Taking Shots (Assassins) Read online

  Elli giggled, putting her hand over her heart, “Shit, Shea, after a kiss like that, I’m pretty damn sure I will.” She leaned up kissing his laughing mouth before leaving with a wave. He heard the door shut and he smiled as he sat on the side of the bed Elli had slept on. He ran his hand down her pillow and took a deep breath as his mother’s words replayed in his head.

  He’s head over heels.

  Shit, was he?

  Shea looked at clock; he didn’t have to be at practice until ten, so he had time. After jumping in the shower and getting dressed, he headed into the kitchen to see a plate of food on the counter with a note beside it.

  Shea,

  You’re gonna need to nuke the food, but I made you breakfast. Thanks for last night, the win, the dinner, the night in bed, it was all a dream come true. I hope you have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you tonight.

  I’ll be thinking of you,

  Elli

  Shea grinned as he took his phone out of his pocket and dialed Elli’s number. As it rang, he put the food in the microwave and warmed the food.

  “Hey.”

  “You know, I’m not going to let you leave now.”

  “Huh?” He laughed.

  “You’re not allowed to go home, you keep my bed warm, even though you steal the covers, and you make me breakfast. You expect me to let you go home?” Elli giggled, he loved the sound, it made his smile bigger.

  “I have to go home. Adler is there. His babysitter was only paid for yesterday and today.”

  “Bring him here.”

  “No way, he would hate it, he needs a field.”

  Shea could live out there, no big deal.

  “Fine, but that leads me to a question.”

  “Oh goodness, should I be nervous?” He laughed.

  “No, but anyways, did you name Adler after me?”

  She went quiet for a moment, and then let out a sigh.

  “I did.”

  “So I am your favorite Assassins player?”

  “You are,” she huffed out.

  Shea didn’t think his smile could grow any bigger.

  “So are you only dating me because of my employer?” he teased.

  “Come on, really, Shea? You know why I’m dating you.”

  “Why?”

  “Cause you’re hot, duh.” He laughed as she giggled. He heard her moving around the office, and he had never felt so comfortable. Something about her made it so easy.

  “I think you had your eyes on me since day one, your plan was to flirt with me, to get me in bed.”

  Elli was fully laughing by now, and he was laughing just as hard. “For one, I didn’t flirt at all. If I remember correctly, I was a complete idiot, and second, you’re the one that got me in your bed.”

  “Very true, it’s a good place for you,” he said with a laugh, “and you weren’t an idiot the first time we met babe, you were sweet.”

  “Sweetly stupid. I’m surprised you even understood what I said to you.” A phone rang. It must have been in her office because she said, “I gotta go Shea, I’ll text ya later.”

  “Alright, babe, thanks again for breakfast, bye.”

  “Anytime, bye.”

  Shea ate his food as he watched the morning news, then cleaned up before leaving. After getting into his truck and starting it, he drove off towards his sister’s. Grace was probably gonna be livid to see him so early, but he needed to talk to her. When he pulled up to her house, he saw her at the window, in front of her computer feeding Amelia. Good, she was awake. He shut off the truck and started up the driveway, before opening the front door and going in. Ryan came from the hall and ran right for him, jumping into his arms.

  “Unky!”

  “Hey, bud,” Shea said kissing his cheek, before walking to the living room where Grace was sitting cross-leg with her hair in a mess on top of her head and a pencil in her mouth. She was still in her PJs. The joys of running your own business, he guessed.

  “Hey, Shea,” she said, not looking up as he kissed Amelia’s chubby cheeks. He put Ryan down and kissed Grace next, before sitting beside her. “What brings you by?” she asked as she typed something, and then took a drink of her coffee.

  “Do you really want to know or are you too busy to talk to your only twin brother.” Grace rolled her eyes before shutting the laptop and turning towards him.

  “I’m having some problems with this wedding I’m planning. My regular photographer is a dimwit and is pissing me off. I’m about to fire him, but the wedding is next month and I doubt I can get someone to take his place.”

  “Call Elli, she might be able to.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t want to start using her a lot and you guys break up or something.”

  “Since you brought Elli up,” Shea started, Grace shook her head.

  “I didn’t-”

  “Do you think I love her?” Grace just looked at him with a look on her face.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Do you think I love her?” he repeated himself.

  “No, I heard you; I just don’t understand the question. How would I know if you love her?”

  “You’re my twin.”

  “I know that.”

  “Well, what do you think?”

  “I don’t know! I haven’t even seen you guys together but that one time.”

  “So we’ll come over for dinner and you’ll tell me?”

  “Really, Shea? I’m swamped with weddings and parties right now and you want me to cook a dinner for you and your girlfriend?”

  Shea stood up with a grin on his face, “Thanks, you’re the greatest, how about Sunday evening, since I’m leaving Monday for a week.”

  “Are you kidding me!?” she yelled as he kissed the kids.

  “No, come on. I need to know.”

  “You’re nuts.”

  “Yup, about you, babe, see ya Sunday, let me know if you need anything.”

  “I will. Your credit card number since I’m hiring a cook!” she yelled as he shut the door.

  God, he loved his sister.

  Chapter 10

  “I don’t know why I need a dress; can’t I just wear some jeans?” Harper complained as they browsed through Marine Renee’s store for a dress. Harper hated shopping and definitely hated anything but jeans. Elli on the other hand, loved to shop and definitely loved to dress up. Elli had already bought a lilac tube top dress with a scalloped chest lapel that went to her knees for the party. She was gonna pair it with a bone color cardigan and bone colored, peep toe Jimmy Choo heels. She was excited, which was odd since she was never excited about trying to be cute in front of a bunch of hockey players who happen to be the friends of the guy that she was dating, but she was. For the first time in years she had a great night’s sleep without her DVD’s help, she felt great, refreshed, all because of Shea.

  “Because it’s a party.”

  “You can wear jeans to a party,” Harper mumbled as she looked through the racks with a little more force than needed.

  “Don’t you want to be pretty for Jakob?”

  “He thinks I’m pretty no matter what,” Harper countered as she pulled out a dress, looking back and forth at it, “This is pretty.” It really was, that’s why Elli owned it. It was a little pink flower print dress that was tight around the bust and loose around the waist. It was one of Elli’s favorites, but Harper needed something tight.

  “It is, but you need something like a tube dress, something to show off that hot body of yours,” Elli said as she kept looking. Harper just grinned.

  “Yeah, Jakey would like that.”

  “Jakey?”

  “What? It’s my nickname for him.”

  “Aw, so cute!” Elli gushed causing Harper to gag herself, which in return made Elli laugh.

  “Oh, gawd, what are you doing back here? Is there an all-you-can-eat buffet close by?” Harper and Elli both turned to see Victoria standing a foot away with a price gun in hand. Elli cursed herself, she could have swore she hadn�