Thank you all for your nice reviews!¸
Hope you enjoy this one!
P.S. I know Espo doesn't look very tall in the show, but I decided he was: p
Esposito found Beckett in the break room of the precinct, coffee in hand.
"Hey Espo" She said has he came in.
"Hey. So you needed to talk to the teacher again?" he said casually, trying not to show too much interest…but he didn't fool Beckett at all.
"Yeah, we had a lead on a suspect leaving the area and we wanted to know if she could place him at the scene." Said Beckett. It didn't take her long to see that Espo was not listening. "Espo! Are you even listening?"
Melissa looked different from yesterday. Instead of her, what he thought of has her teacher's look; she wore cropped pants, flats, a tank top and a jeans jacket. Her hair was down also…turns out it was thick and curly.
"Yeah! Place him… at the… scene" he answered
"Do you have a crush on this girl Javi?" Asked Kate, almost whispering, right behind him
"What?" he said absently
Kate laughed and patted him on the shoulder, "its ok Javi…relax."
XXXXX
After realizing that he just stood there like an idiot, Espo decided to join Ryan. He wasn't talking to her anymore. She was actually on the phone.
"No mom! Yes I will be there. No I will not wear that. Mom I'm 26 I don't need your help to dress for a benefit…" She kept rolling her eyes. Clearly she didn't realize people were around.
" No Mom I will not dance with Ross…Because we've been separated for a year now….Jeez I don't know maybe because I caught him cheating on me…Mom listen I have no time…I'm hanging up now. Yes I will see you there…BYE!" She hung up, cursed at her phone and turned around only to see Esposito, Ryan and Castle staring at her.
"Oh shit" was all she could say. "Sorry you didn't have to witness this"
"Don't worry about it…it seemed serious though, everything all right?" said Castle with his useful smirk.
Melissa laughed "Oh you know, good old routine at the Kensington family. I don't suppose any of you gentleman would like to accompany me to a benefit for the Kensington foundation tonight?"
Her face expression suddenly changed. What the heck did I just say, she though as she realized in what situation she had just put herself in. She had just asked, to a bunch of strangers, if one was free…
Esposito was thinking exactly the same thing. The girl had some nerve…He liked that.
Their eyes meet for an instant.
Hey…that's that detective from yesterday, she though
Shut up you idiot,
Of course, Ryan bailed out first, leaving only Castle and him. Espo gave him a killing look. No way he was letting M. Personality steal her away…Plus anyway, he was with Beckett.
Javier wanted a reason to see her again; well there it was. He only had to seize the opportunity. "Actually I'm free" said Esposito casually, before Castle could say anything else. "I'd be glad to accompany you."
"Really?" she said, her face suddenly lighting up. She sounded surprised, but genuinely surprised.
Wow, was all she could think of… "Ok so it's at the MET. Just say my name at the entrance and they'll let you in" she said shyly.
XXXXX
That night
Melissa was nervous. What the heck was she thinking in asking a total stranger out to a benefit? She had to admit to herself that part of this was that she hopped to give her mother a ride for her money. She kept starring back at the entrance, wondering if detective Esposito was really going to show up. He was a cop…maybe he wouldn't be able to make it. She gulped down the last her champagne glass.
"Whoa easy on the champagne girl" said a tall man behind her
"Oh Henri, you're finally here!" she said desperately. Henri Norton-Kensington was Melissa's cousin and best friend.
"Yes I'm here." He said plainly. "So care to tell me what has you so preoccupied?" he said while grabbing two glasses of champagne from the waiter and giving one to Melissa.
"Well, I sort of invited someone…But I do not know will actually show up"
"Really? You did that?" said Henri, raising an eyebrow
"Yeah, I know it's totally not my style. I do not know what went through my head at the time. I mean asking a total stranger to this thing was..."
"Is he hot?" Henri said, thus interrupting her.
"Yes very hot." answered Melissa
"Then I know exactly what happened. You have the hots for him and you seized the chance. Nothing wrong with that…" They both laughed as he took a drink of champagne. "Oh my lord, who is this nice piece of meat?" said Henri
Melissa turned around only to see Esposito coming in.
Oh god….he came
"Excuse me Henri. I will be right back" she handed him her glass…that he almost dropped.
"What? Wait you know him…Oh it's the famous mysterious man isn't?"
"Yeah and hands off, he is mine" she said with a wide smile.
Javier walked into the MET looking for Melissa Kensington. They were so much people that he didn't see her at first. On the way, he still couldn't believe he had accepted such an offer and Castle's not so witty comments didn't help either.
So what if he felt like playing knight in shining armor…to use Castle's expression. So what if he had a crush? A guy was allowed now and then…
**Back at the precinct**
"Dude, did you just accept a date with a stranger?" said Castle laughing
"So?"
"So…it's like you know the girl. I mean she's hot but…"
Espo could now ear Castle telling the story to Ryan and Beckett.
"Castle, would you leave the guy alone. I'm sure you done the same or worst with a crazy fan girl or something…" Said Beckett.
Castle stood there, saying nothing. Both Ryan and Espo were now laughing.
"Burn dude" said Ryan
**End of flashback**
This place is buzzing with people, Javier though
"Evening Detective" he heard behind him. He turned around only to see Melissa standing behind him.
Once again, Javier was facing a totally different style of hers. She was wearing a strapless dress that clung very nicely to her body. Javier couldn't tear his eyes away from her.
She has to work out, Javier though.
They didn't talk much and simply walked inside. But before they got any further, she stopped and faced him
"A word of advice, do not believe a word my mother says" said Melissa
XXXX
As they walked inside, Melissa kept smiling and saying hi to a bunch of people until they arrived next to a tall guy in the back.
"Henri, this is Detective Javier Esposito. Henri is my favorite cousin and best friend."
They shook hands and exchange a couple of words.
"Oh no…incoming" sighed Henri.
"Great" answered Melissa.
"Melissa sweetheart, stand up straight will you" the women said.
Melissa rolled her eyes. "Hello Mother."
"Darling come with me, there is someone you should meet" she said trying to pull her away.
She said pointing at the man standing not so far. The guy looked like a high price lawyer…which was probably what he did, Javier though
"No mom, I actually came with someone." Said Melissa. "Mom I would like you to meet Detective Javier Esposito of the NYPD. This is my mother Marlena Kensington" said plainly Melissa. Javier wasn't sure but he was sure there was a bit of bitterness in her voice. Clearly something or someone made her uncomfortable. He decided it was time to act.
"Melissa, would you like to dance?" he asked swiftly
The question surprised Melissa at first; she wasn't expecting this at all. "Yes thank you" she answered
They walked to the dance floor. Melissa shivered a little when she felt Esposito's hand slide around her waist. Turns out, he was an amazing dancer.
"I have to admit I'm impressed detective. I didn't picture you has a dancer"
"Please, call me Javier."
She smiled lightly "Right. Thanks for saving me out there"
"No problem. Who's the guy?"
Melissa laughed a little "Honestly, I have no idea"
"That bad uhn?" he asked
"Yeah…My mother's been trying to find me a husband since I turned since I'm the wild card in this family, it didn't work out." There was short silence, "Not that I'm complaining or anything." She finished.
They continued to dance slowly. "You look beautiful by the way" Said Espo
"Thank you" she said with a smile
This thing, was getting better and better, Espo though