Chapter 5
Kate called Lanie to invite her over for an impromptu girls night at her place. She missed socialising with people, even if it was just colleagues and the occasional murderer at work. Since there had been no word from Montgomery on the investigation, she had a feeling this protection period was only going to prolong. So she made the most of her situation and brought the social aspect to her apartment. As if she had any other choice.
She hadn't seen Lanie since Castle had been assigned as her bodyguard. Her best friend had always been an upfront and straight to the point kind of girl with a knack for jumping to conclusions and seeing things she wants to see. This meant that Kate could expect a slew of comments about the man she was sharing her space with, more than likely comments of a suggestive nature.
Castle opened the door to see a bright-eyed woman standing before him with a grin. "Oh, hello there," Lanie said.
"Rick Castle, bodyguard," he introduced himself with a handshake.
"Lanie Parish, best friend!"
"Lanie!" Kate called out as she pulled her friend in for a hug. "You have no idea how good it is to see you."
"Well, I'll leave you two to do your thing," Castle said heading down the hallway. "Yell if you need anything."
"Thanks Castle," Kate called back. A judgemental glare from Lanie led Kate to ask, "What?"
"You failed to mention that your bodyguard is a hunk."
Kate opened a bottle of wine. "Seriously?"
"What?" the medical examiner chuckled. "You can't tell me you haven't noticed!"
"Can we not make worse of what's already a shitty situation?" she asked. She poured them each a generous glass of merlot and moved over to the couch.
"Tell me exactly how this situation is 'shitty'? You have been blessed with a hunk of a man being forced to live in your apartment. Why not make use of what you've been given?"
"Oh my god, Lanie," Kate groaned in humiliation.
"Since when did you become such a prude?" her friend mocked.
"Since I was seeing someone else."
"Oh, right… Tom!" she said distastefully. "Last time we spoke you said you guys hadn't talked in a while."
Kate sighed. "Yeah. We've decided to put things on hold between us for a while, just until this all dies down. I just wish the timing were different. Starting a new relationship while pretty much under house arrest isn't the best idea."
"I'm sorry, girl," Lanie sympathised. "Is he okay with waiting?"
"I didn't ask him to," she admitted. "But I guess if it's meant to be he will, right?"
"Oh, sweetie," Lanie chuckled at her friend's naiveness. "I'm afraid that's not how it works. Neither of us know exactly how long this protection period is going to last. People have urges, especially men."
"Don't I know it," Kate mumbled.
"The point is you can't ask him to wait. But… I guess that means you can take that bodyguard of yours for a test drive." Kate glared at her friend for what felt like the hundredth time this evening. "Well, if you're not interested then I'm going to jump his bones."
"He's all yours."
"What's he like?"
Kate scoffed and lowered her voice so Castle wouldn't hear. "I wish I could tell you. He's not exactly the most open person." She sighed and took a moment to gather her thoughts. "We kind of had an argument about it last night, then he tried to fix it this morning by making breakfast. I just can't figure him out."
"Hmm," Lanie hummed knowingly. "Sounds to me like a lover's quarrel."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm just saying… he obviously felt bad enough about the fight that he felt the need to win you back. Now, does that sound like something someone who's just a bodyguard would do?"
"Pipe down, okay? He told me straight up that he doesn't do relationships, not even friendships, with clients."
"Mmm hmm, why don't we bring him out here for a little chitchat and see can we do something about that?" Before Kate could stop her, Lanie called out, "Hey, Castle?"
"Really?" Kate whisper-screamed. "The one time I get a break from him and you wanna bring him out here?"
"You can thank me later," Lanie grinned.
"You called," Castle said emerging from the bedroom.
"Why don't you join us. Take a seat."
"Uhh…" Castle looked at Kate for guidance as to what to do in this scenario.
"She's not going to let this go, so," Kate conceded followed by a shrug.
Lanie patted the available space on the couch next to her so Castle slumped himself next to her. They made small talk for some time while Kate sat back and watched as her worlds collided. Her best friend, who knew every private detail about her, and the man who knew everything but those details conversing. She trusted Lanie enough to know she wouldn't unveil any of her secrets, but she also knew her strategy here. She'll get him comfortable then drop a bomb on him that makes everyone but her uneasy. This isn't her first rodeo.
"So, how do you like Kate?" Lanie blurted causing Kate to almost spit out her mouthful of wine. Castle awkwardly chuckled and looked at her. "Sorry, I meant what's it like protecting Kate?"
"What kind of a question is that?" Kate asked trying to dissipate the awkwardness.
"She's a good client," he answered carefully. "But she can be a handful at times."
"Understatement of the century," Lanie laughed.
"Are you two just going to sit there and berate me?" Kate said as her body tensed.
"I like her," Castle said referring to Lanie. "You should come over more often."
"Or maybe I should invite you over to mine," Lanie flirted with a playful smirk.
"Okay," Kate said standing up. "I'd rather be literally anywhere else right now." She stepped into the kitchen and turned on an old radio that she's never really used. She was already embarrassed enough as is, the last thing she wanted to do was third-wheel her best friend and Castle.
Castle watched her from the couch, concerned with the way she was acting. "Is she okay?" he asked Lanie.
"She's fine. She knows I love tormenting her. But Kate's… complicated," she explained. "She's a very private person, doesn't like people disrupting her life. So she's finding this whole bodyguard thing pretty tough. But don't take it personally."
"Yeah, I figured," he replied. "The last thing I want to do is make her feel uncomfortable in her own home. And from what I've heard this case is far from over, so it's not like I'm going anywhere anytime soon."
"Maybe open up to her," Lanie said slyly. A suspecting look from Castle led her to elaborate. "Yeah… she told me about your little argument last night. I know it's not my place to shove my way into other people's personal matters, but why are you closing yourself off around her? That's not going to make this any easier. You wanna know how to make her feel comfortable in her own home? Try just being a friend, not an employee. Don't take things so seriously all of the time. Loosen up a little when she's around. But give her space when she needs it. I know she doesn't act like it, but she can be fragile."
I've known this woman less than an hour and she's already figured me out, Castle thought. But Lanie was right, there was no point in making this situation more difficult than it needed to be. Kate had already had her life turned upside down, she didn't need a strange man living with her. So he needed to go from being unreachable to being accessible without getting too close with her.
"And also," Lanie continued, "Kate hasn't gotten some in a while so maybe you could… you know."
"I don't think that's in the job description," Castle laughed.
Kate joined them once again on the couch after making them promise not to flirt around her again. Once Lanie confessed to only hitting on him to make her uncomfortable, they laughed it off and moved on from that conversation. As the evening continued Castle took onboard some of Lanie's advice and started telling short anecdotes related to whatever they were talking about. Nothing too revealing, just something to prove to Kate that he wasn't a robot after all.
Soon after Lanie left, Kate began tidying up the kitchen. "There's some wine left if you want a glass," she offered, subconsciously putting the screwcap on the bottle before he could answer.
"Actually, I'd love some." Keeping on track with Lanie's 'let loose' motto, Castle accepted the glass of wine.
Surprised, Kate poured him a glass which he almost chugged. "Whoa, slow down there."
"Merlot isn't my thing," he said finishing the glass. "I'm more of a cabernet sauvignon guy, myself. Besides, sipping doesn't quite have the same enjoyment to it."
"Ah," she nodded. "So you're a get-it-done-and-over-with kinda guy, huh?" she teased.
Castle laughed. "So what if I am?"
"Well it would explain why you're single."
"Who said I was single?" he clapped back raising an eyebrow.
"Oh please! A guy who writes and spends 24/7 with strangers cannot possibly be dating. At least not successfully."
He diverted the conversation in one quick move. "Speaking of writing, you have one hell of a book collection," he said sounding impressed. "I noticed when I was banished to your room."
"Yeah, well I haven't read most of them," Kate admitted defencelessly.
"Some of them looked like they had been read more than a few times. Your comfort books, I'm guessing."
"Now who's the nosy one?" Kate chuckled.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about," Castle assured. "Rick Rodgers is a great writer."
He hadn't told her about his success writing under the name Rick Rodgers. He wasn't exactly making millions with his book sales, but enough to get by. He worked as a bodyguard to get some fulfilment out of his life. It also made for some great story ideas. He would tell her eventually, just not yet.
"Now you just sound condescending!"
"Well I don't mean to be!" he laughed.
The conversation carried on for another hour before they decided it was time to call it a night. Kate felt a sense of accomplishment that she and Castle had finally had a normal, non-case-related conversation for the first time since he got here. Their dynamic since he had arrived had been strictly professional for the most part, minus a few moments of weakness where flirty comments had been made. But after tonight she had seen a more playful, relaxed side to him. He was now not just a bodyguard to her, but a friend.
She couldn't help but wonder if that was enough.