Rick looks up and sees the flash of recognition in Kate's eyes, which makes him even more nervous. He doesn't know what has come over him; Richard Castle isn't usually one to shy away from attractive women, but somehow Kate feels different.

Most of the women he meets like to throw themselves at him, constantly flirting and asking him to sign their chests. Normally he doesn't mind, normally he enjoys it, but for some reason he wants to be different in front of Kate.

She's so beautiful, just in her jeans and a t-shirt. God, he can't imagine what she would look like in a low-cut dress, or better yet, one of his button downs.

But there is something more vulnerable, more real about her than any other woman he has ever met. She isn't trying to impress him, or use him for his money. And she told him all about her mother's death, something he guesses she doesn't tell many people.

He can already tell that Kate is someone he needs to know a lot more about.

He suddenly realizes she is still looking at him, and he blinks slowly a couple of times to get the images out of his head. He drops the hand he had been rubbing with his thumb, feeling self-conscious about the action after he was picturing her…in less clothes than she's wearing now.

"Why didn't you tell me who you were before now?" she asks, her voice equally surprised and awed.

"I just didn't want you to make assumptions about me, from my name. I didn't want you to say no based on who the tabloids say I am." He is getting anxious, afraid that Kate will walk away, but she doesn't make any move to leave.

"Well, I don't have much time to read tabloids, but you seem nice enough," she replies, a small smile forming on her lips.

Rick lets out an audible sigh, relief flooding through him as he realizes that Kate isn't going anywhere.

Suddenly their waiter appears next to the table, and both Kate and Rick lean back in their chairs, not even realizing how close they had gotten during their brief exchange.

Neither of them actually read the menu, but they both order the spaghetti and meatballs, eager to get back to the conversation.

"So, I assume since you recognized me you…may have read some of my books?" Rick looks like a kid waiting for a gold star from his teacher, and she can't figure out why. It's not like he hasn't been recognized for his books before. But something in his face tells her that her opinion really matters to him.

Kate looks into her lap, wondering how much more of her soul she can bare to this man before she breaks down. "Yeah," she answers shyly, "after my mom's death I didn't go out much, and I ended up reading a lot. Your books were some of my favorites, they got me through a lot of tough times."

She looks up again to find Ricks eyes shining with gratitude, his lips quirking into a smile, and Kate has the sudden urge to lean over and kiss him. She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip instead, and she notices that Rick's eyes move down to her mouth.

Kate doesn't understand what is happening to her. Why can't she think of anything to say? Why does she want to kiss him so bad?

They both just look at each other for a few moments, neither of them knowing what to say next, until Rick breaks the silence. "So, now what we've got all the heavy stuff out of the way, maybe we should talk about something less serious," he says with a chuckle.

Kate sucks in a breath, remembering the sound of his laugh on the phone last night, and she feels the same sense of comfort that she did then.

"Let's start with something simple," he says when she fails to say anything. "How about your last name?"

"It's Beckett," she says simply, thankful that it was an easy question.

"Kate Beckett." He repeats her name, and she can't help but love the way it sounds rolling off his tongue.

They spend the rest of the night getting to know each other better; favorites and firsts, childhood memories, plans for the future. Kate hears all about Rick's daughter, and joins in his laughter as he regales her with tales of the spunky red head. Kate tells him what it's like working for the NYPD, and working with Ryan and Espo.

At one point, Kate looks down at her watch and gasps as she realizes that they have been talking for five hours. How is that possible? It seems like they just got here!

Kate thinks that she should go, that famous author Richard Castle probably has other things to do, but he is still looking at her and hanging on every word she says. She blushes, unsure of what to say next. She doesn't want to stop talking with him, but they can't stay in the restaurant forever.

Just as she gets the nerve to ask Rick over for coffee, he speaks up first. "Would you like to come over? I don't live far from here…you could meet Alexis; I know she'll love you. Um, I think we have some ice cream if you want dessert. Or I have coffee…oh and you'll have to meet my mother."

He cringes a little at that last thought, but Kate assures him that it will be fine. She reaches across the table and takes his hand in hers, mimicking the soothing circles he had used on her earlier.

"If your family is anything like you, I'm sure they are wonderful. I would love to meet them."

A huge grin forms on Ricks face as he tugs her hand to get her to stand with him. They walk hand in hand through the restaurant, and just as they cross through the door into the cool evening air, Rick leans in close to whisper in Kate's ear.

"I'm so glad I got the wrong number last night." His voice, low and gravelly, sends shivers up Kate's spine.

He lingers there for a moment, and just before he turns away, Kate turns her face to meet his, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

"Me too," she whispers back, and she has never been more sure of anything before.

A/N: I just want to say thank you for all the kind words I've received about this story, I appreciate it so much! This is the last chapter, but I hope you enjoyed the story. Also thank you to Alex for being my beta.