her smirk at their similar thoughts.
His eyes landed on her intriguing orbs and then his smooth, bedroom voice purred, "You, Detective, would have suspects not minding in the least being interrogated, - and you, Ms. Voluptuous M.E.," his eyes reluctantly left Kate to focus on Lanie, "Just might have a cadaver standing at attention wearing that smokin, cocktail dress."
Lanie's giddy laugh could be heard throughout the bar. "Don't you know by now, Writer Boy, that cadavers already do?"
Rick's chuckle mingled with hers. "What will it take for you to start calling me 'Writer-Man?"
Her eyes widened with glee. She promptly stood up next to him on tippy toes and placed her hands on his shoulders to lean into his ear. "You bed Beckett and then she can confirm whether or not you deserve the title."
Kate bounced her crossed leg up and down, up and down, as there were any number of embarrassing things Lanie could be telling him right now.
Rick's guffaw confirmed her worst fears. It rumbled up through his abdomen and into his chest and shook his whole frame.
"You'd better not be saying something risqué about me," Kate piped up worriedly, but from her friend's blatant, 'Who me?' expression it was obvious that she had done just that.
Rick couldn't help confirming it by further teasing, "You already know, Ms. Parrish, that I've been trying to do just that for the past 4 years."
"I'm betting it's going to happen sooner than you think."
"Hey guys, I'm right here," Beckett waved her hands in the air, annoyed that they were discussing her when she was just a foot away.
"Don't worry Kate," Rick teased, "It's nothing you haven't heard from Lanie before."
At her very perturbed look, shooting ominous rays through her eyes, (How in God's name did she look even sexier with that particular look?) Rick held out his arm to her and asked graciously, "Detective, I'd love it if you two ladies would join me and the boys in my office."
"They're already here?" Lanie asked inquisitively.
"Yes, they haven't been here long though,- only about 20 minutes."
"Gawd Lanie," Kate whined, wondering what type of secret agenda she had planned for tonight. "This was supposed to be a Girls-Night-Out."
"This is so much more fun and you know it!"
Before Kate could finish rolling her eyes, Lanie piped up enthusiastically. "We'd love to join everyone."
She grabbed both of Kate's hands to pull her up from the booth and then slid Kate's right arm through Rick's left. She then strolled around Castle to capture his opposite arm.
Kate shook her head from side to side, smirking at Rick's self-satisfied grin and luminous leer. She flushed as she caught her playful partner ogling her like he wanted her to be his next meal. His dark orbs constricted, betraying that he wouldn't mind fucking her right here, right now.
"I'm so happy that you came tonight," left those full lips and her eyes dropped automatically to watch them move.
He was so close, smelling simply divine with that European cologne he fancied, and all she'd have to do is lean into him and her lips would brush across his…
Instead, she simpered, "Me too," and was surprised to hear the breathiness in her tone.
As Rick led them down the rustic hallway, she was fascinated by the photos adorning the wall.
Tears pricked her eyes as she looked at a photograph of her and Captain Montgomery, his arm slung casually over her shoulder.
"Castle, can I get a copy of this one?"
"Sure, anything for you," and the way he said, 'anything,' had her picturing him again as she did in that bizarre dream, - wearing only Superman boxers but this time with a matching red bowtie. She'd have a ball sinking her teeth into that sophisticated necktie and - .
"Oh my God," Lanie interrupted her thoughts, "This one's hilarious!" It was a photo with the boys and Captain Gates. Javier was standing slightly behind her mimicking her actions.
"You'd better pull that one down if Gates comes into the bar," Kate said. "Otherwise, Esposito just might find himself transferred to another precinct."
Another photo showed the four of them, plus Lanie and Jenny, chatting in the break room.
Her heart lurched at the last 8 by 10 candid shot of her and Castle… She was hunched over her computer screen obviously laughing at something Rick had just said… Castle's goofy grin splattered his face while he looked at her with ?
She struggled to find the correct term... As he looked at her with Adoration? Devotion? With his heart on his sleeve?
Her breath caught as she wondered, Is that how he truly sees me?
She started when hot air lifted tendrils of hair at her ear, and then his bad-boy baritone said, "That's my favorite one of you."
She found herself staring at his full lips again… "When was it taken?"
His sexy chuckle reverberated through her arm and all the way to her toes. "It was taken right after Serena Kaye left the precinct gloating about her 1% finder's fee for the return of the Fist of Capitalism."
Ah yes. How could she forget Ms. Kaye flirting with him in such an open manner? Just thinking about the blond beauty ('hussy' being a more appropriate term) made her blood boil, but then, (a soft smile bloomed across her face) how could she forget Serena's parting shot that she didn't steal things that didn't belong to her? - Specifically, one hunky man over 6 feet tall with glorious thick hair and ocean-blues that you could easily drown in.
"Yes, I remember," Kate said laughingly. "Ryan commented that he was glad to see the last of her as he was sickened by her taste in men."
"Yes, he did, and that's when Jenny snapped the picture of us." He snagged her hand that was linked through his arm and settled it at his heart. "You, laughing riotously at the comment, and I'm laughing with you, trying hard not to be offended."
"You deserve a little 'offense' now and then with that massive ego of yours, Mr. Castle."
His eyes absorbed her angelic face and his voice softened humorously. "Where you're concerned Kate, my ego's taken enough bruising."
"What are you two chattering about?" Lanie asked, hating to be excluded from the conversation.
"Just saying how lucky I am to have the most amazing friends in New York City."
"And don't you forget it, Writer-Boy." Lanie motioned in front of her for Rick to descend the stairs first.
Both women's eyes were on Castle's firm, round ass as he walked down the narrow stairway.
Lanie held her thumb up in appreciation of his backside and mouthed, 'You need to get yourself some of that fine ass."
Kate decidedly ignored her and concentrated instead on walking down the steep steps in her 4 inch heels.
No, she was not concentrating on the way his taut ass moved sensuously from side to side... How does he look so scrumptious in just a T-shirt and jeans?
When Castle opened the office door, Espo exclaimed, "It's about time you're back. I'm sick and tired of Honey Milk here bitching that Jenny couldn't join us."
"Knock it off, Javi. It's sweet how madly in love he is with his fiancée."
"It's not manly to be so whipped."
"I don't know about that," Kate teased. "A woman finds a man who doesn't have commitment issues," she locked eyes with Castle, "Refreshing."
"Ohh?" Castle asked with his adorable, boyish expression which reflected a child's excitement on his birthday. "Do I fall into that category, Beckett?"
"You own that category, Partner, with your 2 previous marriages," she laughed. "It's obvious that you don't have any commitment phobias."
Rick actually threw his shoulders back and puffed out his chest. (Kate wouldn't have been surprised if he started beating it like a gorilla) "I'll take that as a compliment even though I'm not quite sure you meant it as one."
"Are you kidding me, Castle? These ladies just reduced you to the category of neutered-ninny." Espo took a long swig of his Heiniken. "Man, you and Ryan both need to grow a pair and stop letting the women in your life run you over."
Castle laughed gaily. "I'll agree with you there as the only woman in my life currently is my mother."
"I was certainly not referring to Martha," and Espo's eyebrows lifted as he glanced at Beckett.
Oh no, he did NOT just go there.
Kate's hazel eyes narrowed menacingly and her lips quirked upwards into a deceiving smile. "Are you actually hinting that I manipulate and control Castle, and that he needs to learn to stand up for himself?"
"Well-ll," he drew out teasingly, "If the shoe fits."
She walked over to him confidently and stood toe to toe with her team member. "I'll show you who I have control over… You're on desk duty for the next two days."
"But Beck – ett," he whined.
"Want to make it three?"
"No way."
"Tell her what you really meant by that comment," Ryan interjected, giving him the thumbs up to go ahead.
"What I'm really saying, Boss," and his eyes widened in fear, "In a very round-about-way, is that everyone can see that you two," his index finger flew back and forth between her and Castle, "Belong together."
His suave grin hinted at what was to come. "You're Castle's woman and it's about time that you both admitted it."
Unfortunately, Rick chose just that moment to take a sip of his whiskey and he choked on the burning liquid, sending him into a coughing fit.
"Castle's woman?" she said in a deathly, low tone.
Lanie interjected, "Wrong choice of words." She glared at Esposito and scoffed, "And you think you're God's gift to women."
"I know I can convince you that I am."
At Lanie's withering look, he quickly decided that it was in his best interest to shut his trap.
"Kate, all Javi's saying is that everyone from the delivery guy, to the caterer, to the cab driver, can see the connection between you two... We three see something special between our dear friends and it's about time you both got your heads out of your butts and did something about it."
"Uh-huh, exactly!" Ryan spouted. "Beckett, you need to listen to this." Ryan hurried over to Castle's computer and punched a few keys. Over the speaker came his tell-tale voice saying, "Hey Castle. How you doin'?"
"Fine," he grumbled. "Beckett won't let me in there with Candy Land... She gave me some excuse about being a distraction."
As soon as Rick realized that the boys had taped their conversation in the interrogation room, his mouth dropped and he jumped over to the computer, ineffectively pushing buttons trying to stop the recording.
"Oh, hell no. You did NOT tape our earlier conversation."
Ryan smiled innocently. "Yes, we did, and Beckett needs to hear this. It'll be good for both of you."
Kate smiled from ear to ear at Javier's, "The stripper's name is Candy Land? … I'd play on her game board any day."
"Of course you'd say that, Esposito. Men!"
"Officially her name is Candice Littleton, but Candy Land certainly suits her," rang through the room before Rick turned the speakers off.
Lanie had the good sense to round the boys together and say, "We're going to leave you two alone." She threw Kate a look that said, 'If-you-know-what's-good-for-you-you'll-listen-to- the-tape.'
She motioned for the boys to go ahead of her and just before she stepped out of his office, she flipped her head over her shoulder to say, "Rick, I listened to the tape and was very impressed by how you handled the boy's ribbing but more importantly, I was blown away by how you handled Candy Land."
Candy Land? Kate thought with a sour taste in her mouth, and as Lanie shut the door behind her she turned to a very sheepish looking Castle, still fiddling with the keyboard.
Her voice, sacharine sweet asked, "Let's start with why you think the stripper name, Candy Land, suits Candice Littleton."
Fuck! Here he was alone in a room with Kate looking all sultry and alluring while she asked him about a busty blond stripper.
Rick shuddered as her body language told an unpleasant story, - like she was restraining herself from pulling out her glock and shooting him.
I'm not going to make it through the night.