Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)(144)

“You guys are here!” Jenna gushed, clapping her hands together, “Mark, James, come help with their bags, Shea’s arm could fall off, you know.”

Shea rolled his eyes, and Elli just smiled, oh yeah, she was gonna have a hoot of a time.





Chapter 28


After being greeted with hugs from Mark and Jenna, and kisses from Ryan, Elli sat on the bottom step with Ryan, admiring the beauty of the white hardwood floors, Elli had always loved the look of them, thought they looked classic. She made a mental note to make sure to see if houses in Nashville had them, and if not if she could get them. As she admired the rest of the house Shea argued with Grace. Ever since he got hurt, he’s had been extremely argumentative, and it was getting on Elli’s nerves, not that Elli could really say anything. She cussed him out for calling her “sunshine” for goodness sakes.

When Shea had asked which room was his and Elli’s, Elli knew things were about to blow by the worried look that crossed Jenna’s face. When she said that they would be sharing a room with Ryan and Amelia, Shea flipped. Elli didn’t care, it wasn’t like they would be having sex, since Elli was convinced he would break, but apparently he was irate about it.

“Grace put the kids in your room, before they have to see Unky Shea’s magic stick!”

“SHEA RYAN!” Jenna complained.

“Oh, please!” Grace said with a roll of her eyes. “Like it’s magical!”

“Oh, I can show you!” Shea said before sticking his tongue out at Grace like they were nine years old, while she made a crude hand motion with her hand. Elli guessed she was trying to say Shea’s stuff was limp.

Little does she know.

“Unky Shea knows magic!?” Ryan exclaimed beside a beat red Elli.

“No, honey, he doesn’t.” Elli basically groaned.

“He said he has a magic stick, though!”

“I know, ignore him,” Elli said, patting the young child’s hands.

“Shea, you guys can’t even do it, so why do you need a room to yourself?!” Grace objected, but that seemed to make Shea madder.

“Grace Caroline!” Jenna shrieked.

“Now, Grace, come on!” Mark added, “Don’t rub that in your brother’s face.”

“Yes, we can!” Shea countered. Ryan looked up at Elli.

“Do what?” The whole family turned to look at Ryan, and then they looked at Elli, waiting to see what she would say. All it did was make her to want to climb into a hole.

“Color honey, you know since Unky’s arm is hurt,” Ellis said as she turned even redder, could she be any more embarrassed?

“Oh yeah, why does he think he can do it then?” Ryan asked.

Elli shrugged her shoulders, “He probably expects me to do everything.”

Ryan made an “o” face as everyone snickered, “You have to do all the coloring? That’s not fair!”

“Who you telling?”

Ryan gave her a toothy grin, while everyone else tried not to laugh.

“I’m not sleeping in a room with my niece, nephew, and girlfriend, no way. I didn’t make those kids, you did.”

“You weren’t supposed to be here,” Grace countered back.

“Well I am here now. Put the kids in the living room, or with mom and dad.”

“Hey now, some of us can still color!” Mark said. Jenna smacked him on his chest while Grace and Shea both yelled, “Ew.”

“Really, Mark?” Jenna asked, he answered her by wiggling his eye brows, causing Grace and Shea to again, yell “Ew!”

James and Elli, the normal ones she thought, both laughed.

“Grace, the kids can sleep in the loft upstairs. Doesn’t the couch still turn into a bed, Jenna?” James asked Jenna.

“Yes, thank God you’re in this family, James, you’re the only man with some sense.”

“Hey!” Shea and Mark complained, as Jenna waved them off, gathering Ryan up in her arms.

“Want to go make some cookies with Grandma?”

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

“I gotta 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 smiled 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 them maniacs doing out there!

“It really is a pretty view from here. I love this room,” Shea said before lying carefully down 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 the other 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?”