Taking Shots (Assassins) Read online

  “Mm, goodness, do I even have lipstick still on?” she asked as she looked up at him, she giggled as she wiped his mouth. “I guess not, you might want to wipe that off, while I reapply,” she said as she walked back into the bedroom. He had a crooked grin on his face as he wiped off his mouth, when she reappeared, new lipstick applied, they gathered their things and left.

  Alex Welch and his wife, Mary Ann always held the opening game party at Union Station, which was a ritzy hotel in downtown Nashville. Shea loved the place, thought it was beautiful and the food was amazing. He was really excited about taking Elli there because he was pretty sure she hadn’t been there before. After giving his truck over to the valet, Shea led Elli inside, his hand on the small of her back. As they walked through the beautiful hotel to the meeting hall, he could tell that Elli was nervous. She was doing that lip biting thing, along with moving her hands a lot. He finally took her hand in his, squeezing lightly.

  “It’s going to be fine, baby.”

  She smiled nervously, “I’m just nervous your friends won’t like me.”

  “They’ll love you,” he reassured her; she gave him a small smile as they entered the hall. All his friends and teammates were there, with their wives or girlfriends. Some were talking, while others danced. Dinner hadn’t been served yet, so everyone was snacking on the hor' dourves while they drank. When Shea saw Alex and Mary Ann, he led Elli towards them. Alex smiled when he saw Shea, before turning Mary Ann a little to greet him.

  “Hey, Bro,” Alex said, shaking hands with Shea. Mary Ann smiled big, leaning up and kissing Shea’s cheek. Mary Ann used to be a model or something like that, but when she and Alex got married, she gave it up to have children and to be a wife. She was stunningly beautiful and very sweet; Shea liked her best out of all the wives.

  “Shea! How are you!” she said in her thick country accent. She had grown up in Nashville.

  “I’m good, Mary Ann, I want you guys to meet my…”

  Shit, his what? He looked over at Elli and she smiled nervously, taking Alex’s hand. “His date, Eleanor Fisher, but I go by Elli,” she said, shaking Alex’s hand. Alex looked surprised but smiled as he returned the gesture.

  “Well, hello, this is my wife Mary Ann.”

  “Hi,” Elli said. Mary Ann smiled, hugging Elli instead of shaking her hand.

  “Hi! How are you! You’re just too beautiful for words! I love your eyes!” Mary Ann was also very loud, but she meant well.

  “Thank you so much. Your maiden name is Ryan right?”

  “It is!”

  “I’ve seen your work, a friend of mine used to shoot for you back in the day”

  “Alli Richardson?”

  “Yup, I went to school with her.”

  “Wow! Small world huh?!”

  “Sure is,” Elli said giving Shea a grin, and off they went, into a very elaborate conversation about this person and that person. Shea and Alex stood for a few minutes before they both didn’t know what the hell the women were talking about, so they excused themselves, going straight for the bar. Alex ordered them both a beer and the men stood drinking them as they made small talk.

  “She’s nice, Shea,” Alex said with a nod towards Elli and Mary Ann.

  “I think so.”

  “She was the photographer from the team pictures we did, right?”

  “Yeah, that’s where I met her.”

  “Okay, I was thinking she was new because I haven’t seen you with anyone in a while.”

  “Changing it up, I guess.”

  “You can say that again. She is not your norm, Shea, not at all. Mary Ann loves her.” Shea smiled, watching Elli talk with her hands, before letting out a gut busting laugh. She was intoxicating; she looked over at him giving him a smile, which he returned.

  “She’s something.”

  “Is it serious?” Shea looked over at Alex. He had known Alex for a very long time. They both joined the Assassins the same year and they both played in the amateur league together, too.

  “I think so, but you know me,” Alex nodded, and then Shea said, “but then again, she’s the only thing I want right now.”

  Alex nodded his head, then grinned up at Shea. “That’s great, man, I hope it works out.”

  “Me and you both.”

  Elli was beyond nervous when she walked into the Union Station. She had been here before with her family for family events, but that didn’t help her nerves. First, she was running late, which made Shea late, but he didn’t seem to mind. Then she was meeting his friends, his people. What if they didn’t like her? Thought she was a fat cow or something?

  But that all changed when she met Mary Ann Welch. Mary Ann was stunning, big blue eyes, almost white blonde hair, with a face to remember, high cheek bones, beautiful lips, she was amazing inside and out. They talked about everything from modeling to photography to kids, when she felt Shea watching her. She loved that he only stared at her, even if it did make her self-conscious.

  “Oh, Jakob is here,” Mary Ann said with a big grin, “I love him dearly, he stayed with me and Alex for a while when he went through his divorce a couple years ago. He’s our kid’s god daddy, we just adore him,” Mary Ann gushed.

  Divorce? Harper didn’t tell her that.

  “He’s bringin’ someone tonight; someone he says is ‘the one’. Bless his heart, but he could fall in love with a rock, but he seems pretty sure of this one.”

  It took everything for Elli not to laugh because she knew for a fact that Harper would never get married, or even consider it, but then again Elli never thought Harper would see the same guy more than once.

  So what the hell did she know?

  “Ooo, she is super pretty!” Elli turned seeing Harper and Jakob make their way towards Mary Ann. Mary Ann wrapped herself around Jakob, kissing his cheek loudly as Harper stood by with the what-the-hell-is-this-chick-doing look. Elli shook her head, but Harper was getting madder by the minute.

  “Harper Allen, Mary Ann Welch, she’s married to Alex, they’re the ones I was telling you about. I’m the kids’ godfather.”

  Harper faced went from mad to understanding in two seconds flat. “Oh, yes, I have heard a lot about y’all,” she said, and then Mary Ann hugged her tightly.

  “I’m sorry, Elli!” Mary Ann said turning around, and grabbing Elli’s hand, “This is Elli Fisher, she’s Shea’s date.”

  “We know each other, Mary Ann. Harper is my best friend and my assistant photographer,” Elli said with a grin as Harper smiled at Mary Ann, basically wrapped around Jakob. He was beaming and Elli had to admit, Harper was just as happy. Maybe things were different for her and Jakob, maybe Jakob was her person. Elli smiled at the thought; she didn’t want anything more than for Harper to find her happily ever after.

  The four talked for a little longer before Jakob walked off, leaving the girls with Mary Ann. Elli could see that Mary Ann was testing Harper out, but Harper didn’t seem to mind. She answered any question Mary Ann had, with not so much as a blush. Harper always amazed Elli; she was so fearless, so beautiful.

  After a while, dinner was called to be served, and luckily the three couples were at a table together, so they were able to keep the conversation going. The food was divine. Elli knew it would be, but gosh, Mary Ann had great taste. The pork loin was spectacular, but the potatoes were the most amazing potatoes she had ever put in her mouth. Elli almost moaned every time she ate one, they were so delicious. She took another bite and saw Shea staring at her from the corner of her eye. She blushed as she covered her mouth, looking over at him.

  “Stop staring at me!” she whispered. He just smiled, leaning closer to her to place a kiss on the side of her mouth.

  “I can’t help it; you’re so hot when you eat.” Elli giggled and everyone looked over at them, smiling.

  “Y’all are too stinkin’ cute! Aren’t they, Alex?” Mary Ann gushed as she drank her wine.

  “Yes, honey, yes,” Alex teased in a fake country accent that had e