“I sure do! Can I have my own room!?”

“I don’t see why not. A hockey room, for sure,” Shea gushed, kissing Ryan’s head before looking over at a smiling Grace.

“I’ve never seen you this happy, Shea,” she pointed out as she laid a grilled cheese in front of Amelia, then Ryan, before giving one to Shea.

“I’ve never been this happy. I’m with the most amazing woman in the world, we’re buying a house, the hockey season is looking like another cup winning one, and my family is healthy and good. Why wouldn’t I be happy?”

“I love how Elli beat out everything else on why you’re happy,” Grace said with a chuckle as she sat down with her own sandwich.

She rolled his eyes, “Jeez, Grace. Why are you always so jealous all the time?”

“Shut up, I am not jealous.”

“Yes, you are.”

“Whatever,” Grace laughed before taking a bite of her sandwich, “I’m happy for you.”

“Good, because I’m always happy for you.”

They shared a smile, before going back to eating.

“I think it’s time, Grace,” Shea said after a moment. Grace looked up, nodding her head.

“I thought that was the reason you came over,” she said with a grin, “and Shea, I couldn’t agree more. It’s early. But yeah, I couldn’t agree more.”

Man, he loved his twin.

Shea hated lying to Elli, but she was so damn nosy. He had no choice but to say he had a meeting with his agent and that’s why he was going to be gone all day. Of course, she was upset since she wanted to go look at paint and other house things. Their offer on the house was accepted and they would be signing the paperwork later that week. Hopefully, they would be moved in by the end of the month when Shea would be on a small break before heading out for another few weeks on the road. Playoffs were coming up quick, and the Assassins were kicking some major hockey ass. They were number one in their division right now, and things were looking great for another cup year.

Things were going good, great even. All he could do was hope that the next hour would go as great as his life had the past six months.

Shea pulled up to the security house as Mr. Harris walked towards the car, his hand on his trusty gun once again. Shea rolled down the window, smiling when the old man noticed who he was.

“Mr. Adler! How are you, is Elli with ya?” he asked, looking into the car.

“No, sir, I’m on my own today. I have a meeting with Mr. Fisher.”

“Oh, I think I do have a memo that you were coming by. Go on up, son. It was nice seeing you,” he said with a wrinkled grin as he pushed a button for the gates to open up.

Shea nodded and waved before driving through the gate. Shea pulled in by the large fountain before getting out of his truck and making his way up the stairs to the front door of the large plantation home. Shea rang the doorbell, and after a minute or so, Mrs. Harris opened the door with a grin.

“Well, hey there, Mr. Adler. Come on in, Mr. Fisher is waiting in the study for you.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Harris,” Shea said with a nod, before following her through the many rooms, to Michael Fisher’s study.

Michael stood with a large smile on his face when Shea walked into the room, but Shea couldn’t return the smile because he felt as if he was going to throw up. His nerves were on edge, and he felt like he might faint. Walking through the house, he was fine, but standing in front of Michael Fisher, Shea wasn’t sure he was going to make it.

“Shea, so great to see you. I’ve been wondering all day what you need to speak with me about,” he said, shaking hands with Shea.

Shea went through the motions, but he was sure he wouldn’t remember doing them later.

“Have a seat, son.”

Shea fell into the chair that sat across from the chair that Michael sat down into.

“Thanks for seeing me,” Shea all but mumbled out. He cleared his throat, embarrassed by his actions and his intense nervousness. Shea had gone through this a billion times on the way over there. He knew what he wanted to say, what the hell was wrong with him?

“Anytime, so what brings you by? Everything alright? You’re sweatin’ something crazy there, son,” Michael said with a laugh.

Shea couldn’t laugh but he did wipe his dripping wet forehead with the back of his hand. He was sweating like he was playing in the Stanley Cup finals and he was about the make the goal winning shot.

Damn it, he had to get it together!

“Um, well, I came by because, I um,” Shea was interrupted by Michael’s laughter.

“Jesus, Shea, what’s wrong with you?”

Shea looked up, taking a deep breath in before blurting out, “I want to marry Elli.”

Chapter 30

Shea’s eyes widened when Olivia and Victoria burst into the room, their hands over their mouths.

“Well then,” Michael said with a grin.

Shea cleared his throat again, feeling completely stupid before saying, “I’m sorry. I had this whole big speech ready for you on the reasons I want to marry her, but I have forgotten all of it. All I know is that I love her, very much, and I need your approval before I ask her because if I know anything, it’s that Elli is a down home, old fashioned girl, and she would want your blessing.”

Michael nodded, “You’re right on that one.”

“You want to marry Eleanor?” Olivia asked, “It's only been, what, a couple months?”