Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)(155)

“Yes, sir,” Shea said, focusing on Michael and not the two women that were looking at him as if he was a bum off the street while they whispered something to each other.

“I like you Shea, a lot. You’re a good man and my Eleanor has never been so happy until you came along, so my answer is yes. Absolutely, you have my blessing.”

A relieved sigh left Shea’s mouth, as he grinned, “Thank you so much. I haven’t asked her or anything. I haven’t even bought the ring.”

“Oh! Well you should take Victoria with you, Shea!” Olivia gushed coming towards Michael’s chair, leaning against him, “Victoria knows what Elli likes, and plus what Justin had gotten her, so you don’t pick anything like it since Elli hated that ring.”

Victoria nodded, coming up beside Shea, “Yeah, Shea, I’m great at shopping and I know what my baby sister likes.”

“Um, well.”

Shea kind of wanted to go by himself and get the ring. He had planned on asking Elli the day they signed for the house. They were supposed to sign the papers on Valentines’ Day, him and Elli had laughed saying that would be their gift to each other, but Shea wanted to ask her when they went back to the house after signing the papers. Grace said she would have the living room filled with candles, and Jill had already agreed to give Grace the key early so she could go do it for him.

What he didn’t plan on was going shopping with Victoria for Elli’s ring, but the way Olivia and Victoria were looking at him before he thought he might need too, just to make sure things were okay between them all.

“It will be fun!” Victoria said again, while Olivia nodded.

“Be good for y’all to get to know each other, too, since you and Eleanor have been spending a lot of time with Noah and Liam,” Michael said. Shea nodded. He and Elli had been over at her brothers’ house a lot lately, but that was to see the kids.

“It will be your decision, Shea, I’ll just suggest what I think Elli would like,” Victoria added.

“Yeah, that would be fine.” Shea said, even though he felt like it was the worst idea ever.

“Great!” Olivia and Victoria gushed, with big grins. Evil grins, Shea noticed, yeah there would be no trusting those two.

“Good,” Michael said, with a nod, standing up and pulling Shea into a back slapping hug, when he pulled back, Shea saw tears in his eyes, and Shea actually became nervous again. What if he changed his mind? “Only one thing left to do, my boy,”

“Which would be?” Shea asked.

“Go ask Bryan, you know Eleanor would want his approval, too.”

Fuck.





Elli didn’t think she could be any happier, not only was she getting the house of her dreams in five days time, but she was doing so much more promotion work with the Assassins. She was working with Melody Yates again, this time on a wine charity event at the arena. Elli was really excited about the event, since she would also be working with her good friend, Fallon. Fallon’s company needed shots of the wine being consumed and just general pictures of all the wine bottles. Elli couldn’t wait, it was going to be a great party.

After working all morning on the shots she needed, the people Elli had to take pictures of, Elli walked out towards the back entrance of the arena.

A small flutter went through her as she walked towards the back door, it was the same door she went through the day she met Shea. That day would forever hold the most amazing memory of her life. Who would have known that that was the day she was gonna find the man of her dreams, the same man she would love, and being moving into the house of her dreams with. It was almost unbelievable how happy Elli was.

Elli was about to reach the door, the heels of her boots clicking against concrete floor, when the door opened and the same man she had been thinking about came through it. He wasn’t looking and ran right into her, catching her before she fell over.

“Crap, I’m so-,” when Shea saw it was her, he grinned, “I am not sorry I ran into you, Ms. Fisher,” he said before he kissed her lavishly. Elli’s heart swelled at the feeling of it. God, she loved him.

“Well, that’s one hell of a hello, what are you doing here?”

“I have a meeting with Bryan,” he said as he let her go, still holding her hand in his. His eyes were the brightest blue, his smile almost match the brightness of his eyes, he was happy about something.

“What about?”

“Business crap. I’ll see you for dinner?”

“Yeah, I’m on my way to the studio.” He nodded, kissing her cheek before moving around her.

“Okay, baby, I’ll call you, love you.”

“Love you, too,” she said as she watched him walk away. He was up to something and Elli hated not knowing what. She would find out when she got home later, sexual incentives always worked on Shea.

Always, she thought with a grin.





When Elli arrived at the studio, things were crazy.

They had a full waiting room and only two photographers, Harper included. They had been so busy the past couple weeks, which had been wonderful since Shea was traveling a lot. It was sad to say, but Elli actually couldn’t wait for hockey to be over. She and Shea had discussed going somewhere tropical as a vacation when the season was over. Shea had said he was gonna take the cup with them, but Elli was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to do that.