Disclaimer: The wording is mine but the characters aren't

OOOOOOOOO

"Like what you see, huh?" she rubbed her face lightly against his neck. "Told you wouldn't be able to take the sight of me straddling my bike in my leathers."

"I haven't seen that yet."

"Well soon you won't be able to say that again."

"You mind if I put this down in your cruiser?" He nodded to his bag. Almost four years later and he still didn't have a locker.

"Sure. We can take the elevator from here. I wouldn't mind making the boys wait."

"Well how about we pop out for a cup of coffee while we're down there?"

"I like coffee."

OOOOOOOOO

30.

"So you said your bike is getting delivered to the precinct?"

The noise of the coffee grinder blocked out most of her voice as they got closer to the front of the line. Both were trying for normal, but it was hard when everyone was staring at them. She was pretty sure most people wouldn't have gotten this much attention. Everyone needs coffee, right?

"Yeah I told Mike down at the desk to sign for it and get them to leave it in the garage," he reported, searching his pockets for his wallet.

He looked good. It was a far cry from his usual, collected image, but she could see why Gina and Paula often had him work the bad-boy image. He did it well. His hair was flatter and a little tousled, almost as if they had come here by bike, rather than just walking down the block. His square jaw was lightly covered with stubble.

And then there was his outfit. A tight, dusty black T-Shirt that pulled across his chest and the heavy jacket left carelessly open. On Josh the look was forced and a little scruffy, but on Castle it worked.

He was rugged and his black-cut outline hung a head over her. He still stood too close to her, the open side of his jacket brushing against her side like it was ready to wrap around her and cocoon her against him. It looked like he still fit his gear after all. Maybe a little too well, she thought, starting to wonder if maybe she was going to be able to concentrate around him.

Details. Details were always a good distraction.
"Why didn't you tell me you had a bike?"

He shrugged.

"I haven't ridden it for a long time."

"You're not telling me the whole truth."

He just gave her a small smile.

Apparently she wasn't going to get anymore than that.

"You should have," she said. "We could have gone for a ride together."

He didn't look that happy about that. "I kind of figured that was something you did with Josh."
"Well, we did," she admitted. "But I would have liked to go for a ride lately."

"Well anytime you want to take a spin, let me know."

Anytime I want. What about when he wanted to? The thought made her pause. When was the last time he had really asked her for something? Something just for him- not related with work.

When he asked her to the Hamptons.

And she said no.

The hurt of that summer came back to the surface for the briefest second before she let it go. Maybe it had been more of her fault than she realised. If it was anyone's fault at all. Just bad timing.

"Castle?" she slipped her hand into his. It just felt normal there now. "Let me know when you want to just escape for a bit too."

"Really?"

"Really."

They moved forward in the queue.

They were content in silence and she enjoyed the weight and warmth of his hand around hers. She listened to him rattle off her order absently. He didn't even have to think about it anymore and then settled back with her to wait for their order.

"Do you get the feeling that maybe all the preparation is unnecessary?" he asked abruptly.

She tilted her head a little. "Maybe. It would probably be easier to be a little more natural. I think Rick with a little attitude is manly enough."

He preened a little. "And I've got four years of insight into how kickass Kate can be."

She felt that he deserved an eye-roll for that one.

"But you know, I think I kind of prefer you calling me Castle," he admitted quietly. "It's your name for me, kind of like Alexis calling me 'Dad'. Outside you and the boys everyone calls me Rick, or Richard, or Ricky."

"I could start calling you Dick."

"Funny."

"Thank you."

He snorted.

"So we're good for tonight?"

"I think so. I am going to miss messing with the boys."

She smirked. "We still could. Give them attitude from the second we walk in."

"I like it. I don't want them thinking they can just ask for a little show. A captive audience sounds much better."

"Your mother would be proud."

He ignored that and turned to the cashier.

"Excuse me, can you add two doughnuts to the order? One sprinkled, pink if you have it, and one oatmeal or wheat germ. The healthiest one you have."

She let out a laugh.

He looked at her in askance but she just shook her head.

With an attitude he was more than enough for tonight.