Taking Shots (Assassins) Read online

  “So, tell me this, how does a typical Elli Fisher day go?” She smiled as she took another drink of water.

  “Well, I wake up early. If I’m not too tired, I go for a run before letting my pup out, then I eat some breakfast, go to work, then go to work again, I’m really boring, I swear,” she said with a laugh. “You’re a pro hockey player, nothing I do would impress you.” He smiled as he looked down at his food.

  “Elli, anything you do impresses me. You are amazing.” She blinked a few times before looking down at her food. He needed to remember that she was shy and he couldn’t be so forward with her, but it was so hard. Plus, it was as if he control what he was saying when she was around. Shea took his hat off, running his hand through his hair, and then placed it back on his head.

  “Tell me what the typical day of Shea Adler is,” she said. He looked over at her. She was tearing apart a piece of bread. He smiled.

  “I run in the morning, too, maybe we could do that together one time,” he suggested. She laughed out loud.

  “Please, you would smoke me!”

  “I really don’t run that fast. I hate running.”

  “You’re in shape, Shea. I am not.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “No, really. I’m not. Anyways, go on with your day.”

  He paused, giving her a look before saying, “Running in the morning, practice in the mid morning, then, lately, lunch with a beautiful girl.” She grinned at him before she threw a piece of bread at him.

  “Stop, you’re making me blush!” He smiled, and continued.

  “Then I usually go home, sleep a little, before doing some more team stuff. Right now I’m taking it easy, since the season is about to start and I’ll be busy all the time.”

  “Yeah,” she said with a nod, “I have a question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Why do you wear glasses when you’re not on the ice? Do you hate your contacts that much?”

  “No, it’s just my glasses are easy, really, I’m just lazy.” She giggled as she laid back on the blanket. There was a nice breeze and the sun was shining. It was a nice late summer day. “I also hate putting my finger in my eye. I have big hands,” he said holding them up, she smiled.

  “I know, when you held my hand over here, yours swallowed mine.” Shea smiled as he reached over and took her hand in his.

  “I think it’s a nice fit,” he said, looking at their hands. She looked down, then back at him.

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “I’m always right.” She giggled again, rolling her eyes.

  “Male ego…” He smiled, as she giggled some more. He loved her giggle, her smile, shit, her everything. “I got another question.”

  “Ask away.”

  “Did you always want so many tattoos?” she asked looking at his arms. He looked down at his arms. He had gotten both arms done over the last eight years. He added things that meant something to him, and he was about done. He had a little room on his left arm. But for the most part, everything was full.

  “Yeah, I started them about eight years ago. What, you don’t like them?’

  “No, I do, I just never knew you had ‘em, your jersey covers your arms. And when I saw pictures of you online, you are always wearing your blazer jacket.”

  “Yeah, the league doesn’t like them much.”

  “Oh.”

  “I don’t care, though. I love them, they are a story, telling of my life. My whole family has something on my arm.”

  “Really? Where’s Grace?”

  “Right here,” he pointed to two stick figures that stood with their arms around each other.

  “Stick figures?” He smiled.

  “She likes it; she has the same one on her hip.”

  “Oh, cool,” she made a little face, and he laughed as he pointed to other things. His mom and dad’s part, which were their names. A hockey stick with a 6 above it, the date he was drafted, then the dates Ryan and Amelia were born. Then there was a bunch of other crap that didn’t matter, but looked cool.

  “Do you have any tattoos?”

  “I do, but I can’t show you cause I’m wearing a dress, remind me the next time I’m wearing jeans”

  “What is it?”

  “You’ll see,” she said with a sneaky smile. He smiled back, turning onto his stomach, holding her hand in both his. They stayed like that for a long time, Shea messing with her fingers as they talk about everything. Elli’s time in college, along with his, their families, but she didn’t say much about her parents or brothers or sister, it was mainly about the kids. They were discussing the upcoming season when her phone rang. She dug into her purse until she found it.

  “I’m sorry, I gotta answer this,” she said as she pushed talk. “Hey Harp, everything okay?” He watched as she listened and nodded at whatever the person was saying. “Alright, I’ll be back over there in a few. Go ahead and get started. Thanks babe,” she hung up and smiled. “My assistant and best friend, Harper”

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, one of our clients needed some shots of their daughter for the Miss Tennessee Pageant. She hadn’t called to make an appointment and called Harper for help, so Harper is down at the studio, getting started. I’ll come in and look at the shots. If there’s anything else I can think of to do, we’ll do it”

  “Do you need to go?”

  “In a few.”

  “Okay,” he said, and then he smiled to his self as she put her hand back in his.

  “So I think your friend is dating my friend,” Elli said.

  “Huh? Who?”

  “Jakob Titov.”

  “Um, no, Jakob isn’t dating anyone.” She gave him a look, as if she was saying ‘you’re being difficult’.

  “Okay, he is screwing my best friend. Well Harper is screwing him, ah, whatever.” Shea smiled.

  “Harper is a very complex woman that is driving my best friend mad.”

  “I know. I don’t understand it, she usually only messes with them once, but I’ve been hearing a lot about Jakob and that’s not on the ice, but rather in the bed.”

  “He’s a good guy, but he’s looking for the one.”

  “Well, Harper is not the one. Tell him to watch it, she is a heart breaker.”

  “Wonderful. Tell her to dump him.”

  “She tried, but he keeps coming back, and I don’t know. I’m not telling you what she says!” Elli blushed as she covered her face. When she peeked at him, he smiled.

  “Let’s leave them to do what they need to do.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” she said with a grin, “Can I ask you something else?”

  “Sure.”

  “I feel like this has been questions and answers.”

  “That’s how dates go, we are learning about each other.”

  “True, but this is a silly question…what are you wearing to our date tomorrow?” Shea had never had a girl ask him that. He just looked at her surprised as she bit her lip. Then he laughed out loud, causing her to giggle uncontrollably. “I told you it was a dumb question!”

  “It’s not! I just never had a girl ask me that.”

  “I just don’t know if I should dress dressy or casual or dressy casual. I’m freaking out!” She threw her hands over her mouth, her cheeks so red that he was pretty sure he felt the heat from them. He sat up, crossing his legs so he could sit in front of her. He took her hands off her mouth, kissing her palms before kissing her lips sweetly. He brought his hands up, cupping her face gently.

  “You don’t need to freak out about me, I’m easy going.” She just nodded, looking dazed. He loved that look on her. “I’m probably going to be dressy since we are going to PF Changs.”

  “Okay,” she almost whispered.

  “Now, come here, give me some more of them kisses.” She bit her lip before he covered her mouth with him.

  If everyday had Elli’s kisses in them, his life would be complete.

  When Shea dropped Elli off at the