“So, what’s your favorite movie?” Elli asked since she still wanted to know some things about him. Shea looked over at her, and smiled.

“Miracle.”

“A classic.”

“It is.”

“This is our time! Their time is over!”

“Their time is over? Come on, babe, if you’re gonna quote the greatest movie ever, get it right,” he said with a teasing smile.

“Oh, hush, I got most of it!”

“You did, I’m impressed.” She smiled proudly, but her smile fell when he pulled into the studio parking lot. He got out just as she turned to say bye. She watched as he walked around the truck, opening the door to let her out. Elli climbed out and Shea moved closer towards her, trapping her between him and the truck.

“I had a great lunch, Elli. I’m sorry about the end, though.”

“I told you it was fine. I asked you to take the hat off, so I was basically asking for it.”

“Still, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, it was a beautiful lunch. I had a great time.” She smiled sweetly, and he took another step towards her, leaving no room between them. His hands came up around her waist, pulling her to him as he looked deep in her eyes. Her breathing hitched because she knew he was going to kiss her again. She tried to steady her breathing, but with Shea Adler this close to her, it wasn’t working.

Shea smiled before covering her mouth with his. He kissed her softly, before slowly teasing her lips with his tongue, asking for permission to come in. Elli hadn’t kissed like that in so long that she was scared out of her mind, but she opened her mouth for him, playing with his tongue with her own. His grip on her hips became tighter as he brought her even closer to him as he continued to eat from her mouth. Elli’s hands rested on his chest as he kissed the stuffing out of her. When he pulled back, they were both breathing hard. He rested his head against hers as he looked into her eyes.

“Jesus, you’re gonna be the death of me, baby.”

“I could say the same about you, Shea,” she whispered with a small smile. He smiled before taking her mouth with his again. This time it was slow, sweet. He gave her three more small kisses before letting her past him. “Bye,” she said with a small, shy wave.

“Bye, I’ll call you.” She turned when she got to the door.

“If I don’t answer, I’ll text you. I have that wedding tonight.”

“Okay, bye.”

“Bye,” she said, with another shy smile as she walked into the studio. Once inside, she leaned against the wall, trying to control her breathing. At the sound of laughter, Elli looked over at the front desk to see Harper with an amused look on her face.

“I mean, jeez El, y’all need a room next time.”

A room? With Shea, alone?

Elli slid down the wall, groaning.

Lord, help her if that ever happens.

Elli kissed like a dream. Shea had left her with a dumb grin on his face as he drove back to his condo. God, she was amazing. So beautiful, so understanding, so perfect, she loved hockey movies! Hell, she loved hockey! Just being with her made him feel so safe, so happy, it had never felt like that before. No girl made him want to call her as soon as he left her, just to hear her voice. No woman ever made his blood boil with just one kiss, one touch.

What the hell was going on?

Shea pulled into the spot in front of his condo, and turned the car off. He reached for his phone and texted Elli, since he knew she had clients.

Am I on your mind, the way you’re on mine?

As soon as he pushed “send”, his phone rang. It was Grace.

“Hello, my loving brother,” she cooed in the phone.

“Oh, Jesus, what do you need?”

“A favor.”

“Okay?”

“Bradley Johnson, the guy who sells me my liquor,”

“Yeah.”

“He is being a douche and trying to raise my prices. Can you autograph a hockey stick so I can try to schmooze him into not doing it?”

“Sure, when do you need it by?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Done.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Didn’t you have your date with Ms. Fisher today?”

“I did.”

“And?”

“What?”

“How was it!?” she yelled. He smiled.

“Great. She’s amazing, Grace. I don’t know how someone so beautiful could be so amazing and not be taken. She’s so understanding; a bunch of fans interrupted our lunch and she didn’t care, she just smiled and ate as I did my thing.”

“You didn’t wear a hat? God, you’re dumb. She’s sweet, but you’re dumb.”

“I did! But she pulled it off, saying she couldn’t see my eyes.”

“Awww!! How sweet! I think she likes you.”

“I don’t know. I think so too, but she acts weird sometimes, like she doesn’t know why I’m calling or when I call her beautiful, she blushes so hard, and looks away. She’s just so shy. I’m not used to it.”

“Shea, you have to remember, she’s not like those gold-digging hoes you’ve dated in the past. She’s a real woman,” Grace said.

Shea thought that over for a moment. Elli was like no one he had ever been with. Maybe that’s why he couldn’t get his mind off her.

“Do you think that’s why I think of her all the time?”