CLEANING LADY

Chapter 4

In the end, Kate agreed to a date with Castle, hoping she wouldn't regret it. She doubted anything would come from it, but liked the idea that she was at least going on a date with someone. It felt...normal.

Rick had told her to dress up a little if she could. To Kate, that meant dressing in her one and only dress. The question she had about wearing that was where she would put her gun, with or without a silencer.

She still didn't know what to do about Lanie. The questions Lanie would ask were ones she wasn't ready to answer. She could, however, talk to her dad. So there she was, standing outside his door, wearing her long coat with her weapon under it.

"Katie!" Jim was happy to see her. "Come in, come in." He stepped aside and let her enter. "How have you been? Let me take your coat." Jim reached for it, and before Kate could stop him, he pulled it off her far enough to see her weapon. That was when he stopped dead.

Kate closed her eyes. Why did that have to happen now? "Dad, please don't ask because I can't answer you."

"My own daughter can't tell me what she's doing and why she needs to carry a gun with a silencer, no less?" Jim demanded.

Kate sighed. "Yeah, that would be the one question I can't answer. Just be happy that I'm here."

"Oh, I am. Believe me, I am, but that doesn't stop me from questioning what you're doing that you need to carry that. I know you quit your job, so what are you doing now?" Jim inquired.

"That's what I can't tell you. Please, Dad, don't ask me," Kate pleaded.

Jim gave up. "Alright. Are you at least safe and happy?"

"Yes, I'm safe, and yes, I'm happy." Kate grinned at him. "Would you believe I have a date coming up with Richard Castle?"

"Your mother's favorite writer? You're serious?" Jim didn't believe her. "Your favorite writer. Where in the world did you meet him?"

"At a coffee shop, actually. At first, I said no because he was a playboy, and I didn't want to be another conquest. But he convinced me otherwise, so I'm going on a date with him. It's not for another week though."

"A week. That's something, at least. Tell me about him." Jim sat down and waited for her to sit and talk to him about the man.

"Well, he's divorced. Twice, no less. The first wife divorced him after she cheated on him. Not sure why he married the second one. It cost him a cool two million to end it though. Her name is Gina Cowell, and she's his publisher at Black Pawn. Or at least she was. He recently fired her.

"He has a daughter, Alexis, who's 15 years old. I met her once but didn't really talk to her. She's lovely and has very long, almost orange hair."

"Orange? That's unusual," Jim commented. "What else?"

Kate grinned. "His mother lives with him, and Alexis is enjoying it. Castle, not so much."

"Interesting." He had another question. "And his father?"

"We never got around to that, so I don't know anything about him."

"He's known as a playboy, Katie," Jim warned her since he was concerned.

"I know, Dad. I went to one of his book signings to get my book signed. A woman in front of me in line offered her chest to be signed, and he refused. Something about a promise he made to Alexis. It seems there were kids teasing Alexis at school about her dad being a playboy, so he's changed his tune about that. We'll see how long that lasts." Kate was betting it wouldn't last long. But at least she got a date out of it.

"Never say never, Katie," her dad said. "If he's a good father, hearing that some kids were teasing his daughter about him being a playboy would get him to change his behavior in no time flat."

Kate shrugged. "Maybe, we'll see. I know he raised Alexis by himself since she was a baby, and she's 15 years old now."

"Wow. That's something." Jim was impressed. "Where does he live?"

"Over on Broome Street in Manhattan.I met him at the door – my choice – and didn't see much. Comfortable-looking furniture and it has an upstairs. Aside from that, I have no idea, but I liked what I did see."

"I hope you enjoy your date. Do you know where he's taking you?" Jim asked.

Kate shook her head. "All I know is he wants me to dress up a little, so it must be someplace nice. Beyond that, I don't know."

"I hope it goes well for you," Jim told her.

They talked a while longer before Kate got ready to leave and put on her coat, covering her weapon. "Thank you for coming, sweetheart, and I hope you have a wonderful time on your date."

"We'll see." Kate hugged him close. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Katie-bug." Jim stood in the doorway and watched her leave.

He looked heavenward. "Please watch over our daughter, Jo. Katie's dating your favorite author."

~oo0oo~

Kate counted her coins. She had eighteen of them, and if she used one per month, she could stay here for quite a while even if she never earned another one. But at the rate she was going, she was sure she would earn more of them.

She didn't catch another job all week long. She also never left the hotel. She had no real reason to. She saw the Administrator, but she didn't talk to him, nor the man behind the front desk.

Those were the only two she knew around here. She saw people but didn't talk to them. No one stood out to her, no one worth dating.

~oo0oo~

The day finally came. She showered, put on some makeup, and put on her dress. It was backless, so she did without a bra. She considered going commando, but she chose a thong in the end.

Then she strapped her holster to her thigh and put her weapon in it, this time without the silencer. She stepped into her heels and gathered up her clutch after she put a few basics into it.

She looked at herself in the full-length mirror, checking to be sure her weapon remained hidden. Satisfied, she left her room and stopped at the front desk to hand in her key.

"You look lovely this evening, Miss Beckett. I hope you have a wonderful time." He suspected she was going out on a date. She deserved some happiness.

"Thank you. I hope so too." Kate left the hotel, hailed a cab, and went to Castle's place.

~oo0oo~

Rick held up two ties for Alexis to make a decision. "This one or this one?"

She plucked one out of his hand. "This one. You're going out on a date, something you haven't done in a long time. So who is it?" Alexis asked while she tied his tie.

"Kate."

Alexis was surprised. "Really? She must have impressed you."

"She's a mystery, and I love a good mystery."

"And that she's pretty doesn't have a thing to do with it?" Alexis teased.

Rick turned the tables on his daughter. "I haven't noticed. You think she's pretty?"

She just smiled at him and didn't take the bait. "There, all done. I'd tell you to have a good time, but I don't think you need me to tell you that. I noticed Grams isn't here to see this."

He pretended to wipe the sweat off his brow. "Lucky me."

Alexis gave him a look. Just then, the doorbell buzzed, and she went to answer the door. "Kate. You look so nice." Alexis approved of her dress.

"Thank you. Is Castle ready?" Kate still didn't want to come inside.

Alexis turned her head and yelled, "DAD, KATE'S HERE!"

"Hi, Kate. …Wow! You look wonderful." Rick was impressed.

"Thank you, Castle." She was uncomfortable with people commenting on her appearance. She wasn't used to it.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Alexis told the two of them. "And have a good time."

"Shall we go?" Rick crooked his arm for her to take; she slipped her arm through his, and he guided her to the elevator.

"Where are we going?" Kate was curious, and Castle hadn't said a word.

Rick smiled at her. "It's a surprise."

Kate glared at him. "Did I not tell you I hate surprises?"

"Nope, must have skipped your mind. Don't worry, you'll like it." Rick escorted her out of the building to a taxi.

"80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street," Rick told the driver.

"The Mandarin Hotel," Kate noted. "I've lived in New York City all my life," she told him in answer to his look of surprise.

Rick looked at her for a moment, then said, "In that case, we're eating at the Asiate."

Kate was intrigued. "I've never been there."

~oo0oo~

It turned out to be quite lovely. Kate was glad she dressed up. The maître d' took them to a table that seated just two and was next to a window with a view of the skyline.

"I'll

have the Chef's Tasting Menu with a wine pairing," Kate told her server.

"And I'll have the same." Rick handed over his menu as did Kate.

"So," Kate murmured.

"So, after this, we'll attend a midnight movie. It's showing Forbidden Planet." Rick watched her closely to see her reaction.

Kate

smiled and her eyes shone. "I love that movie! Robbie the Robot changed everything. All the robots that followed are because of him." She definitely approved.

"You've seen it." Rick was hoping she hadn't.

"Several times, though it's been a while since I've seen it in a theater. It'll be fun!" A while was more like a couple of years, but Kate didn't want to tell him that.

"What can you tell me about Kate? Do I get a last name?"

"It's Beckett," Kate replied. "I told my dad about our date."

"Oh,

and did he approve?"

"No, he thought you were a playboy and that I shouldn't have anything to do with you," Kate said, straight-faced.

Rick didn't like the sound of that. "He did? I'm

crushed."

Kate smiled at him. "You're so easy, Castle."

"O

oo, I'll get you for that," Rick vowed. "You won't know when, but I'll get you."

"Bring it on, Castle. No, my dad actually thought it would be nice. You were my mother's favorite author."

Rick

cocked his head. "Just your mother?"

"Yes, just my mom. My dad didn't see what she saw in your books," Kate told him, not revealing that he was her favorite author too.

"Pity," Rick said. "Still, she liked my books."

"I even have one of your signed books that belonged to my mother."

"I met your mother? What did she look like?

" Rick asked. "Maybe I can picture her."

"She looked pretty much like me, or so I've been told. She died suddenly,and I only have one picture of her."

"Looks like you." Rick

stared at her and tried to place her,but he came up empty. "At least I met her. I trust I didn't do anything stupid?"

"I wouldn't know. I was a flat-chested 15-year-old teenager and didn't want to be there, so I was somewhere else," Kate said. "I was being a brat." That was something she truly regretted now.

"A brat. You?" Rick

scoffed. "I don't think so."

"Oh, yes. I had my wild phase. Something I regret now but not then. I was known as Rebel Becks. I didn't even attend my prom. I went to a poetry slam party instead."

"

Hmm, Rebel Becks. I rather like that. It gives you a life that I would never have believed."

"Believe it. I'm not proud of what I did. And that's all you're going to get out of me."

"Challenge accepted

, Beckett." Rick would drag more details out of her eventually.

Kate just glared at him, not that it seemed to be working. She changed the subject. "So your mother lives with you."

Rick

cringed. "Please don't remind me. I love my mother, but I would love her more if she lived elsewhere. She lives with us because her ex took all of her money. Cleaned her out completely."

"That's terrible!" Kate felt for her. "She's lucky she has you."

"If you say so. My mother is Martha Rodgers

, and she lives to act. She only does Broadway. She claims she likes it because there's no one calling CUT. According to her, that isn't acting. If she doesn't have an audience, that isn't acting."

"It sounds like she knows what she wants," Kate observed. "That's rare to work at something you like."

Rick raised an eyebrow. "Meaning you don't like what you do?"

Kate smiled at him. "Nice try, Castle, but I'm still not telling you what I do."

Fortunately for Kate

, they delivered their first course, Peekytoe Crab. Their second course was Hake. The third was Seared Foie Gras, while the fourth course was 14 Day Dry Aged Strip. The fifth and final course was Milk Chocolate Cassis.

"That was wonderful," Kate sighed. "And I'm full."

Rick

smiled. "I'm glad you liked it. Ready for our movie?"

She nodded. "Oh, yes!Forbidden Planet. I'm looking forward to it."

~oo0oo~

"Do you mind if I have popcorn and M&M's and a drink?" Rick asked her.

Kate roll

ed her eyes. "No, I don't mind. You didn't get enough to eat already?"

"Nope. Don't you know that it's a rule? You have to have something to eat at a movie," Rick insisted as seriously as he could and got in line to order his treats.

~oo0oo~

Rick leaned over to her. "I love this part."

"Castle, will you stop talking?" Kate hissed. "Or do I have to shoot you?"

"You brought a weapon?" Rick didn't believe her. But he let her take his hand and move it to her thigh, where her weapon was. "You did bring a weapon. That's so cool!"

"Stop talking

, Castle. Don't make me use it," she threatened. It seemed to work since he didn't say another word.

~oo0oo~

The movie was over. "Thank you for the date, Castle. I enjoyed it. Especially after you stopped talking."

"Can I take you home?" Rick

asked hopefully.

She shook her head. "No. Just be glad I didn't shoot you. Good night, Castle." Kate flagged down a taxi and allowed Rick to open the door. She told the driver where to go. When she got there, she walked for a bit and then took another taxi to her hotel.

"Hello

, Miss Beckett," the man behind the front desk said. "I hope you had a good time."

"I did, actually. My key, please." She waited patiently for her key.

He noted it in the computer and handed the key to her. "Good night, Miss Beckett."

"Good night." She called an elevator and took it up to her room.

Once she was there

, she unzipped her dress and let it fall, leaving her standing there in a thong and her heels and wearing her gun. She picked up her dress and put it on a hanger. She moaned as she stepped out of her heels. It was such a relief to take them off! She put her weapon away and shimmied out of her thong. Walking into the bathroom, she looked in the mirror. "Why are you smiling?"After showering, she slipped into a sleep shirt and a pair of panties and then went to bed. Except she couldn't sleep. She decided that she did like her date. And yes, she would go on another with him. Her admission seemed to be just what she needed, and she was asleep in minutes.

~oo0oo~

"How was your date, Dad," Alexis asked the following morning.

Rick

thought about it before answering her. "Overall, it was pretty good. The food was great, and the movie was even better. I enjoyed spending time with Kate. She's still a mystery, but she was nice. She brought a weapon on our date."

Alexis' jaw dropped. "NO! A weapon? Where did she put it?"

"She attached it to her thigh." Then Rick

realized how that sounded and hurriedly explained. "She said it was a holster garter, took my hand and put it on her leg. So don't go getting any ideas," he told her, adding, "I was the perfect gentleman."

"I'm sure you were." Alexis meant the exact opposite, of course.

He rolled his eyes. "Ha ha, very funny." Just then, Rick's stomach rumbled. "I'm hungry. Would you like breakfast?"

Alexis didn't answer him since she had something else on her mind. "Are you going on another date?"

"I don't know.

I'd like to, but I didn't get her number. I'm so damn stupid." Rick was upset with himselfand disheartened.

"Sounds like it's up to Kate whether you'll have another date." Alexis hugged him, telling him it would be alright. She really hoped it would, for his sake. It was plain that he cared for her.

~oo0oo~

Kate was bored. She hadn't had a job in what seemed like weeks. She was at a table in the lounge area, sipping coffee and lamenting her situation.

"I suppose I could go on another date with Castle

," she said to herself. She had programmed his number into her phone and could call him. She pulled out her phone and stared at it instead. But she put it away. "No, I'm not going to do that. He's a playboy, and once a playboy, always a playboy." It was just that she was bored out of her skull. "Fine," she muttered and took the elevator to her room.

She put on a top over a bra that she wore with matching panties, then pulled on a comfortable pair of jeans. Just in case, she was telling herself. Maybe she could use it to tease Castle. She put on ankle socks and her tennis shoes. She only had four pairs of shoes: her tennis shoes, work boots, and two pairs of high heels. Everything else was gone. But that was water under the bridge, and she didn't let it get to her. Four pairs of shoes were enough.

Checking herself in the mirror, she liked what she saw. She put on her holster and checked her weapon to be sure the silencer was attached. And finally, she put on her long coat. She had two coats, a short puffy coat meant for cold winters, and her work coat.

Her little closet was

about stuffed to overflowing, but it all fit at least. It was just a bit tight. She went downstairs and handed the desk clerk her key.

He smiled at her. "Have a pleasant day, Miss Beckett." He pulled her up on the computer and noted that she had dropped off the key.

"Thank you. Hopefully

, I will," Kate responded and took a taxi to Castle's apartment.

"This better be a good idea," she told herself as she took the elevator upstairs and pressed his doorbell. She didn't know who would answer the door and wondered whether it would be Castle, Alexis, or his mother.

It turned out to be Alexis. "Hi."

"Kate, you're back. DAD, KATE'S HERE!" she yelled. "He's done nothing but talk about you ever since he got back. I'm so glad you're here! Maybe he'll be quiet now."

Rick show

ed up at the door. It was easy enough to see how excited he was.The man was positively beaming. "Kate!"

"I wanted to know if you were interested in another date," Kate asked. "My treat this time."

"Another date

? Absolutely! Let me get my stuff, and I'll be right with you." He streaked off to gather his stuff.

"You can come in, you know," Alexis said.

"No thanks

, I'll wait here."

Alexis looked at her sideways. "We don't bite."

"I'm sure you don't

, Alexis," Kate replied. "But I'll just wait here."

He was back in a matter of seconds. "All set. Don't wait up, Pumpkin." Rick walked out the door to join Kate and then headed toward the elevator.

"Have a good time. I'll be in class if you need me

," Alexis called out and closed the door.

"We can walk it if you don't mind," Kate said, watching him.

"No

, I don't mind," Rick assured her. "So a second date."

"I was bored, and this sounded like a good idea. Don't screw this up, Castle."

"ME

, screw this up? Perish the thought. So where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

Rick

stared at her. "I thought you hated surprises?"

"Only when I get them, not so much giving them. There's a difference." And Kate smiled at him as she walked.