Hi everyone! Yes, here's the next chapter! Thank you for your feedbacks and your comments. They are really appreciated. Hope you'll enjoy your reading. xxx
A beautiful spring sun was illuminating the sky of the Hamptons, on that Saturday of May. It was around 2 o'clock in the afternoon and still, the small group was gathered at the big wooden garden table for breakfast.
"Would you like another croissant?" Martha asked her son and Javier Esposito, sitting in front of her, as she offered them the basket.
"No thanks", Esposito managed to say, his mouth full. "I'm going to gain 10 kg."
"You'll lost them in the pool", Rick teased as he grabbed one of the croissants. Sitting next to him, Royal was watching every of his moves, hoping for a reward.
"Look at him," Rick said with a smile as he gave him a piece of croissant.
"Stop giving that dog anything and everything, Rick, he's not a trash can!"
The voice was coming from behind. Kate Beckett and Lanie Parish were approaching, wearing their bikinis and a pareo wrapped around their waists. They were coming back from the pool. Rick gazed at the beautiful detective, her rangy silhouette and her long drenched hair that was balancing on her shoulders. It reminded him that time when he had seen her coming out of the pool when they were in LA, almost a year ago.
"And shut your mouth, even Royal drools less than you", she added with a half smile as she patted Castle's shoulder. Then she walked around the table and took a seat between Alexis and Lanie.
Rick shut his mouth and swallowed hard, still eyeing on the young woman despite her verve.
"So, wasn't the water too fresh this morning?" Martha asked.
"It helps waking up", Lanie replied as she grabbed a toast.
"You should go and swim too, dad. You're getting older, and so is your belly", Alexis recalled, sitting next to her grandmother. She was casually peeling an orange and Rick stared at her, in shock.
"Wh…? You think I'm getting fat?" he said in concern, as he put a hand on his belly.
"Well, you're not the only one", Lanie reacted as she stared at Esposito with a smile. Sitting next to Kate, the medical examiner was filling another cup of tea. Javier met her eyes and stopped chewing his croissant.
"So what, is that a problem?" he asked as he shrugged.
"Sure no, honey", she said as she tried to focus on her tea. "I'm just saying, if you still want to have success among young waitresses…You better be careful, you're not that young…"she added as she took a sip of tea.
"Yeah sure, everybody cannot be as young and handsome as…what was his name? Jake?"
Lanie rolled her eyes but Esposito kept going.
"At least, I don't hide my brain in my muscles", he said, annoyed, as he looked away.
Lanie raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really? Then where is it? I'd like to know."
"Guys…" Kate snapped as she gave them both a disapproving look. They were fighting, again.
"I'd rather not answer in front of all these people right here…" Esposito said, ignoring Kate.
"Yeah. Not in front of my innocent daughter please", Rick added discreetly.
"Dad, I can hear you", Alexis said.
"Well, I'd like you to close your ears when these two are arguing" he said as he glanced at Espo and Lanie.
They shared a look, offended.
"So what? We don't have the right to fight anymore?" Lanie said, amused.
"I'm eighteen!" Alexis claimed as well, offended that her father was always treating her like a child.
"So what? You want to know what I did when I was eighteen?"
He stopped, glancing at her mother who gave him the eye.
"I better not tell you, actually", he ended quickly.
"No you don't", Martha nodded.
Kate smiled.
"Well, I would have liked to meet you when you were 18, Castle…" she teased. He glanced at her and gave him a warm smile.
"I would have liked it too, Beckett. For your information, I would give anything to know more about your teenage years…would you like some milk in your coffee?" he asked as he lent her the milk pot.
He couldn't help smiling as he thought about their nighttime encounter the night before and Kate was a little upset by the way he was now looking at her…She perfectly knew what he meant and wanted to slap him for grinning and gazing at her that way. She just tore the milk pot off from his hands and replied nothing…She was too ashamed.
While Alexis was busy with her orange, Kate with her coffee and Esposito and Lanie were fighting in silence, the happiest couple of New York interrupted them all.
"Hello kids!" Kevin Ryan said happily, holding hands with Jenny. He was wearing a grey short pants and a white cotton shirt, while Jenny was wearing a nice black dress with white polka dots.
"Hey, finally, lovers who don't fight, what a relief," Castle said, as Lanie and Esposito gave him the eye.
"Did you sleep well?" Castle asked, grinning.
"Not enough!" Jenny replied, smiling as well.
"Yeah, it was too short!" Kevin added.
"Thank you guys for the details, we're having brunch here," Esposito said, which made Lanie smile.
"That's not what you think it is, Javi!" Jenny claimed, blushing.
"It's true, I didn't hear anything last night", Kate teased as she took a bite of her toast. Lanie smiled hearing the joke and nudged her friend.
"No, the fact is, if I had listened to my wife, we would still be in bed", Kevin explained as he gazed at Jenny lovingly.
"I couldn't get up…still wanted to sleep", Jenny sighed as she leaned on her husband's shoulder. "We sleep so well here!"
"Well, this is the countryside my dear", Martha nodded. "Come here, take a seat," she offered. Kevin and Jenny sat between Esposito and Martha, at the end of the table.
"Coffee, bro?" Esposito offered his buddy.
"Yes please," Ryan nodded as he lent him his cup.
"Jenny?"
"No thanks, Javier", she declined politely. She wasn't quite awake yet.
"So, what do you guys want to do on this beautiful day?" Castle asked as he stretched and yawned on his chair.
"Something enjoyable, but not tiring", Kate replied.
Rick looked at her.
"I'm thinking about something definitely enjoyable for you, Kate…but I don't think it's not tiring…OUCH!"
Kate's foot had just kicked his leg under the table.
"Can you please stop kicking me? I was talking about tennis!" he claimed. "Let me remind you I have a private court, in the backyard."
"How could I forget", Kate replied.
"Oh, tennis? I'm in!" Kevin said enthusiastically. "Did you know I was called the Irish Bjon Borg in high school?" he added with a smile.
"Bjon Borg was Swedish", Esposito chuckled.
"Exactly, that's why I said Irish. I know he's Swedish, who do you think you're talking to?" the Irish said.
"Kate, are you in?" Castle asked, letting Espo and Ryan argue like two kids.
"Mm…why not", she said with a smile. "Whether he's the Irish Bjon Borg or not, I'm sure I'll make you eat some balls, Kevin" she added.
"Oh I can't wait to see that, Beckett", he challenged her.
"Eat balls? Isn't it…gross?" Esposito interrupted as he glanced at Kate. Kate rolled her eyes and shared a look with Lanie.
"Your delicacy is touching, Espo."
"See what I had to endure everyday in the past?" Lanie whispered to her friend. Kate smiled and glanced at detective Esposito again.
"Anyway, I'll make you bite the dust too," she added. Javier laughed.
"Don't make me laugh," he chuckled. "You'll leave the court crying," he challenged her as he cleared his throat.
"Yes, tears of joy," Kate retorted as she stared at him defiantly.
"Lanie, do you want to see that?" Castle asked the M.E.
"Oh, no thanks."
"What…Are you afraid I'll make you sweat, Doctor?" Esposito teased her with a charming smile that Lanie ignored.
"No, I just prefer Royal's company", she answered, smiling at him sarcastically. Javier's smile faded.
"Speaking of whom, I was planning to take a walk in the forest with the dog. Lanie, wanna join?" Alexis asked.
"Sure honey," Lanie smiled.
"Oh, a girl's date…you're going to talk about boys, fashion and make up?" Rick guessed as he gazed at his daughter tenderly.
"Nope dad," Alexis corrected. "Corpses, formalin and biology classes", she said, making her father wince. "I just can't wait!" she added, almost jigging on her chair and grinning at Lanie. Then she left the table with Royal who followed her closely, in order to feed him in the kitchen. Rick watched her walk away before he glanced at his mother. Martha shrugged.
"What did you expect? She's your daughter." The actress smiled.
"Jenny, wanna join us?" Lanie offered.
"Oh, no thanks," she declined. "I was thinking about reading quietly, on the terrace…"
"Well, I had the same idea, Jenny", Martha replied, smiling at her.
"Enjoy and take some rest my love, that's why we're here," Kevin said before he kissed her on the forehead.
"Yes I know, honey. But I'm going to miss you", Jenny replied with puppy eyes.
"I'll miss you too. Even more," Kevin said with the same tender voice, stroking her cheek.
"Not as much as me…"
"Oh yes I will…"
"You're so cute…" Jenny whispered before she captured his lips.
"Not as cute as you…" he managed to say, his lips against hers. They shared a few more kisses without any consideration for the others around them and Esposito winced, sharing a look with Rick.
"I don't know if it's the beer from last night or them, but I kinda want to puke", he whispered, placing a hand on his stomach.
"It's them, for sure." Castle said on the same tone.
"So, are we gonna play tennis or not?" Kate said as she clapped her hands so hard that Esposito and the two lovebirds startled.
"What, right now? I'm not completely awake yet…" Javier mumbled as he grabbed his head between his hands.
"Oh come on, do you have a hangover, detective Esposito?" asked Kate as she faked sympathy.
"No," he chuckled. "For your information, I can drink a lot, unlike some girls right here, detective Beckett."
"…are you talking about me?" the young woman asked.
"Is there another detective Beckett here?" he joked as he looked around him before he found her eyes again. "Don't you remember the New Year's eve party in the precinct, three years ago?"
"You guys put some vodka in my champagne that day!" Kate protested.
Kevin let out a laugh.
"Oh, true, we did…" he remembered as he shared a knowing look with Esposito.
"We put some rum too. Funny you didn't feel it," the latino added.
"Yes I did… The morning after," Kate mumbled.
Rick stood up from the table.
"All right guys. Enough with alcohol talk, or I'm going to throw up my breakfast on the table. We drank so much last night…"
Martha let down her fork.
"Richard, this kind of remarks is totally inappropriate," her mother said, disgusted. Rick ignored her and continued.
"This is the perfect time for a tennis match. So if we're four, Kate, what about teaming up with me and taking your revenge on these two clowns who dared getting you drunk three years ago?"
"As if you were shocked", Esposito smirked.
"I think it was a brilliant idea…" Rick whispered, grinning like a kid before he stopped as Kate gave him the eye.
"But I'm still shocked", he corrected.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure" Kate sighed, still amused though.
"Come on Beckett, we're going to kill them", Rick added in excitement.
The beautiful brunette stood up as well.
"All right, I don't have any other choice for partners anyway…Do you have good ratings at least?" she asked as she crossed her arms. He let out a laugh.
"If I have good ratings? Me? Rick Castle? I've been more than 50 times Best Sellers number one, my dear," he replied proudly, putting a hand through his hair.
"I was talking about tennis, Einstein", Kate replied with a sigh.
"Ah," Rick winced, avoiding the question. His smile faded and he bit his lips. Kate rolled her eyes.
"Okay, I got it. I'll do the job for the two of us, as usual," she said as she walked away.
"As usual?! Hey!" he protested as he watched her walk away.
"I gotta change my clothes!" she said as she kept walking to the manor.
"Wait! We need to talk about strategy!" he added as he ran after her.
"Strategy." Esposito repeated as he chuckled. "Oh please."
"See you later, baby", Kevin whispered to Jenny as he stood up.
"Have fun, boys", Martha smiled.
Esposito stood as well, tossing his towel on the table as he glanced at Lanie who was still sitting in front of him.
"Are you happy now, Lanie? I'm going to do some sport…Apparently, according to someone here, I need to lose weight," he mumbled.
Lanie's words had offended him and she knew it perfectly. She smiled though. She stood and walked around the table to face him. He watched her approach him, gazing at her bikini top, her nice pareo and her long hair that was balancing over her caramel skin. She wasn't wearing any makeup that morning. But she absolutely didn't need it.
"Oh yes I'm proud of you," she replied with humor before she touched his torso and leaned on him. At first he thought she was going to kiss him on the lips, but then she moved towards his cheek and his ear.
"You know what? From what I saw last night…there's still hope for you", she whispered sensually to his ear on purpose. He could feel her warm breath brushing his lobe's skin.
Javier swallowed hard, shivering, and stared at her without blinking as she stepped back. She gave him a warm smile before she poked his cheek softly.
"Have a nice match, detective", she added before she walked away, heading to the kitchen's door. He watched her go, gazing at her curves, grinning like an idiot, a la Kevin Ryan. He understood he had an effect on her the night before, when they had met in the bathroom. Maybe as much as she had on him, God knows how much. He watched her slip into the house, and couldn't help smiling at the thought. Maybe things weren't completely over between the beautiful Lanie Parish and him.
.
...to be continued