"I can't thank you enough." He said again, sexiness dripping off of every syllable as he slid the key into the key hole.

"I was just doing my job." She smiles humbly. Damn him and his British accent. Kate thought. She followed him into his apartment, setting her jacket on the back of his leather couch.

"Would you like a drink?" he asked, making his way over to the extensive bar.

"Brandy sounds wonderful, but I'm on duty so-water?" she asked with a smile.

"Water it is." He laughed as he reached for a glass.

Kate sat there in silence, watching him as he moved toward the kitchen. He leaned down into the liquor cabinet and pulled out a large glass bottle. Oh so he's a Cognac kind of guy. Hmmm. Classy. She watched as he poured the amber liquid into the smelter and began gently swirling it around. God I love my job. She smiled in spite of herself when suddenly she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She looked at the caller ID. Castle. She opened the text message.

How's Mr. Handsome?

Kate rolled her eyes.

Still handsome. So….this is you not being jealous?

She waited for a moment.

I'm not JEALOUS! Look I have to go. I was just checking up on you. Call me later yeah?

Erik made his way around the bar and over to where Kate sat. She shot Castle one last text before shoving her phone into her pocket.

Absolutely. See ya.

Erik sat down on the couch rather close to Kate. He handed her the small glass.

"Hell of a day huh?" he asked as he took a sip of his drink.

"Hell of a day." She repeated.

They both sat there for a while, neither of them speaking, just enjoying the other's company.

Kate set her glass down and stood. "I should be going."

"Wait." He grabbed her wrist gently.

"What?" she asked as she looked up into beautiful green eyes. Beautiful? What? They're not beautiful. They're just-green. Yeah. I've seen better!

"I just-" he paused.

"You just-what?" she asked quietly.

"I just can't believe how lucky I am." He was still holding her hand.

She watched as the light from the fireplace danced across his face. It made it that much more difficult to focus. "What do you mean?"

He watched her intently, his lips lowered quickly to her mouth, which had suddenly gone dry. "It was fate meeting a woman like you."

He leaned in closer to her, his hand still firmly grasping hers. Their lips were inches apart. Oh God, please don't-

Her thoughts were interrupted as his lips captured hers. The kiss was gentle. He was gentle. She closed her eyes and let him kiss her. She kissed him back, softly at first, and then with a great intensity. Fear struck her like a lightening bolt. She pushed him away.

"No! We-we can't do this." She turned away from him and wiped her lips with the back of her hand, trying to erase any trace of the kiss.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to face him. "Why not?"

She tore away from him and moved swiftly toward the door, grabbing her jacket. "Goodnight Mr. Vaughn."