301. Chapter 301

After Inventing the Girl

Episode 2.03

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I never hired a babysitter that looked like that. Oh! And I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above

Now

"You didn't." He said.

"Of course I did." She said.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course."

"You're kidding me, aren't you?"

"Why would I kid you?"

"Just to get to me."

"I get to you anyway, don't I?"

"In so many ways."

"Then take my word for it. It bothered me."

Then

Kate Beckett was an attractive woman. She knew that. She was tall, had great legs, a great ass, perky breasts and an expressive face. But she was on the far side of thirty. That hadn't bothered her before and she wasn't sure why it suddenly bothered her now. It's Castle, of course. So he makes things a little more fun. Quit lying to yourself, Beckett. Nothing was fun before he came along. Nothing at all. You went through your life like a robot. A crime fighting robot. You had no fun. Now you are having some fun in your life because of him. Okay, let's just back up, okay? Fun is okay. I like having fun. Everyone likes having fun. And I'll admit Castle does bring fun into my life. He also brings insane theories about crimes that no one in their right minds would consider for a second. He also wants to get you in bed. And what would happen to all this fun if he ever got you in bed? Be honest now. What would happen? Okay. He'd lose interest. Castle isn't at all hard to read. He goes from one conquest to the next and never looks back. Two failed marriages and then an endless parade of models and starlets and society women, all faithfully chronicled on Page Six.

Kate was distracted by Castle inanely babbling at some model who knew him from someplace. And now he's hitting on her. Look at her. Tall, slender, sexy, sophisticated, glamorous, and what Castle values most of all, available. She has nice boobs, too. At her age, I'm sure that they're firmer than mine.

Kate smiled to herself as she watched Castle try to fake his way through the conversation. It was obvious to Kate that he had no idea who she was or where they had met. It would have been funny if it hadn't been so pathetic. Castle was so obviously too old for her. Or was she just too young for him? Hello, bimbo? He has no idea who you are. None! That's how little he cares about you. He probably slept with you and he has no-o-o-o idea who you are.

The girl quickly wrote her phone number down on Castle's hand and swept off. Kate had no doubt in her mind that this Rina knew that Castle would call her and Kate knew that Castle would call her as well. He's probably planning the seduction right now. What will it be? Champagne, caviar and oysters with classical music in the background? No, given her age, it'll probably be gourmet bubblegum and boy bands.

It won't take Castle too long after he's got another model in bed to start wondering why he's still hanging around with some cop. Plus his book is almost done. How soon before Castle is gone? I was okay with my life BC, Before Castle, but now that I've had some fun in my life, I don't want it to stop. Plus, and I'm being very honest about this, he is a help with my cases. A big help.

Now

"You were jealous of Rina? Alexis' baby sitter?" He asked, not believing it for a second.

"Of course I was jealous of Rina. How dense are you?"

Castle shook his head. "I must be pretty dense. Kate, you didn't ever like me back then. About half the time I figured I'd end up as one of those famous unsolved murders. I could imagine myself sitting next to Jimmy Hoffa in The Meadowlands."

"I did too like you. I didn't love you back then, but I did like you. You made my life fun and I found that I really liked that. Do you really think I would have let you follow me around if I didn't like you?"

"I was there because the mayor and Captain Montgomery forced you to allow me to shadow you."

"I could have sent you off with Ryan and Esposito every time. I didn't have to always let you be with me."

Then

Yes, Castle, tell them which you like. Is it the curvy underwear model type, or the tan and toned bikini model type? Oh, why choose. Pick one of each. You can hang around some boring cop any time to get your damned book written. Why try to make life a little more fun for the woman who's the inspiration for your next book when you can be out having fun for yourself? That's what Richard Castle is all about, isn't it?

In arguing with herself, Kate had apparently missed part of the conversation. Apparently Castle had not gone into salacious detail about Rina or any of the other models at Teddy Farrow's show. Thank heaven for small mercies. At least I don't have to listen to him brag about how many models, starlets and ex-wives he's slept with. I just hope he doesn't have to bore me with the details of his conquest of Rina like he did when he slept with his ex-wife. How can any man not understand that talking about sex with one woman to another woman is bound to be offensive? And hurtful.

Now

"You do remember that you were a model, right?" Castle asked, genuinely perplexed.

"Oh, big deal. I did some catalogue layouts for leisure wear when I was seventeen."

"Matilda King was going to give you the cover of Modern Fashion magazine. Tell me that's not a big deal."

"Okay, but I was over thirty then. I was starting to think about my life in ways I hadn't thought for years. It was like my life had been on autopilot, or something and then you came along."

Castle grinned. "Yeah. I really did change your life, didn't I?"

"And it wasn't always for the better."

Then

Does he understand just how infuriating he can be? Does he just go through life thinking of no one but himself? Kate stopped herself. Dammit! I'm being unfair to the man. How many times has he gone into danger with me? Tisdale. The Nigerian. Nadir, the jewel thief. The ransom drop for the Candelas. And any of our other cases could have turned deadly at any time. There is more to Castle than the Page Six playboy. I just wish I knew what it was.

Kate shook her head. He let that reporter read the damned book and not me. Given Castle's past history, I have to think that this Nikki Heat will have the roundest heels in all of New York and will fall madly in bed with this Rook character about…page two. No, more likely page one. I wonder if he'd write the whole book about Nikki screwing everything in sight. That would really be his way of getting back at me, wouldn't it? I may just have to break down and ask him for a copy of the damned book. It'll obviously never occur to him to give me a copy. I need to prepare myself for this.

Now

"You were that worried about how Nikki was going to turn out?"

"Of course I was. You made constant references to how slutty Nikki was and the parade of women through your bedroom certainly didn't lead me to think that you thought of women as anything other than conquests."

Castle sighed. "I really should have spent more time telling you how remarkable you are."

"Yes, you should have."

"But it wouldn't have been as much fun."

Kate smiled. "But you might have had more fun sooner if you had told me."

"Of course, we can still have fun." He said hopefully.

She rose and walked towards the bedroom. When she got to the doorway, she looked over her shoulder and said, "Coming, Castle?"