Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)(67)

“I agree.”

“But I’m still not ready to have sex.” His smiled stayed on his face as he nodded.

“That’s fine, baby.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I-” he stopped, then closed his eyes before dropping his head to her chest taking a deep breath, when he brought his head back up to look down at her, he looked nervous. “I’m sure.”

For some reason, Elli didn’t think that was what he was gonna say.



As Shea watched Elli leave Monday morning for work, he still couldn’t believe he'd almost told her he loved her. He had missed her all day Saturday, and then after their dinner and just being with her, he really couldn’t blame himself for wanting to tell her, but he couldn’t. Shea was not scared of much, but the thought of Elli rejecting his love or telling him that she didn’t love him. Hell, he was pretty sure it would crush him. So he might as well push them feelings way down, wait it out, wait for her to say it.

Like always when things were bothering him, after showering and cleaning up some from the movie day they had had yesterday, he headed over to Grace’s. It was as if she knew he was coming because she was laying out a big breakfast when he walked in. Grace smiled when she saw him as she laid Amelia’s plate down.

“Hey, how’s your collarbone? I saw that hit,” she said, kissing his cheek before going around him to lay Ryan’s plate down.

“It's good, sorry I didn’t call this weekend.”

“Ah, no big deal, I know how it is when someone new comes along and gets all your time. I did it to you with James.”

“You did,” Shea agreed sitting down next to Ryan. Ryan was shoveling food in his mouth, not even paying attention to Shea. “What’s up with him?”

“He’s mad at me because I won’t let him play hockey with the big kids in the street.”

“I am better than they are!” Ryan yelled, and Grace cut him a look that shut him up quickly. It even scared Shea a little.

“I don’t care, now eat your food and return to your room.” Grace stomped off towards the kitchen, leaving Shea with the kids.

“Why do you have to go back to your room?”

“I said I wanted to come live with you.”

“Man, Ryan! Don’t bring me in this!” Ryan gave Shea a goofy smile before finishing his food right as Grace came back to the table. He excused himself and ran off to his room.

“Sorry I’m cooler than you,” Shea teased when he heard Ryan’s door shut.

“Shut the hell up,” Grace basically growled as she fed Amelia some more eggs. Shea chuckled. “So what brings you by?”

“Just wanted to see you before I head to the arena for practice. You guys coming to the game tomorrow?”

“We are. Ryan doesn’t miss home games.”

“So he’ll be off grounding tomorrow?”

“Probably.”

“Cool.”

“So are you sure your shoulder is okay?”

“Yeah, no big deal, just a deep cut.”

“Good. I was worried when I saw it.”

“I’m fine, sis.” Grace gave him a big smile and started eating herself. “James at work?”

“Yup, he left early.”

“Thought so.”

“How’s Elli?”

“Fine, she spent the weekend with me. I think she might come back tonight, I’m not sure.”

“That’s good, so everything’s solid?”

“Yeah,” he said with a shy grin, “I almost told her I loved her the other night.”

Grace dropped her fork and shook her head, “It blows my mind, Shea. I mean you guys together is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but first you drop the girlfriend bomb on me, and then I see you guys together and it’s so surreal, the sparks fly when your near each other.”

“I love her.”

“Good, I want you to Shea. I love her too, but it’s only been a month, she’s skittish, let it be for a little bit.”

Shea thought for a moment, “You don’t think she loves me?”

Grace shrugged her shoulder, moving around her eggs, “I don’t know, she likes you a lot that’s for damn sure, but I don’t share a connection with her the way I do with you, so I don’t know, bro.”

“Sometimes I think she does, but I don’t know if its wishful thinking.”

“Just wait, don’t tell her yet.”

“Okay,” he said before he started eating. They ate in silence before he looked up at her and said “I’m meeting her family the week before the first road trip.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Good, will she meet mom and dad when they come in for the first home came in November?”

“She said she will as long as we’re still together.”

Grace made a face, looking up at him, “Why wouldn’t you guys be together?”

“She convinced that when I meet her family, I’ll dump her.”

“Oh, no, are they scary?” Shea laughed, while she grinned.

“She thinks so.”

Grace nodded before picking up their plates and Amelia’s to take them over to the sink, “Are you nervous about meeting them?”