Taking Shots (Assassins) (64 page)

Victoria nodded, coming up beside Shea, “Yeah, Shea, I’m great at shopping and I know what my baby sister likes.”

“
Um, well.”

Shea kind of wanted to go by himself and get the ring. He had planned on asking Elli the day they signed for the house. They were supposed to sign the papers on Valentines’ Day, him and Elli had laughed saying that would be their gift to each other, but Shea wanted to ask her when they went back to the house after signing the papers. Grace said she would have the living room filled with candles, and Jill had already agreed to give Grace the key early so she could go do it for him.

What he didn’t plan on was going shopping with Victoria for Elli’s ring, but the way Olivia and Victoria were looking at him before he thought he might need too, just to make sure things were okay between them all.

“
It will be fun!” Victoria said again, while Olivia nodded.

“
Be good for y’all to get to know each other, too, since you and Eleanor have been spending a lot of time with Noah and Liam,” Michael said. Shea nodded. He and Elli had been over at her brothers’ house a lot lately, but that was to see the kids.

“
It will be your decision, Shea, I’ll just suggest what I think Elli would like,” Victoria added.

“
Yeah, that would be fine.” Shea said, even though he felt like it was the worst idea ever.

“
Great!” Olivia and Victoria gushed, with big grins. Evil grins, Shea noticed, yeah there would be no trusting those two.

“
Good,” Michael said, with a nod, standing up and pulling Shea into a back slapping hug, when he pulled back, Shea saw tears in his eyes, and Shea actually became nervous again. What if he changed his mind? “Only one thing left to do, my boy,”

“
Which would be?” Shea asked.

“
Go ask Bryan, you know Eleanor would want his approval, too.”

Fuck.

Elli didn’t think she could be any happier, not only was she getting the house of her dreams in five days time, but she was doing so much more promotion work with the Assassins. She was working with Melody Yates again, this time on a wine charity event at the arena. Elli was really excited about the event, since she would also be working with her good friend, Fallon. Fallon’s company needed shots of the wine being consumed and just general pictures of all the wine bottles. Elli couldn’t wait, it was going to be a great party.

After working all morning on the shots she needed, the people Elli had to take pictures of, Elli walked out towards the back entrance of the arena.

A small flutter went through her as she walked towards the back door, it was the same door she went through the day she met Shea. That day would forever hold the most amazing memory of her life. Who would have known that that was the day she was gonna find the man of her dreams, the same man she would love, and being moving into the house of her dreams with. It was almost unbelievable how happy Elli was.

Elli was about to reach the door, the heels of her boots clicking against concrete floor, when the door opened and the same man she had been thinking about came through it. He wasn’t looking and ran right into her, catching her before she fell over.

“
Crap, I’m so-,” when Shea saw it was her, he grinned, “I am not sorry I ran into you, Ms. Fisher,” he said before he kissed her lavishly. Elli’s heart swelled at the feeling of it. God, she loved him.

“
Well, that’s one hell of a hello, what are you doing here?”

“
I have a meeting with Bryan,” he said as he let her go, still holding her hand in his. His eyes were the brightest blue, his smile almost match the brightness of his eyes, he was happy about something.

“
What about?”

“
Business crap. I’ll see you for dinner?”

“
Yeah, I’m on my way to the studio.” He nodded, kissing her cheek before moving around her.

“
Okay, baby, I’ll call you, love you.”

“
Love you, too,” she said as she watched him walk away. He was up to something and Elli hated not knowing what. She would find out when she got home later, sexual incentives always worked on Shea.

Always, she thought with a grin.

When Elli arrived at the studio, things were crazy.

They had a full waiting room and only two photographers, Harper included. They had been so busy the past couple weeks, which had been wonderful since Shea was traveling a lot. It was sad to say, but Elli actually couldn’t wait for hockey to be over. She and Shea had discussed going somewhere tropical as a vacation when the season was over. Shea had said he was gonna take the cup with them, but Elli was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to do that.

Only three months left until she was in paradise with Shea. Three long months.

Elli didn’t waste any time. She threw her purse behind the desk and jumped right in, working her butt off to get everyone done and out, making sure they were happy. It was going to be a long day. The only thing that kept her smiling was that she would see Shea when she got home.

“
Are you sure, Shea?” Bryan Fisher asked, as he leaned back in his chair, “It’s a big step.”

“
Yes, I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life, sir.”

“
Well, then, you have my blessing.” Shea smiled big, nodding his head. That was actually easier than he thought. “So I guess I won’t have to pay you much for another five years, huh?”

“
I don’t know about that, we’re buying a new house, and Elli likes to shop.”

“
Well, darn,” Bryan said with a grin as he stood up, Shea did the same, “I was hoping I would be able to get you for cheap since your contract is about up. Guess I’ll have to pay you full price, even though I’m letting you marry my Eleanor.”

Shea laughed, “We’ll see if we can cut a deal.”

Bryan let out a gut busting laugh, and nodded his head before sticking his hand out for Shea’s, “Welcome to the family, son, that is if she’ll say yes.”

“
Oh, she’ll say yes.”

He hoped.

Shea sat beside Victoria in the gallery of Tiffany’s, wishing like hell he didn’t agree to have her come with him. Everything she picked was disgusting, gaudy, and Shea knew Elli would hate it. The girl had expensive taste, something he knew Elli had, too, but Jesus, not only did he know Elli wouldn’t want a ten carat diamond ring, but really, what the hell would she do when she couldn’t pick her hand up to take a picture! The damn thing had to weigh ten pounds and Elli’s hands where so small and cute, he was sure she wouldn’t be able to pick up her hand!

Shea stood up and the cute little girl behind the counter looked worried. She probably saw her big sale walking out the door. Victoria had no problem announcing who he was and what he did, so the girl knew he was shopping big.

The more time he spent with Victoria, the more he disliked her. No wonder Elli really didn’t like her. She was mean as hell and he was pretty sure she was trying to sabotage his ring selection.

“
I’m going to look around,” he said, as the girl and Victoria looked around.

“
Okay, let me know if you see something,” the girl said. Shea nodded and started towards the back of the store. He was looking in the cases and wondering if he could get out of there without Victoria noticing even though that would be wrong since he drove her there from the condo, when someone called his name.

“
Shea! How ya doing!?”

Shea looked over at the sweet looking
blondish brown hair girl that was smiling at him. She looked a lot like Harper, and that’s when it clicked. It was Harper’s littler sister, but he couldn’t remember her name to save his life.

“
Hey,” he said, raking his brain for her name, she giggled at him as he walked over to her.

“
Its Piper, I don’t think we really talked all that much at the party,” she said with a grin, he smiled back; she was a cute little thing, so different from Harper’s crazy ass.

“
Piper, how could I forget, how are you doing?”

She smiled in delight, “Good, working my butt off since I took the semester off from school.”

“
Cool, you like it here?”

“
I do, its good work.”

“
Good,” Shea nodded, looking at the case that she stood behind. It was full of different colored stones, when he saw the pink one, he smiled. Elli would love them. “These are pretty.”

“
Yeah, they are amazing, my favorite is the pink diamonds, they are so pretty.”

“
They are diamonds?”

“
Yeah, you should see ‘em in a platinum setting, pure magic on your finger! They are awesome! You ain’t ever heard of pink diamonds?”

Wow, once she got talking, she was Harper all over.

“
No, I haven’t, I thought diamonds came in one color,” he said, feeling pretty stupid.

“
Oh, no, what are you looking to get?”

Shea smiled shyly, “An engagement ring.”

Piper’s face lit up, before she started bouncing up and down, “For Elli!” she gushed.

“
Yes, but don’t tell anyone, okay!”

“
I won’t! Oh my God! This is awesome! Oh goodness! Come on over here, come look at these amazin’ pink engagement rings.” Piper basically screamed as she dragged Shea across the store to a case that held the most sparking rings he had ever seen. He sat in the chair in front of the case as Piper brought out each display. “Ain’t they pretty!”

“
They are,” he said breathlessly as he looked at each ring.

“
What are you doing?” Shea looked up as Victoria sat down beside him. Piper made a face at Victoria, and then looked back down at Shea.

“
Isn’t that Elli’s sister?”

“
Yeah, she came to help.”

“
Why?”

“
Because I can. I don’t think Elli would like pink rings, their kind of childish, don’t you think?” Victoria asked.

“
Um, no, they are actually very classic looking,” Piper said, pointing down at a large pink diamond that was surrounded by little white ones. “See the cut, the elegance? A girl would die to have this on their finger. I know I would.”

“
Yeah, I guess it’s pretty, but a white diamond is so beautiful, distinguished.” Victoria countered.

“
Yeah, but it’s played out, a pink diamond is new, thrilling. Elli has amazing style and this would add to her amazing style. All women will want to be like Elli because she has an engagement ring that no one else has. Not too many people buy these, they are crazy expensive.”

Piper was right, and when she brought out another display, Shea found the ring.

“
That’s it,” Shea said pointing to the elegant ring. Elli would love it.

“
Oh, yes, the
cushion-cut fancy deep pink diamond with round brilliant white diamonds, in platinum ring setting. I know it’s amazing, its two carats, with a clarity of VS2.” Piper gushed, sounding like a ring magazine or, better yet, a great seller because she had Shea sold. The pink princess cut diamond stood out with the hundreds of little round diamonds around it, the band was covered in them. It was beautiful; Elli would flip when she saw it. When Piper handed it to him, he held it in his hand and he was sure it wouldn’t be too heavy for Elli’s pretty hand. It was perfect.

“
I’ll take it.”

“
Seriously?”

“
Shea! It’s almost a million dollars!” Victoria complained as Piper still looked shocked.

“
Yeah, Elli would love it; do you have a wedding band to match?”

“
You want to buy that, too?” Piper asked.

“
Yeah,” Shea said with a grin, “I want it all, she’s going to love it.”

Shea was on cloud nine as he drove back with his little package of two of the most gorgeous rings that his future bride would wear.

He hoped.

Shea chuckled to his self as he turned onto the road that led to his condo. “What are you laughing at?” Victoria asked, “Are you delirious because of how much money you spent on two rings?”

“
No, Elli is worth every penny. I’m laughing because I’m actually scared she might say no.”

Victoria didn’t say anything which surprised Shea, since she had an opinion on everything. He noticed, though, that she didn’t say much since he said he wanted the rings. It was weird.

When they pulled into the spot beside her car, Victoria got out as Shea hid the ring under his seat, before locking the doors. Elli was a snoop and he refused to bring the rings in the house, she would find them within an hour. Victoria stood at the end of the truck, looking as pristine as Elli always did; just Victoria didn’t have the light in her eyes that Elli always had. Victoria was a very beautiful girl, but she wasn’t his Elli.

“
Thanks for going with me, Victoria,” Shea said as she came to stand in front of her. She smiled sweetly, putting her hand on his bicep.

“
I had a wonderful time. Elli will love the rings.”

“
Yeah, she will,” he said trying to shake her hand off.

“
Well, come here and give your future sister-in-law a hug, cause Elli would be crazy to say no,” Victoria said before she threw herself into his arms, he caught her, even though he really didn’t want to. When she pulled back some, she looked up at him before whispering, “She doesn’t deserve you,” Shea had no time to react, she pressed her mouth against his, and before he could pull back, she slapped his face hard.