“I don’t know! Gosh! I just want to be prepared for when we do.”

“I knew you wouldn’t be able to last much longer! He’s too damn hot!”

Elli flashed a playful glare at Harper and just shook her head. Harper was right. Getting into bed with Shea and not doing the deed was getting harder and harder every time. And since Elli stayed the night with Shea five nights out of the week when he was in town, there was a lot of sexual tension that had been building between them. Elli was so ready to tear her clothes off that her insecurities were the last thing on her mind.

Deep down, Elli thought that tonight would probably be her last night with Shea. She knew her family would spill all of her secrets, and she still hadn’t had the courage to tell him about Justin or her acting career, or anything else in her past.

“Yeah, well I might have wasted my time with the appointment,” Elli said with a huff as she got out of the chair, and went to her shelf for her camera. Her 10:30 would be arriving any minute.

“Everything will be fine tonight, Elli. I feel that Shea is real, and that he will see right through them. You have nothing to worry about. I mean, it’s not like you’ve lied to him.”

Elli cringed. Had she been lying to him? Was not telling him something, lying?

Shit. Elli gave Harper a weak smile as the bell chimed in the front office. Her appointment was right on time. As Elli walked to the front, she prayed that Harper was right.

Elli bit her lip as she stood in front of her mirror in the bathroom, looking herself over. The high-waisted black skirt and white blouse with black polka dots were perfectly accented with a red belt and heels. But did she look good enough so that her mother would leave her alone about the extra six pounds she had put on since dating Shea?

“Shit on a shingle,” she said with a huff as she checked the time again. Shea would be here in 15 minutes, so she hurried to the bathroom to check on her hair. Elli had pulled it up in a cute little up do with a red blossom on the side. She looked like something straight out of a 50s pin up girl calendar. She had loved the outfit when she set eyes on it. Even though it set her back a pretty penny, she had to have it. She smiled at herself, knowing Shea would love it. But then her smile fell because she knew her mom would see the extra weight instantly.

Damn Shea and his metabolism. The man could eat a whole cheesecake and not gain a pound. If Elli even looked at a piece of cheesecake she would gain a pound, no matter how much she ran the next day. It was so damn frustrating, especially when Shea would push her to eat with him. Whenever she would make a comment about her weight, he would tell her she is perfect and stuff more ice cream down her throat.

He just didn’t understand! Bless his heart, but still!

Adler trotted behind Elli as she moved around the house, transferring all her crap from her big pink purse to her small black one. Adler whined, and Elli bent down to kiss his furry head. She had been feeling very guilty for not being home much lately. So when she was home, she loved on him a lot more than usual to make up for her long absences.

“Wanna go out boy? Before I leave?”

Adler raced to the door. Elli laughed as she followed him, let him out and walked out onto the porch just as Shea pulled up. He grinned at her as he got out, and she smiled back, checking him out. He came dressed to impress. He was wearing a nice tailored black suit, with a black shirt and light blue tie. And of course, those damn Chucks.

“I swear, Shea, your Chucks kill me every time.”

Shea chuckled as he looked down at his shoes, and then looked back up at Elli. He wasn’t wearing his glasses, so his eyes looked extra bright and blue. Was it his blue tie that made his eyes shine, or was it Elli?

“Hey, what would you have me wear? Cowboy boots?”

Elli giggled at that. Shea in cowboy boots!

“Lord no, even though I would pay to see that,” she said. Shea came up the stairs, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her lightly on the lips.

“You look fantastic, baby.” She smiled shyly, kissing him again.

“So do you.”

Adler decided that it was his turn for Shea’s attention and started barking as he scratched at Shea’s leg. Shea laughed, bending down to love on Adler.

“Hey bud, how you doing?” Adler basked in the love, drooling all over the place as he laid on his back so Shea could pet his tummy.

“Shea, you’re getting hair all over your suit.”

“It’ll brush off,” he said with a grin for her, and then he looked back down at Adler, “Right boy? It’s just some hair.”

Elli just grinned as Shea loved all over her puppy. He was such an amazing man.

Shea smiled up at her again.

“We should come back and get him, since you’re staying the weekend with me.”

Elli had agreed to stay with Shea for the weekend since he was leaving Sunday night for the Assassin’s road trip and 11 away games in a row. There were two home games after that when he would be home for a total of four days. Elli’s heart hurt just thinking about it. She had done fine when he was gone for two nights, and she even did fine when he was gone for that week. But the thought of him being gone for a whole month made her so sad. She was having a hard time hiding her depression.

Shea was looking up at her, waiting for her to answer.

“Well, if you don’t mind, that would be great. That way I don’t have to shell out $300 to a boarding house in Nashville.”

“I have already told you to bring him when you want. I would love to have a dog around.”