Hi everyone! Long time no update, sorry...but we are back! The beginning of the following chapter was translated by my teammate Hell-and-Bliss and I'd like to thank her again for her precious help ;) Chapter 4 is a pretty long one so we divided it into different parts. So here's the first one. Now, enough talking, we hope you'll appreciate your reading again, and also, we wish you guys all the best for 2013 :) xoxo
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Rick Castle's birthday party was in full swing for more than two hours now. The guests had arrived throughout the evening, and the beautiful garden of the property was now crowded with people. His friends were there, but also people he worked with or used to work with and of course, the 12th precinct team.
The night had fallen on the Hamptons, and candles and lights were shining across the garden, making all the gorgeous property look like a picturesque postcard.
Some very exotic music was playing everywhere in the garden and a catering service was offering to the guests their best champagne, served among other appetizers and tasty cakes.
Among the guests, Kate Beckett was wearing a gorgeous backless red dress. Absently looking at the crowd, the beautiful detective grabbed a glass of champagne and quickly thanked the waiter, her eyes still focused on Rick Castle, who was standing about twenty meters ahead, on the terrace.
Rick Castle was laughing with his friends, other writers, his agent, and his editor and ex-wife, Gina Cowell. The blonde lady looked stunning in a shiny gold dress, and Kate couldn't stop staring at her, feeling bitterness quickly crossing her mind. She didn't belong to this universe of money, and champagne, and rich and powerful people…She just felt out of Rick's world, once again.
When Gina stroked Rick's arm, Kate felt even worse. Even worse, because Rick had let her do so, obviously pleased with her company. She had never seen him with such a radiant smile before…and he was smiling like that, with Gina. Not her. From Kate's point of view, it couldn't be worse.
While she was still over thinking everything and torturing herself, Kate felt a hand gently stroking her arm.
"How are you doing, darling?"
Kate turned her head towards Martha Rogers and smiled at her. The actress was wearing a yellow/green tight dress so shiny that nobody at the party could miss it.
«I'm fine, thank you. You look stunning, Martha. I love your dress. »
« Oh Thank you, honey…I love it too…And you know what? I already wore it in the eighties…"
"Well, I'm sure you weren't any more gorgeous than tonight.
"Awww you're adorable." Martha replied, flattered. « But let me tell you, I can't be any more gorgeous than you tonight, my dear. » she added, winking to Kate who was now blushing.
« Speaking of which, I should castigate my son for daring abandoning the most beautiful girl of the party…where the hell is he?! " Martha grumbled, looking all around them.
"On the terrace, with Gina." Kate replied, glancing at them again.
« They seem so close, tonight. » she added. Martha smiled and shook her head.
"It's all about work, Kate. Only about work…Publishing, advertising…well, you know. Boring stuff." She rolled her eyes, making Kate smile again.
"Looks like they are having fun talking about this boring stuff." Kate added, still watching them. They were still laughing like kids with the other writers.
Martha shrugged.
"Well, maybe. But it's professional only. Believe me, Kate. Gina and Rick are over. And for a long time, now. »
Kate looked at Martha, a little bit surprised by her talk. The detective shook her head and stammered.
"Oh, I didn't say that to…I mean I…I didn't mean to say…"
Martha didn't let her finish.
"My son really cares about you, you know." She softly answered, stroking Kate's arm again. Then she winked again at the detective and walked away, heading to the part of the buffet where old friends of her were standing.
Kate watched Martha heading to the buffet with a smile, before staring at Rick again. Of course she knew he cared about her. Or well, she hoped so. But she couldn't help having doubts, when she saw him having such a great time with Gina.
Finally, she sighed and rolled her eyes, and decided she would stop over thinking about it. She took another sip of her champagne, and looked around her. Everyone seemed to enjoy the party. The beautiful music of Gloria Estefan – suggested by Esposito- was playing in the garden through speakers, and even a few people were dancing on it.
Kate noticed that Alexis was talking to Jenny and Ryan. The view made her smile, as everyone from the precinct seemed to get along so well with Rick's family. But when she looked further, her smile froze. Javier Esposito was with a young waitress. She was a pretty blonde girl and Javier was foolishly smiling at her. Kate couldn't believe it. He was flirting with a waitress. And a very, very young one. It wasn't breaking news that Detective Esposito was a ladies man, but it was a long time ago before the "Parish" period. Rolling her eyes again, Kate took a deep breath and started to walk towards him.
…
"And have you ever been to the Caribbean? "Javier asked the beautiful blonde waitress who was holding an empty tray against her.
"No, but I'd love to" she replied with a big silly grin, twirling her long hair.
"Where are you from?" she shyly asked him.
"Puerto Rico." Javier replied in a smile. "Grew up in New York, actually…But I still have family there."
"I'm sure it's beautiful."
"It is. Especially in fall. You should come. » the latino grinned.
The wink Javier gave her made her giggle like an idiot while she was still playing with her long hair, blushing.
"I'd love too…but I'm a little scared to go on my own…and I don't even speak Spanish." She explained, a little bit disappointed.
Javier giggled.
"Don't worry 'bout that…'could be your guide…and even your bodyguard." He smiled with a wink, making her blush.
« Oh really ? » she giggled, totally charmed by the handsome detective.
« Si. And you know, I don't mean to brag but...I've been told I'm really good at practicing foreign tongues…. » he whispered to her ear with a killer smile.
« Tell me about that, mi amor! » a third voice interrupted. Javier frowned and looked towards the voice.
Kate Beckett had put her hand on the shoulder of the detective and pulled him closer, way too close according to him.
"You okay, honey?" she asked, eying the waitress. The young blonde girl eyed Kate as well, before looking again at Javier, frowning.
"I've been talking to a few guests for ten minutes and you already replaced me?" Kate laughed as she was still eying the poor waitress who really started to feel bad.
"You…are you…" the waitress stammered, pointing Javier and Kate with her finger.
"Yes," Kate replied, while Esposito answered "no" but Kate's "yes" had covered it. Furious, Esposito glared at her like he had never looked at anyone else before - not even Lanie when she had brought Toby to Ryan's wedding.
"I…I gotta go. My break is over." The waitress stammered before leaving them, offering one last guilty look to Javier. She disappeared among the crowd and Esposito sighed heavily.
"What the hell was that?" he grumbled, grabbing Kate's hand that was on his shoulder to remove it.
The gorgeous brunette grinned and took another sip of her champagne, proud of her.
"Just a little something to stop you from doing something stupid"
"I look like an asshole!"
"Definitely." Kate nodded in a chuckle. Esposito gave her the eye.
"Damn it, Kate. What's wrong with you? What did I do?!"
"Oh me? Nothing. But I don't want you to hurt Lanie."
Esposito stared at her with widened eyes, his mouth half opened.
"You're kidding, right?"
Kate stared at him, seriously.
"Do I look like I'm kidding?"
He shook his head.
"Lanie doesn't care. Besides I haven't seen her for a while", he added, quickly looking around.
Kate's smile widened.
"Oh." She started before drinking again her champagne. " That's because she's with Jake."
Esposito turned his head, frowning, and waited like ten seconds before he dared to ask that question.
"…Who's Jake?"
"He's the chief caterer."
Esposito couldn't help but giggled.
"You kidding me?" he barked.
"Nope."
"Castle paid him to work, not to flirt with his guests…" he bitterly laughed again.
Kate eyed him.
"Like you weren't flirting with a waitress ten seconds ago ? » she mocked.
Esposito rolled his eyes.
« It's different. And, it was during her break."
« Well. Jake is taking a break too. Lanie and him really seemed to get along very well…And he's incredibly sexy. » she grinned before drinking some Champagne again. But Esposito wasn't grinning at all. He kept looking at Kate like he was about to kill someone.
« How do you know that?"
« I saw them. »
« You saw them. Where ? »
« Oh, they left together…somewhere near the pool. »
Feeling jealousy growing, Javier frowned again.
« Okay so, let me get this straight : You didn't want me to flirt with this cute girl because you don't want Lanie to be hurt but she can flirt with anyone in front of me and you don't care ? »
"This cute girl? » Kate repeated with a laugh. « Espo, she could be your daughter… »
« My daughter ? Please » he laughed, shaking his head. « Besides, you didn't answer me. I can't date anyone but Lanie can? »
Kate smiled at him and nodded.
« Exactly my point. »
« …you freakin kidding me, right ? »
« Javi, not a big deal…It's fair enough, you'll be even. »
« Fair enough ? »
« You already forgot the « Kay Cappuccio » thing ? Lanie was hurt. »
« Bullshit. Besides, nothing ever happened!" he defended himself.
« You mean nothing except the way you were drooling in front of her. » she smirked.
Javi shook his head.
« Can't believe it…»
« Can't believe what ? »
Kevin Ryan was walking towards them, holding hands with his beautiful wife Jenny.
« Ask miss marriage counselor » Javier mocked, eying Kate again. She couldn't help but laughed and put her hand on Esposito's shoulder again.
« You'll thank me later, Espo. »
« When…When Lanie marries her gastronomy master ? » Javier quipped, jealous.
"What are you talking about?" Kevin frowned. « Is Lanie getting married? Who's the lucky guy? » he asked, a big smile on his face. But when he saw the way Esposito was glaring at him, his smile vanished.
« Almost gonna be Rick's speech time…and the gifts opening… » he swallowed, trying to forget the killer gaze of his best friend still on him.
« Okay, I'll get Lanie back. » Kate started, but Esposito grabbed her wrist.
« Nope, I'll go » he simply said, before adding with a bitter laugh « Let's see how sexy that jerk is", as Kate, Jenny and Ryan exchanged an amused glance.
...
to be continued