Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)(17)

“Oh, Jesus, what do you need?”

“A favor.”

“Okay?”

“Bradley Johnson, the guy who sells me my liquor,”

“Yeah.”

“He is being a douche and trying to raise my prices. Can you sign me a stick so I can try to schmooze him into not doing it?”

“Sure, when do you need it by?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Done.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Didn’t you have your date with Ms. Fisher today?”

“I did.”

“And?”

“What?”

“How was it!” she yelled. He smiled.

“Great, she’s amazing, Grace. I don’t know how someone so beautiful could be so amazing and not taken. She’s so understanding. A bunch of fans interrupted our lunch and she didn’t care, she just smiled and ate as I did my thing.”

“You didn’t wear a hat? God, you’re dumb. She’s sweet, but you’re dumb.”

“I did! But she pulled it off, saying she couldn’t see my eyes.”

“Awww!! How sweet! I think she likes you.”

“I don’t know. I think so too, but she acts weird sometimes, like she doesn’t know why I’m calling or when I call her beautiful, she blushes so hard, and looks away. She’s just so shy. I’m not used to it.”

“Shea, you have to remember, she’s not like these gold digging hos you’ve dated in the past. She’s a real woman.”

Shea thought that over for a moment. Elli was like no one he had ever been with; maybe that’s why he couldn’t get his mind off her.

“Do you think that’s why I think of her all the time?”

“No, I think it’s because she’s amazing, and you’ve finally found your match. Now I gotta go. Amelia is driving me nuts. Thanks for the stick bro, love you.”

“Kiss them for me. Love you too.”

Shea hung up his phone and sat there for a moment. Met his match? What the hell did that mean? That Elli was his soul mate or something? He hated when Grace did that, say something then hang up. It drove him crazy. His phone dinged and he looked down seeing a text message from Elli.

Well, if I’m all you think about then…….yes. ?

A slow grin went over Shea’s face. His match? Yup, he was starting to think so too.





Chapter 5


After sending what Elli thought was a very bold text message to Shea, they talked all night. She felt bad for making him wait for her responses, but he told her he didn’t mind, he knew she had to work. Elli never thought she could be bold enough to say the stuff she had said in that text message, but she was pretty damn sure if they were face to face, she would turn beat red and run. It had been so long since she had been with anyone. Justin had messed her up pretty bad and she thought she would be alone for forever. But now with Shea, maybe something could happen.

But just in case it didn’t, she wasn’t letting her heart get involved. Shea might come to his senses and not want anything to do with her and that would devastate her. So she would keep her heart on lock down. Yup, that was the plan.



Elli stood at the front the next day, unloading a box of photos when the doorbell sounded; she looked up saying her regular greeting as Shea came in, a smile on his face.

“Hey there, beautiful.” She smiled and thanked God she was dressed cute today. She was wearing one of her 50s style dress, in her favorite color, green.

“Hey,” she grinned as he leaned across the desk to kiss her softly on the lips, taking her breath away. “What brings you by?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, had to see you. These texts get old, you know?”

“Yeah,” she grinned as she continued unloading. It was so hard to keep your heart on lock down when a man was saying such sweet, amazing things.

“So, have you eaten?”

“Not yet, have you?”

“Nope, that’s why I’m here, came to spring ya.” Elli smiled up at him.

“What if I had things going on?”

“I was taking my chances. Seeing you would have been enough, but eating with you would make my day.”

“I actually got most of the afternoon open. You’re lucky,” she said with a wink.

“Yes, I am. Come on, let’s go.” She bit her lip and looked up at him. He was looking delectable in some white shorts, with a black shirt and that same matching hat. His glasses were in place and his grin was unstoppable.

“Let me grab my purse. I’ll be right out,” she said as she turned to go to the back office. She grabbed her purse, and then hit the alarm system as she walked out. Shea was waiting at the door, the same grin on his face as she walked towards him. It was hard to believe that he was still standing there, that this all wasn’t a dream, but it wasn’t because she felt the warmth of his hand when he took her hand in his, smiling down at her.

“I got us subs from Jimmy Johns, figured we could have a picnic.”

Yup, keeping her heart on lock down was gonna be real hard.





Elli looked really pretty today, usually he thought she was hot, beautiful, but today she was pretty. Like classy, something straight out of a 50s show. Her hair was up in a bun with a great big white flower in it. He was starting to think she had the sickest style ever, because the girl had his eyes bugging out of his head every time he saw here. As they sat in the park, eating their subs and talking about the customers Elli had had that morning, all he could do was think how lucky he was to be sitting with her.