Taking Shots (Assassins) (23 page)

Elli was the beast.

“
Hey, Elli, this is my brother-in-law, James, James this is my girlfriend, Elli Fisher.” The room went quiet as Grace and James looked back at Shea, then to Elli.

“
Hold on, what did you say?” James asked, as Grace went, “Did you just say girlfriend?”

Elli blush deep red, looking down at the floor until she heard Shea’s booming laugh, “Yes, I said girlfriend, because she is.”

“
When did this happen?” Grace asked, still looking confused.

“
Thursday,” Shea answered, kissing Amelia’s cheek and putting her down, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“
Shea, I think the last girlfriend you had was Alyson Jacobs, in 12
^th
grade, I’m sorry if I’m a little shocked,” Grace said, leaning against James. Shea smiled, then looked back at Elli. She just shrugged her shoulders, not knowing what to say or do. “Wow,” Grace said shaking her head, then she smiled, “Well, come on, let’s eat.”

After that, it was easy. Grace was amazing, but Elli had already known that. James was funny, but serious all in one. He would get so mad when Shea and Grace teamed up against him, and they did it a lot. It would be about the kids or Ryan’s hockey or Amelia doing dance. Anything James said, Shea and Grace went against it. It was really funny, especially when James’ face would turn beat red, that had Elli laughing so hard, she couldn’t breathe.

“
Oh, you just wait, Elli. Grace is nice to you now, so was Shea to me when we were just dating. But as soon as you guys get married, it all goes to hell and you’re an outside to the Shea and Grace show.” Everyone laughed at that, but Elli just smiled, moving around some of the amazing three cheese mac and cheese Grace had made. Like Shea would ever marry her. It had taken him what, eleven years just to get a girlfriend, shit; he would probably never get married.

“
We aren’t that bad,” Grace said with a shake of her head, “but he is my twin, and I do love him a lot. So we tend to go into our twin mode.”

“
I think it’s cute,” Elli said with a smile, taking another bite of steak.

“
Yeah, well you just wait until you meet the rest of the Adler clan. Their mom, jeez, she’s a hoot, and their dad is amazing, the best father-in-law ever.” Grace leaned over to kiss James’ cheek as Shea nodded.

“
My dad is pretty awesome,” Shea agreed. Grace nodded her head, taking a sip of wine.

“
How about your family James, do they live here?”

James shook his head, “My parents died when I was nineteen. I have Grace and my kiddos, that’s it.”

“
Oh, I’m so sorry.”

“
It’s fine, thank you, though. When I found Grace, everything fell into place, so I’m good now.” Elli smiled as Grace leaned over again and kissed him loudly on the cheek.

“
How about your family Elli, do they live here?” Grace asked.

“
Not in Nashville, but in
Clarksville,” Elli said with a smile.

“
Both your parents?”

“
Yup, they are still married after 32 years.”

“
That’s nice, you said you had three siblings?”

“
Yup, my brothers, Liam and Noah, then my sister Victoria. I’m the youngest.”

“
Are they all married?”

“
Victoria isn’t, but Liam and Noah are, both have three kids.”

“
Does Victoria have children?”

“
Jesus, no, she hates kids.”

“
Wow,” Grace said with a laugh, while Shea chuckled.

“
Yeah, I on the other hand, love kids. I take my nieces and nephews once a month to go hang out. I love them so much.”

“
That’s so nice!” Grace gushed, looking over at Shea, “Shea did that for me a couple of weeks ago, and then my son came home talking about open mouth kisses.” Elli had taken a drink before Grace started to speak and promptly spewed her drink everywhere with Grace’s comment. Everyone died laughing, as Elli wiped her mouth.

“
Oh, my goodness!” Elli laughed. Shea was about to fall out his chair while Grace held her gut, and James turned bright red with all of them laughing their butts off.

The rest of the dinner was awesome; they talked about hockey, about the kids, and about Shea leaving tomorrow, which Elli really didn’t like talking about. Elli helped Grace with the dishes as Shea and James went to play with Ryan outside, hockey, of course. Elli was washing a dish and watching Shea slap shot a puck at his brother-in-law when Grace walked up beside her.

“
He likes you, you know.” Elli looked over at Grace. Every time she looked at Grace she saw how much she and Shea looked alike. They had the exact same eyes, and nose, except Grace’s didn’t have a bump, same hair, and same cheek bones, everything was the same. Grace was a beautiful woman, while Shea was a gorgeous man.

“
You think so?”

“
Oh, I know so. I’ve hear about you every time I call him.” Elli smiled, looking back down at the dishes, “I like you, too, Elli, a lot.”

“
Aw, thanks Grace. I just adore you and your family.”

Grace smiled warmly, “I’m glad, but let me tell you, don’t hurt my brother.” Elli looked up quickly, shaking her head.

“
I never would think of it.”

“
Good, I didn’t think you would, but he seems smitten with you, and that scares me, considering he never has been, smitten, I mean.”

“
Grace, I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t been with anyone in six years, so for me to be with Shea is a huge step. I promise I will not hurt him.”

“
Good.”

Just then the guys came in, and Grace put on a huge smile. “Have fun, big guy?” she asked, kissing Ryan’s cheek.

“
I did, momma! Unky gave daddy a bruise.”

Grace shot Shea a look while he shrugged, “He got in the way.”

“
I did not! You aimed for me!” James complained, showing off a nasty bruise on his bicep.

“
Shea!”

“
What, Grace, he’s fine. Right, Ryan?”

“
Yup, no crying in hockey, daddy,” Ryan said simply, causing everyone to laugh.

Having Elli at his sister’s house was amazing. Having all the people he cared for under one roof was awesome, and fulfilling all at the same time. Leaving tomorrow would suck, but at least he would have this moment to warm him at night when he was alone on the road. Grace and James walked them out, and when Grace wrapped her arms around Shea, she kissed his cheek before whispering in his ear.

“
I think so.”

“
Huh?” He asked pulling back, looking down at his best friend, his twin.

“
What we talked about earlier? I think so.”

When it clicked in Shea’s head that Grace was basically telling him that he was in love with Elli, they were already on the road, going back to his house. It hit him like a ton of bricks, and he actually veered off the road a little, but regained control when Elli let out a screech.

“
Sorry, babe.” Elli just smiled shaking her head as they pulled into his driveway, beside her truck. They sat in the truck for a moment, not moving. “Can I ask you a favor, babe?” Elli looked over at Shea, with a small smile on her face.

“
Sure.”

“
Will you stay?”

“
My bag is in the truck.” He smiled, leaning over and kissing her before jumping out to help her out. She grabbed her bag and followed him upstairs.

After showering, Elli laid in bed watching Shea pack.

“
I’m such a procrastinator,” he said with a grin, she smiled.

“
You just don’t want to go,” Elli teased. He smiled.

“
You are right,” he said with a wink as he closed up the last of his suitcases, he would only be gone for five days, but still it felt like a life time.

“
Where’s your bag?”

“
They already have it at the rink.” She nodded as he climbed into bed beside her.

“
Why does Ryan call you Unky?” Elli asked as she laid across Shea’s chest, looking down at him. He moved his hand through her hair, cupping her face.

“
This girl I was with last year told Ryan he had a Hunky Unky, and he’s been saying Unky ever since. Luckily he dropped the hunky, that would be awkward.” Elli giggled as he smiled, closing her eyes as she leaned her face in his hand. “You know we haven’t done that whole exes talk.”

Her eyes flew open, “Do we need too?”

“
I would feel better if I knew some of your past.” She bit her lip, looking down at his shirt.

“
Okay.”

“
Have you ever been married?”

“
Nope, have you?”

“
You are the first girlfriend of my adult life, no.” Elli laughed.

“
True.”

“
Have you been with a lot of men?”

Elli shook her head, “No, even when I was super skinny, I was really weird about who I dated. I’ve only had sex with four men.” Shea looked away, completely embarrassed, “I know you’ve been with more Shea; it’s okay.”

“
Yeah, so anyway, have you ever loved any of them?”

“
I thought I loved the last one, but I learned later that I didn’t.”

“
How?”

“
When we broke up, I didn’t cry. I didn’t even feel anything but relief.”

“
Wow.”

“
Yeah, have you loved anyone?”

“
Nope, never. In high school I had the puppy love, but I’ve never loved a woman. I just used them I guess.”

“
Maybe.”

“
I’m not using you, though,” he said quickly since she made a face, but she smiled, smacking his chest.

“
I know,” she said with a shake of her head, “But I need to tell you something, Shea.”

“
What?”

“
I haven’t been with anyone since that last guy.”

“
Okay?”

She bit her lip again, and messed with the bottom of his shirt. “That was six years ago.”

“
Say what?” Elli turned bright red; even her eyebrows were red. “You haven’t had sex in six years?”

She shook her head, still not making eye contact. “I was really big Shea, and guys didn’t want me, so when I lost a lot of the weight, I figured guys still didn’t want me, until you.”

“
Come on, I know guys hit on you, babe, all the guys at the party said you were hot.”

“
Well, yeah, but I didn’t believe that they really liked me. You on the other hand, are very persistent.” He smiled, moving his fingers through her hair.

“
Well, good thing for me, huh?”

“
Yeah,” she said with a nod, “You think I’m a freak, huh?”

“
Not at all,” he pulled her closer to him, “So since we’re done with that, come here and kiss me.” She complied, bringing her lips to his for a long lusty kiss. He laid her back, his body of top of hers, her legs on either side of him, kissing down her neck, then back up. He kissed back up her jaw, letting their lips meet again for another long kiss. Her hands came up his sides, cupping his neck, then his face. He parted taking a deep breath, looking down at her beautiful round face, the puffy pink lips that were kissing the crap out of him.

“
Jesus, El, you drive me nuts.” She gave him a little half smile, pulling him back down for another kiss. He could feel the heat from between her thighs, so he knew she was hot, just like he was, but just like the last time, when he went to put his hand under her shirt, she freaked, moving out from underneath him.

“
Don’t you have to leave early tomorrow? Shouldn’t we go to sleep? Yeah, I think so,” she said so quickly his head spun. She went under the covers, and gave him a small smile. “Can you hold me again?” she asked in a small voice. Shea exhaled loudly, and ran his hands through his hair, but he nodded, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tight against him.

“
Sorry if I poke you,” he whispered in her ear with a chuckle. She giggled.

“
I like it,” she whispered after a few moments, he smiled, and pressed himself harder against her. Her soft curves felt great under his hands, and her butt cushioned his hard on perfectly. He was in heaven, so he closed his eyes, and the next thing he knew, he was out.

Elli leaned against the truck, watching Shea load his truck up with his bags. Yeah, it sucked, and next month she would have to say bye for the whole month. Of course, she had to break her years of no dating to date a guy that would be gone a lot.

Wonderful.

“
I don’t like that look on your face, baby,” he said. She didn’t even realize he was watching her, she smiled, and he returned it. “I like that better.” He pinned her against the truck, nuzzling her neck, causing her to giggle. Shea wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. She closed her eyes as she held on to him. Gosh, she didn’t want him to go.

“
I don’t want you to leave,” she whispered. He smiled against her neck, placing a soft kiss against it.

“
I wish I could take you with me, you can’t quit for a couple months?” She laughed, kissing his neck before he pulled back to look down at her.

“
I would never quit, I love my job, the same way you would never quit.”