Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)(19)

“I’m sorry, I gotta answer this,” she said as she pushed talk. “Hey Harp, everything okay?” He watched as she listened and nodded at whatever the person was saying. “Alright, I’ll be back over there in a few. Go ahead and get started. Thanks babe,” she hung up and smiled. “My assistant and best friend, Harper”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, one of our clients needed some shots of their daughter for the Miss Tennessee Pageant. She hadn’t called to make an appointment and called Harper for help, so Harper is down at the studio, getting started. I’ll come in and look at the shots. If there’s anything else I can think of to do, we’ll do it”

“Do you need to go?”

“In a few.”

“Okay,” he said, and then he smiled to his self as she put her hand back in his.

“So I think your friend is dating my friend,” Elli said.

“Huh? Who?”

“Jakob Titov.”

“Um, no, Jakob isn’t dating anyone.” She gave him a look, as if she was saying ‘you’re being difficult’.

“Okay, he is screwing my best friend. Well Harper is screwing him, ah, whatever.” Shea smiled.

“Harper is a very complex woman that is driving my best friend mad.”

“I know. I don’t understand it, she usually only messes with them once, but I’ve been hearing a lot about Jakob and that’s not on the ice, but rather in the bed.”

“He’s a good guy, but he’s looking for the one.”

“Well, Harper is not the one. Tell him to watch it, she is a heart breaker.”

“Wonderful. Tell her to dump him.”

“She tried, but he keeps coming back, and I don’t know. I’m not telling you what she says!” Elli blushed as she covered her face. When she peeked at him, he smiled.

“Let’s leave them to do what they need to do.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she said with a grin, “Can I ask you something else?”

“Sure.”

“I feel like this has been questions and answers.”

“That’s how dates go, we are learning about each other.”

“True, but this is a silly question…what are you wearing to our date tomorrow?” Shea had never had a girl ask him that. He just looked at her surprised as she bit her lip. Then he laughed out loud, causing her to giggle uncontrollably. “I told you it was a dumb question!”

“It’s not! I just never had a girl ask me that.”

“I just don’t know if I should dress dressy or casual or dressy casual. I’m freaking out!” She threw her hands over her mouth, her cheeks so red that he was pretty sure he felt the heat from them. He sat up, crossing his legs so he could sit in front of her. He took her hands off her mouth, kissing her palms before kissing her lips sweetly. He brought his hands up, cupping her face gently.

“You don’t need to freak out about me, I’m easy going.” She just nodded, looking dazed. He loved that look on her. “I’m probably going to be dressy since we are going to PF Changs.”

“Okay,” she almost whispered.

“Now, come here, give me some more of them kisses.” She bit her lip before he covered her mouth with him.

If everyday had Elli’s kisses in them, his life would be complete.





When Shea dropped Elli off at the studio, they kissed goodbye in the truck since she had clients inside. She didn’t want to leave, but had to and promised to call him later. When she went in, Harper was sitting at the computer with Liz and her daughter, Aslynn.

“Hello, all!” Elli gushed as she hugged Liz, then Aslynn. Harper looked at her with a ‘what the hell’ look, as Liz gushed on how good Elli looked.

“My goodness, has your momma seen you lately? You’re glowing!”

“Oh, thank you, Liz”

“You really are, Ms. Elli,” Aslynn added. Elli blushed as Harper giggled.

“She’s seeing someone, ain’t you El?” Elli’s smiled dropped, why would she say that? Especially in front of Liz Martin! Her momma’s every-other-day-best-friend!

“Harper!” Elli said with a glare. As soon as Harper realized what she did, she looked towards the computer.

“Oh really! How awesome! Who is he? Please say he is better than that dumb ass Justin you were dating!”

Oh, yeah, he is.

“You know Elli, Justin is dating my cousin Annalisa. She is so ugly! I don’t know why he left you.”

“I left him,” Elli said, but it didn’t matter because on went Liz and Aslynn about dumb ass Justin. Gossip is what make these Southern states run. “How do the pictures look?”

“Perfect!” Aslynn gushed. She was so pretty. Bright blonde hair, big breasts, big blue eyes, she was gorgeous, and young at only seventeen.

“Wonderful. If y’all would excuse me, I got some paperwork to tend to.”





Harper came into the office after Liz and Aslynn had left. She sat down in front of Elli with a sheepish look on her face. Elli knew Harper thought she was mad, but she wasn’t. Harper sat down, pulling her knees up to under her chin, and looked over at Elli.

“Are you mad at me?”