16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The final chapters of Naked Heat were in Gina's hands for editing before Castle and his daughter had returned from the Hamptons, and a couple of meetings had been set up to consult with Castle on the results. After completing the first meeting, he took time to let Gina know what had developed with Kate during the summer. He felt he should mention it before he talked to Paula.

"So, you got together this summer and you're already talking about a future together?" Gina said disparagingly.

"We've known each other close to two years, we were already friends, and there's been a connection between us for most of that time. We both have old wounds to deal with, so we were afraid to do anything about it."

"Let's see. You've worked together, you're attracted to each other, you're probably sleeping together by now, and you're talking about a future together. Sounds like a familiar story, doesn't it?"

"It's different from us, Gina."

How does she feel about living with Alexis…and Martha?" Martha's name was pronounced with a level of disdain. There was never any love between the two women. "What makes it different? Sounds the same to me."

"The difference is that she loves me…exactly the way I am. She doesn't want to change me, doesn't expect me to be anybody else. She loves Alexis…and Mother. And the connection between us…when we were finally honest about our feelings, it was stronger. I won't try to explain it any more than I have, but she and I both know it's worth the effort. I think we could grow old together."

Gina seemed surprised that the relationship sounded so serious so quickly, and then asked, sounding resigned, "Why didn't that happen for us?"

"I know that I wasn't what you wanted. Maybe we weren't invested enough in making it work. Maybe we were never really suited to one another and didn't know it until we tried to live together."

"You might be right. I don't think I was what you wanted, either." She paused a moment and asked, "It wasn't all bad, was it?"

"No…it wasn't." He covered her hand with his in assurance.

"And you're what she wants? You're sure of that?"

"One hundred per cent."

"Well, I hope you're right. Regardless of our differences, Richard, I know you're a good man. I have my doubts about this sudden relationship, but you deserve to be happy."

"Thank you, Gina." He stood and bent to kiss her cheek.

"Thanks for not blindsiding me with it. And thanks for getting the final chapters in so early."

"See you Friday morning."

Gina leaned back in her chair, sat a moment looking a bit sad, then sat up and called to have her next appointment sent in.

xxxxx

On Friday night, Lanie met Kate at her apartment for the trip they had planned; and they put the luggage by the door and sat down to have a glass of wine before they left.

"That was Castle," Kate reported after a short phone conversation.

"Well, I didn't think you were talking to the plumber in that tone of voice."

Kate made a face at Lanie. "A car is picking us up in ten minutes to take us to the spa. He intends for you to feel pampered from beginning to end."

"You said you'd take care of the transportation, but this is all Castle, isn't it?"

"He said he wanted you to feel reeeally appreciated. The car isn't a limo, though. It's a town car, a nice one."

"I don't have to drive it…or ride a train and then find a taxi to get there. Fine with me."

"This is the place Martha takes Alexis sometimes. They couldn't say enough good things about it."

They talked for a few more minutes before Kate's phone rang again.

"We're on our way," she told the driver then turned to Lanie and asked, "Ready?"

"Lead the way."

They took their bags downstairs, and the doorman took them to the street where Darrell was waiting next to the car. "Evening, Miss Kate. And you must be Ms. Parish. I'm Darrell, Ma'am. Nice to meet you." He then opened the door for them and they slid in across the leather seat.

While Darrell stowed the luggage in the trunk and returned to the driver's seat, Lanie looked at her friend and asked, "How many times has Castle sent a car for you…Miss Kate?"

"The last two times I went to the Hamptons," she answered sheepishly.

"And how did you fail to mention that little detail?"

"I don't know. I guess it was a little embarrassing. Felt like too much."

"Honey, we need to spend some serious time teaching you to enjoy luxury. I have no such compunctions."

Kate laughed, then Darrell was back, pointing out a small choice of beverages, and the two friends were off on a trip they both thoroughly enjoyed. They spent two days of fully indulging themselves.

Two evenings later, after Darrell delivered a thoroughly pampered Lanie to her building and took her luggage inside, he told Kate, "Mr. Castle asked me to take you to his apartment, if you don't mind. He said he would drive you home."

"I don't mind. That's closer anyway, and you can get home faster."

She started to knock at Castle's door when she arrived, but he opened it as if he had seen her.

"Darrell let me know when he dropped you off," he explained as he reached for her. She left her bag next to the door, wrapped her arms around his waist, and snuggled into his embrace; and he kissed her thoroughly before pulling away far enough to look at her.

"Did you and Lanie enjoy your weekend?"

"Yeah, but it's nice to be back where I can have this."

Castle had just reached an arm out and closed the door when they heard, "Hi, Kate!" from the top of the stairs, and Alexis came quickly down toward them, followed closely by Martha, who descended at a more sedate pace. Holding one arm out for Alexis while not letting go of Castle, Kate was met with an enthusiastic hug. "

Was it as great as Grams and I said? Did you and Dr. Parish enjoy it?"

"Yes and yes," she answered as she hugged the teenager. "Lanie loved every minute of lavish attention, and I'm almost bonelessly relaxed. The only thing better is being back here."

Martha moved in for her own hug. "And all of us are glad you're back. You do look relaxed. Is it the spa, or does it have more to do with my boy?"

"Probably a little of both," Kate admitted shyly.

Castle still had a hard time believing that he…or more specifically, their relationship…was the only reason Kate Beckett ever seemed shy. It gave him a little power rush…as well as a little rush of arousal each time he saw it.

"Detective Beckett, how would you like to get more than three feet inside the loft?" he asked. "I think we might be convinced to move out of your path so you can come in and sit down."

Martha and Alexis made apologetic sounds as they separated from the couple enough to allow Castle to escort Kate to the sofa, and Alexis sat in a chair facing them. Martha got to her chair by way of the kitchen where she picked up glasses and a bottle of wine and poured juice for Alexis. She delivered all of it to the coffee table and poured the wine as Kate started catching up.

"Did anything exciting happen here while we were gone?" Kate asked.

"Nothing worth mentioning," Martha answered, sitting down across from the couple. "I read a dreadful script…well, actually, less than half of a dreadful script that my manager had the gall to give me." With a small hand flourish, she added, "It was a boringly uneventful weekend."

"I had a small project to finish for school," Alexis chimed in.

"Isn't it a little early in the year for a project to be due?" Kate asked.

"It wasn't a big thing this time. I guess they're getting our minds set for something bigger later. I finished it this afternoon. I'll show you if you want to see it."

"Sure. I'll come up and look before you go to bed. How does it feel to be in high school?"

"I like it so far."

"How about you, Rick? Anything new?"

"I have the dates for the publicity trips." Then his smirk appeared. "I'll show you my project after Alexis shows you hers."

"He never could stand feeling left out," Martha teased as she finished her wine.

"I wish I didn't have to go," Castle complained.

"The fans will be enthusiastic, and you'll get into the mood, though, right?" Kate asked.

"Probably. Maybe. I don't know."

"He doesn't want to leave you, Kate," Alexis told her.

"I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to leave you, either, Kid. But it's part of the job." Turning to Castle, she added, "We both know that."

Alexis nodded her agreement, finished her juice and said she needed to go to bed. "Want to see my project?"

Kate stood to follow Alexis to her room, and Martha took the two glasses to the kitchen and followed them, saying her goodnights.

Castle sat where he was and waited for Kate to return, thankful to have her to himself for a while. She came back impressed with the project Alexis had shown her, and mentioned a couple of specific reasons.

"I'm impressed. You didn't just look at it and say, "That's nice."

"Of course not. Your child wanted me to see something she did, so I let her know I was paying attention."

"She's getting attached to you, you know."

"That should scare me, but it doesn't. I'm getting attached to her, too. It feels good to walk in and find a whole family glad to see me."

"I told Darrell I'd drive you home, but I'll admit I asked him to bring you here hoping I could talk you into staying."

"I have to be at work tomorrow, and I don't have clothes here."

"I might have bought you some things," he answered cautiously. "I had to take Alexis shopping, and she saw a dress she liked in the window next to where we were buying school supplies. One thing led to another, and…"

"Rick, you have to stop doing that."

"What?"

"You know what. Spending money on me…in large amounts."

"Just look at it and see if it works for tomorrow. There are shoes, too. I checked the size and brand when you twisted your ankle and lost your shoe back in May."

"You did that without my noticing?!"

"You were busy being angry that you fell, and Lanie was checking it for you. It only took a second. And really, when would I have had another chance? You never know when you might need that kind of information. And look. It paid off." He smiled victoriously, even knowing he was trying too hard; and he could see that she couldn't stay angry.

"That's some contorted logic, Writer-Man," she answered, a smile teasing at the corners of her mouth.

"You're forgiving me. I can see it. Just take a look. If it doesn't fit or you don't like it, I'll drive you home early enough to change clothes."

"Fine." She took another sip of her wine and took their glasses to rinse them out.

He took the pants suit and blouse from the closet, and Castle could tell she loved it. It was so her that it practically had Kate spelled in flashing red lights on the hanger.

"Did I do good?"

"Yeah, you did. So where are those shoes?"

He took them from the box and handed them to her…her signature high heels, in a style that wouldn't fall off if she needed to run.

"How do you do this?" she asked. "They not only fit, they're actually comfortable." She stroked her thumb across his cheek and followed with, "I really appreciate that you want me here this much, and that you want to do things for me, but I can't let you keep doing this. I don't know what possessed me to allow the town cars this summer, but it feels wrong to keep taking from you. For my peace of mind, please stop."

"I don't know what to do with a woman who doesn't want to accept gifts in quantity, as often as possible...the more expensive, the better. You're upsetting the male/female equilibrium."

"Maybe you just didn't know the right females. I want you, Rick Rodgers. You don't need to buy me things all the time. I will, however, keep looking for coffee in the mornings...and maybe an occasional bear claw."

"I promise to restrain myself for a little while...if you'll stay tonight and wear these clothes to work tomorrow morning. And I forgot. Underwear is in my underwear drawer...keeping mine company. Next time you're here, bring extra clothes."

She opened the drawer and looked. And when did you pick up those sizes?"

"The day you put your undies in my T-shirt drawer. You took a shower without me. I had to have something to do."

Still wearing the heels that put her almost at eye level with him, she laughed, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him in a totally family inappropriate manner, to which he responded eagerly. Then he closed the door and took her to bed.

The two of them drove to work together the next morning, but Castle stopped at the coffee shop before he entered the precinct.

"Nice suit, Beckett," Ryan commented. "Is that new?"

"Yeah, it is. Thanks. If we're over the fashion news now, did we get anything from the lab yet?"

"Folder's on your desk," Esposito answered.

She sat down to look at the results and said, "Looks like we got her."

"That's what we thought, too," Ryan answered. "Where's Castle?"

"He should be here any minute."

She had barely finished her sentence when Castle arrived, delivering five coffees and a box of assorted pastries. He took one to Montgomery and motioned to the pastry box on Ryan's desk. In the midst of the team's descending on the breakfast bounty Castle had brought in, Beckett informed Montgomery of the lab report which effectively closed their last case.

"Get the paperwork done, and we'll put it away, then. Good work. And thanks, Castle," the captain said, holding up an éclair as he went back to his office.

Before the paperwork was even finished, a call about another body came in, and that case consumed the rest of their week. Kate and the boys worked on Saturday, but they had Sunday off; and it was finally time for Castle to meet Kate's father.

xxxxx

Castle had changed shirts three times on Sunday morning, and Kate finally stopped him at the fourth one. "It's just my dad in a little diner. Wear the blue one. On second thought, wear the white one. The blue one works too well with your eyes, and I might not be able to keep my mind on the conversation. I said that out loud, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did," he answered, quite pleased with that piece of information, then picked up the white shirt. Kate hung the others back in the closet and took his tie away.

"But I'm meeting your father," he protested.

"And if my father is wearing a tie it would be the first time since we've been meeting for lunch at the diner. But if he is, I have no doubt it would be easy to get him to lose it, and it would only be because he's meeting you. Lighten up, Rick."

"What if he hates me? Would you change your mind about us?"

"No. I love him, but he won't change my mind." She kissed him softly and buttoned his shirt for him, running her hands across his chest when she finished. "I still might not be able to keep my mind on the conversation. You look good to me in anything…or nothing."

"I don't think I can wear that last outfit you mentioned for your dad…or my daughter."

"Nope. You reserve that one for me." Hooking her pointer fingers in his two front belt loops, she asked suggestively, "Need any help tucking in that shirttail?"

"Not when I'm about to have to face both of them. Step awaaay from the belt buckle."

She grinned at him. "I'm going to see if Alexis is ready. We should leave in about five minutes. You aren't going to change that shirt, are you?"

"Funny."

Kate went upstairs and knocked on Alexis's door, and she answered it dressed and ready to go.

"Just checking in. We'll be leaving in about five minutes."

"I'm ready. I'll walk down with you."

Castle met them in the living room wearing a blazer over his white shirt.

"Sharp, Dad. You look good."

He looked at Kate. "Too much? Should I wear a different jacket?"

"Tell you what. If dad is wearing a tie, he can lose the tie, and you can lose the blazer. You look good. I don't care if Dad likes it. Alexis and I do."

He took a deep breath and released it. "Okay. Let's go."

"Is he nervous about meeting your father?" Alexis asked.

"Maybe a little," Kate answered and took his hand.

Jim was already there, tieless, when they arrived; and he stood to shake hands with both Castle and Alexis as introductions were made.

"Hi, Katie," he said and hugged her tight.

She sat with her father on one side of the booth, and Castle and Alexis sat across from them.

"This isn't a fancy place…" Jim began.

"Is the food good?" Castle asked.

"The food is great."

"Fancy enough, then. Right, Pumpkin?"

"Daaad!"

"What? He called her Katie. I'll bet she didn't want us to hear that."

Jim was smiling at their exchange.

"Sorry, Sir."

"No problem. I remember similar conversations."

"Me, too," Kate answered with a subdued eye roll.

"She's rolling her eyes, isn't she?" Jim asked without even looking, and Castle and Alexis laughed. At that point the ice was broken and conversation moved on easily.

By the time lunch was over, the two fathers were getting along almost too well for Kate's peace of mind, and Castle was feeling pretty comfortable about connecting with Jim Beckett. Castle insisted on picking up the check, so Jim insisted on leaving the tip.

As they walked toward the door, Jim told Alexis, "You know, you remind me a little bit of Katie when she was your age."

"Really?" Alexis answered, looking pleased.

"Really," he assured her. "Then a year or so later, maybe not," he added mischievously.

"Daaad!" Kate gave her dad a hug and whispered, "Stop it."

Castle smiled as he shook Jim's hand and handed him a business card, asking hopefully, "You will share, won't you? We can have lunch without them sometime. I have so many questions."

Jim accepted the card and said. "It was wonderful to meet you, Alexis. I hope to see you again soon." Holding up the card, he looked speculatively at Castle and said, "I'll definitely call you." Tapping the card on Castle's chest, he added, "I have some questions for you, too, son." Then, with a smug smile, Jim walked out of the diner and down the street.

Castle, on the other hand, looked like a deer caught in the headlights as he left with Kate and Alexis. He opened the car door for Alexis, and she got in; and after the door was closed and his daughter was out of earshot, he looked at Kate and asked, "What the hell just happened?"

"He may not have dressed like one this morning, but he's a lawyer, Castle," she answered with a grin. "He's good at that sort of thing."

"He sure is," Castle muttered as he closed the door behind her. "I did not see that coming."

xxxxx

Before his next meeting with Gina, Castle went to see Paula. He explained where things stood with Kate and let her know in no uncertain terms that his playboy image was a thing of the past.

"So what do we do?" she asked angrily. "Do you have a new plan? And why didn't you mention it before now? We have a publicity campaign coming up for the next book, you know, and you're dumping this in my lap this late in the game? You know how this works. What were you thinking?"

"That I'm completely in love for the first time in my life, and that I'd like to think my relationship is more important than some image meant to sell books," he answered in kind. "Look, Paula, Kate's publicity shy; but she's willing to be at the book launch party and go along with whatever it takes. It's going to be difficult for her, so I want us to try to make it as easy as possible. This relationship is new between us this summer; but it's been building for a while now, and I think it could become a good future for us. But, unless it surfaces in some other way between now and then, I want it kept quiet until the book launch. As well as our personal interest in privacy, she's a police detective and won't want undue publicity to make her job more difficult. I'd like to keep the cameras away as long as possible."

"Fine. But I'll probably want to meet with her sometime soon."

"I'll tell her." He had calmed a bit after Paula's initial outburst, but he still spoke firmly. "I don't know what your opinion of Kate is, but she's a strong, highly intelligent, perceptive woman. Be straight with her and it should be fine, but she'll see right through any spin you try to throw at her. She deals with that on a daily basis in her job and usually comes out ahead."

"So how does Alexis feel about sharing her dad?" Paula challenged, still miffed.

"She and Kate get along really well, but that's for the three of us to work out. Nothing in the publicity for the books should get in the way of our becoming a family. That's the most important thing in my life right now." Standing to leave, he added, "I need you to understand that clearly."

"Does Gina know about this? she asked.

"I talked to her after our last meeting. There shouldn't be any fireworks."

"I'll see what I can do," Paula said a little more cooperatively.

"And I'll appreciate your efforts," he answered, parting on a civil note.