Beckett chooses to go through the motions of pretending she's actually considering her concession. She bites her lower lip, glances upward to the ceiling, feigns deep thought, even hums softly under her breath. It's an obvious act, made even more obvious by the fact that said breath hitches briefly when he hoists her up against him.

"Uh, no," she murmurs, her eyes descending to his face, covered in sticky ice-cream remnants, and she's pretty sure she looks equally ridiculous with the stuff dripping down her cheek.

"Nice effort though, Castle. For a minute, I almost let you get the drop on me."