"Believe it or not, I haven't always been the paragon of male perfection you see before you," he admits casually, piling up pillows against the back of the couch like he's throwing into the strikezone. "Kinda' had an ugly duckling period." Which, thankfully, didn't last too long. Aesthetics are important in this business. James Patterson's a great writer, but you don't necessarily want to join him in the hot tub.

The edge of the sheet's come up on her side as they've been tugging and pulling and Castle leans over the mattress to shove the corner back into place. While amending, he says, "Anyway, I really appreciate this. And I promise --" he straightens and makes an invisible 'x' across his chest "-- I'll be on my best behavior."

A beat.

"Now, where do you keep your unmentionables?"