“Want to go make some cookies with Grandma?”

“Sure do! Wanna help, Ms. Elli?” Ryan asked as Elli stood up.

“I need to unpack. Plus, I think I still have some presents to wrap for a special little boy,” Elli said before squeezing his nose. She was rewarded with a giggle and a smile from Jenna before they headed to the kitchen.

“Come on, Elli. I’ll bring these bags up for you.” James said.

“Thanks,” Elli said before following behind him, carrying some of the suitcases while Shea followed up behind them. After getting everything settled in the spacious white room, Elli looked out the windows, looking out at the endlessness of the blue ocean. It was so beautiful.

“I never want to leave,” Elli gasped as a sailboat came into view. It was damn near 30 degrees outside, what were those maniacs doing out there?!

“It really is a pretty view from here. I love this room,” Shea said before lying down carefully on the bed. Elli smiled down at him before crawling beside him, cuddling up to his side. She was used to his other side, but this one would have to do.

“Do you feel better?”

“No, Grace pisses me off.”

“Crabby butt,” Elli teased as she intertwined their fingers, “First you blow up on me, then the car guy, and now your sister. Who’s next?”

“Probably my mom, she’ll start smothering me.”

“Temper, temper.”

Shea gave her a cheeky grin, kissing her nose, “That’s why I play hockey, to let my frustration out.”

“It’s been three days, Shea,” she said.

“Hey, I was supposed to play tonight.”

“Ah, true.”

Elli decided to let it go; she didn’t want to argue with him, she wanted to cuddle. He ran his hand up her back, than back down, into the inside of her jeans. He looked down at her with half lidded eyes as he splayed his fingers along her ass. Her eyes met his, before shaking her head.

“Shea Adler, remove your hand from my ass.”

He looked stricken as he took his hand out her pants, “I never thought I would hear you say that.”

Elli smiled as she rolled off the bed, “Believe me, I never thought I’d say it.”

Elli threw herself onto the floor, pulling out the stuff she bought from Gucci to hang up. She didn’t know how long she was going to last not having sex with her man. All she knew was that it was going to be a long six weeks.

That was for sure.

Elli was in the middle of hanging all her new clothes when Mark came into the room. Shea was sleeping since he had just taken his afternoon dose of pain meds and Elli prayed that when he woke up he would be in a better mood.

“Hey Elli,” Mark said as he leaned into the door, “Get dressed in something warm, I’m taking you and James out on the boat.”

“The boat?” Elli asked, “It’s freezing out.”

“No big deal. Come on, let’s go fishing.”

“People do that in the winter?”

“Sure. Come on, let’s go before Shea wakes up.”

Mark turned and Elli couldn’t help but grin. Mark just assumed she was going, which she was, but still. Damn Adler men, so damned headstrong. Elli got up, looking for some warm clothes. After putting on a pair of jeans, with a grey sweater, and her black cowboy boots, she threw her hair up in the fuzzy grey hat she bought at Gucci. Before leaving, Elli went over to the bed, placing a light kiss on Shea’s head. Elli shut the door quietly, and headed downstairs.

“Ready, Elli?” Mark asked once Elli hopped off the last step.

“Sure am,” Elli said with a grin.

“Alright, off we go.”

Elli had been on a lot of boats in her time, but she had to admit, Mark Adler’s boat was pretty. Really pretty. It was a massive 40 foot boat, it had a generous cockpit, with a forward and aft sun lounges. It had a large walk around, along with a swimming station and the operating spot. That was where Mark stood in his captain gear, which consisted of a captain’s hat and Shea’s jersey with the ‘C’ on the breast.

Mark sure was a sight to see.

Elli sat with a beer in one hand and a large fishing pole in the other. She looked out at the large blue ocean and let out a lengthy sigh. Spending the afternoon with James and Mark turned out to be one of the best afternoons of her life.

They talked about everything. It was as if Mark and James wanted to know everything about Elli, and she wanted to know everything about them. She loved learning about Shea’s family, these were his people. When the subject of hockey came up, they talked for hours, only stopping when Mark or James would get a bite and reel one in.

Elli learned quickly that ocean fishing was way different than river or lake fishing. These fish were big, massive even. After every catch, they would take a picture of them holding their prized catch. Elli loved how much Mark loved James, it still blew her mind the way he treated James like a son. It was so sweet, really amazing. Mark treated Elli the same way, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, giving her big grins, pinching her cheeks when she would say something funny, and Elli swore an hour didn’t go by without him saying, ‘You are amazing, Elli, anyone ever tell you that?’.

Coming to Boston was turning out to be a good idea. Not only was she with Shea, but she got to know his family better. Yes, her family was livid with her, but hey, she was with someone now. Her life didn’t revolve around them anymore. It was about her and Shea now. The thought that she and Shea were about to embark on a new stage in their relationship filled Elli with such warmth that it was hard not to grin.