I've started taking on a few more morning shifts again. Actually, it's more than a few; almost all of them. I tell Rick that I'm sick of having all my afternoons and evenings wasted away by work. That I need to try and get on normal schedule, get a life. Maybe even a love life.
Truth be told, I'm more interested in his.
I've never known him to show such patience with a woman, or, for the matter, to rise before noon for one. It's shaping up to be a romance worthy of one of those novels that I most certainly do not read anymore.
"Grande skim latte, two pumps sugar-free vanilla. And a bear claw please, Jess. Oh, and the usual for me," he says, strutting into the store.
"I like the cover art, Ricky," I greet. "Hot."
He gives me a cheeky nod and exclaims happily, "I know, right? She's gonna kill me!"
"And this is a good thing?"
His eyes light up. "We have a thing."
"A thing...?"
"A banter, a give and take relationship." He pauses. "A jolly repartee if you will."
I roll my eyes. It seems he's feeling cocky today; it must be about time to knock him down a peg or two. "Okay..."
"What?"
"Well Rick, you come waltzing into her life out of nowhere and then proceed to follow her around like a lost puppy dog. Then you go and write one very thinly veiled sex scene involving the two of you. Just don't push too hard if you don't want to blow it with this one. From all you've told me, and if she's anything like what you've let me read of Nikki Heat, this girl may be a hard nut to crack."
"And exactly how did you see that scene already, may I ask?"
Smooth Rick, I think. But don't think I didn't notice you avoiding the subject of Detective Beckett.
He shoots me a pointed glare and I realize I've slipped up.
"That wasn't in the chapters I showed you," he continues. "Snooping at the laptop while I'm indisposed again, huh?"
I smirk and leave him hanging for a moment, ignoring him while I finish preparing his order. That's his cue for me to give him my thoughts on what I had read.
He'd come in last week and had immediately gone about his customary routine of laptop leaving and bathroom inspecting. Naturally, I had played my part, had rushed over to read whatever it was that he was nervous about. I'm his unofficial, first-draft editor I guess you could say, and hopefully it always remains that way. Seeing his novels transform from the sometimes rough around the edges ramblings to the insightful and polished work it later becomes is truly an honor that I don't think he realizes how much I cherish.
The scene he'd left displayed for me was unfinished, but it was good and had left me dangling for more, had me rushing back to the counter to try and compose my face into an unaffected mask before he returned.
Now, it's a stand-off as we wait each other out. He wants my thoughts and I'm not quite ready to give him the satisfaction. He raises an eyebrow, grinning.
Oh fine, he wins this round. Besides, I wanna know more.
"So you want my opinion on it, or not?"
"Fire away! Sheesh, such a feisty one you are today."
I take a dramatic pause before giving him my thoughts. "It's hella steamy, Rick. May I ask what inspired that little gem? Did you two already..."
"What? No! We danced, that's all!"
He holds his hands up in surrender as though this is an outrageous accusation on my part. I raise my eyebrows skeptically at him. It's not like it was an unfounded assumption. While his affairs are wildly exaggerated, I know he wouldn't turn down the chance with a girl he likes if given half the opportunity. And he decidedly likes this one.
No, he's not what the papers make him out to be; but he most definitely doesn't hurt for a little companionship whenever the mood strikes him.
I should be so lucky.
I press for more information. "Danced, huh?"
"Undercover. I bought her a dress." He closes his eyes and a grin appears on his lips. "Red and sparkly, just a little too tight."
"Uh-huh..." I probably don't want to know where his mind it right now.
He opens his eyes, his face dreamy. "Oh, my God, Jess... You don't know what it took for me to behave myself."
"I can imagine, lover boy." I laugh at him and hand over his purchases. "So, what happened to the caramel latte?"
"Huh?" His brows scrunch together in confusion for a moment. "Oh!"
He is blushing furiously and I know this is gonna be good. He leans in ridiculously close, like he's going to tell me some nefarious state secret.
"You tell a soul, a soul, and I will cut you off from all future sneak peaks!" He pauses dramatically, looks around the cafe, and it once again becomes abundantly clear that he is the spawn of the great Martha Rogers.
"Anytime today, Rick."
"I dug in the trashcan at her desk while she was in the lady's room, alright?" he huffs. "The coffee house that shall not be named writes the order right on the cup!"
He looks proud; stupidly proud of himself and his investigative skills. Forget interested, forget liking this girl; he's smitten.
I try to suppress the giggle.
Really, I do!
However, it only increases my mirth and soon I am hysterically laughing at his slightly creepy, yet coming from him, adorable, attempts to impress this woman. His cheeks flush an even deeper shade of crimson as he lifts his coffee to his mouth and tries to cover the blush. My cackling must be contagious because soon the customers waiting behind him in line are confused but snickering, and the girls working behind the counter with me are tittering like schoolgirls.
"I hate you," he hisses at me as he haughtily grabs his order and makes his way to the exit.
"Love you too, babe!" I yell after him. A very unladylike snort somehow manages to escape my nostrils.
I think hear him mumbling something about women being the root of all evil as the door closes with a thud behind him.
A week or so later, Rick, Martha and Alexis all come in for a late afternoon dose of caffeine.
His girls are giggling and chatting excitably and he is loaded down with more than a few shopping bags. They wave their greetings to me as they pass the counter and proceed to find themselves a table. Rick deposits the bags at their feet and comes over to place their order.
"When did my baby grow up?" he asks.
Pride is oozing from his features and there is just a hint of a wistful smile on his face.
He's right though. It's been close to six months since I have seen Alexis and she has grown out of the awkward and lanky early-teen phase and has blossomed into a gorgeous young woman. Her hair has lightened from the almost startling red of her toddler years and into the most gorgeous shade of strawberry blond. And her skin... I could probably be coerced into killing for her flawless and creamy complexion.
"I don't know Rick, but you've done a hell of a job. I'm proud of you."
I really am. I always knew he had it in him.
There were a few rocky years after Meredith where he struggled to find a balance between being a good father and keeping up appearances for his public persona, but Alexis has always come first. It's obvious he's done a fantastic job from the easy way they interact with each other and the adoring smiles she sends his way. At her age, you would have been hard pressed to get me in the same room as my parents, let alone convince me to be happy about it.
"Aw, thanks Jess. She's going to her first prom tomorrow, you know? I can't believe it. How did that even happen?"
His eyes are looking a little glassy and in the interest of self-preservation, and future snippets of his work, I decide to change the subject. Causing two scenes in succession probably isn't a good idea. Making him cry would probably be as bad, maybe worse, than laughing him out of the store.
"So... how goes Detective Beckett?" I ask, changing the subject with a cheeky grin.
He lets out a small sigh, not necessarily what I would call sad. Maybe just...frustrated. This is definitely a new development. The last few weeks he had been downright chipper when speaking of his adventures with the detective. I hope like hell she hasn't turned him away. The man is well past due to find his mate. I was almost certain from his recent demeanor that this might be the one.
Now, maybe I'm a little sorry I asked.
"Her ex is back in town. Some square-jawed, F.B.I. hotshot with a charming smile and even more charming persona."
I groan inwardly. Surely she wouldn't have run back to a former lover. Everything he's told me about this woman paints her as a lady that sticks by her principles. Rehashing old relationships doesn't strike me as her style.
Not that I actually know her style. I really need to prod him into bringing her here for a quick latte and not so quick grilling.
"There's something else but I..."
Now he looks downright guilty and there is a hint of dread forming in my gut.
"You what?"
"I can't actually tell you anything. It's not mine to tell." He runs a hand through his hair. "Look, I believe I did the right thing, but it was probably for the wrong reasons at the time. Or maybe it was the opposite. Wrong thing, right reason. I don't know, Jess. I've probably gone and messed everything up."
Oh jeez, what has he gotten himself into? I wait patiently for him to continue while I go about making their usual orders. It doesn't take long for him to go on.
"I've started a ball rolling and I don't know if I can even make it stop. Hell, I don't even know if I want to. I was talking to Mother earlier though; she made me realize how deep I may have stepped in it. I should probably just tell Kate. But Jess, I have no clue how, and this case we are working is crazy and... ugh! Being the playboy was a whole lot easier, you know?"
The mini-rant is completely confusing and more than a little out of character for Rick. He's usually such a confidant guy, his words concise and carefully chosen, even when relaxed and with friends.
Now I'm definitely sorry I asked.
"Hey, you'll figure it out," I soothe. "Hell, maybe it will work itself out and you won't have to tell her at all," I offer hopefully. "Besides, if she's half the woman you've made her out to be, she'll forgive you. For whatever it is."
"Maybe..." he hedges, not looking at all certain, but the haze lifts a little. "I'm still waiting get some answers and... yeah, maybe you're right."
He gives me a look of such hopeful expectation that I immediately feel the need to dampen his prospects a little. Rick is a naturally optimistic guy and for him to be this morose and unsure of himself is, frankly, a little disturbing. Whatever it is, he's in deep.
"Eventually." I clarify with a gentle pat to his hand. "Eventually things will work out. Now go. Enjoy your family before your drinks get cold."
"You're right," he says, and a touch of the Richard Castle spark returns. "Besides, I've got some teenage-boy hazing to plan!"
And the spark is back. Nothing like a little boyfriend torture to brighten up your day.
"That's my boy!" I cheer.
He walks over to his daughter and demands a kiss before he will hand over the coffee. I hear Martha, tut-tutting him and Lex groaning before succumbing to the aroma of my brew and grudgingly consenting with an eye roll and a kiss to his cheek.
Watching that man with his family never fails to make me smile; they are quite the picture.
I snap out of my reverie when I hear an impatient throat clearing. Looking around the shop, I notice that the line has grown long and irritated. I had unintentionally held up one of the registers while chatting with him. I offer up my apologies and hastily get back to work. I make sure to give them one of the "Next one's on the house!" cards that I keep for occasions such as these.
I shake my head with a tinge of embarrassment as the line shrinks to a more manageable level. Usually it's the new kids needing them.
I miss the night shift. And sleeping in. Rick needs to get his love life in order so that I can once again concentrate on mine.
You, of course, mean the lack thereof...
Shut up, brain!
You know the drill! I bat my eyelashes, you grovel for more and shower me with praise... Or offer me episodes/issues you'd like covered. I have a pretty long list already, but you never know, maybe you'll think of something that I haven't.