Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)(145)

“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 emphasized.

“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 out 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 gonna last not having sex with her man. It was gonna be a long six weeks, that’s 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. 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 all, let’s go fishing.”

“People do that in the winter?”

“Sure, come on lets 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 head strong. 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, 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 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. Elli loved how much Mark loved James, it still blew her mind the way he treated James like a son. It was sweet, amazing really. 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 a hour didn’t go by without him say, ‘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 her 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.

Shea was the kind of man one considered spending the rest of their life with. Elli could see her and Shea together for the rest of her life, having kids with greenish blue eyes, and long dark hair. Hopefully bone straight like Shea’s and not the fuzzy mess she had. Shea would make a great dad; he loved Amelia and Ryan like they were his. He was a good man, the kind of man that held her when she cried, bathed her when she was sick, and planned the most amazing parties, just for her.

He was a keeper.

The more Elli thought about it, the more she thought that if he did leave, get traded, or whatever, she would go. She would have to. After feeling like she almost lost him, when he was laying face down on the ice, she felt she would do anything for him, go anywhere. Life without Shea wasn’t even possible, she couldn’t even fathom it.

She loved him.

Elli stood slowly, right as her reel started going nuts.

“Elli, babe! You got something!” Mark yelled, but Elli wasn’t listening.

She loved Shea.

She loved him so much it hurt her chest.

No, wait, that was the pole hitting against her chest.

“Shit!” Elli yelled, dropping her beer and taking the pole in her hands. Whatever was on the end of the line was huge and strong. When the massive fish flung itself out the water, Elli let out a girlie scream, causing Mark and James to laugh.