Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)(71)

“And the sisters-in-law are nice, but stupid for dealing and breeding with your brothers,” he said with a grin as they climb the stairs.

“I love when you listen.” He laughed as they walked up to the door. Elli took a deep breath before opening the wide door. He didn’t know how she got it open it was damn huge but she did, and he walked in behind her. Shea look up as a very pump white lady came through a door, a tray full of glasses.

“Ms. Eleanor! Look at you!”

“Mrs. Harris!” Elli gushed, running over to the older lady, kissing her plump cheek, “I saw Mr. Harris, he said you ain’t feedin' him.”

“Now ain’t he a lie. I feed that man, don’t you listen Eleanor, he just wants you to fuss over him.”

Holy crap, did he come to Clarksville or back in the day to Tara from “Gone with the Wind?”

“You know I will, too!” Elli gushed, kissing her again.

“I tell you what, Ms. Eleanor, you havin' that boyfriend I’ve heard about is doing wonders, you look fantastic.”

Shea had to smile at that. He like knowing that he was the reason Elli look fantastic.

“Why, thank you. Since you brought him up, Shea, this is Ms. Harris, she was my nanny.” Shea smile, waving awkwardly since it wasn’t like he could shake her hand, they were full with the tray.

“My, my, Ms. Eleanor, he’s a looker.” Elli grinned back at Shea, winking at him.

“Damn right about that one.” Elli turned from Ms. Harris coming towards Shea as Ms. Harris laughed and started from another door. Elli took his hand in hers, and then looked up at him nervously. The girl that was just talking to Ms. Harris was gone, and back was the nervous Elli.

“Okay, you have met two people out of three that will be the nicest to me, I’m warning you, Shea, it’s not gonna get better than that.”

“Elli, baby, come on.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn ya”. She turned, leading him through two more rooms that held family pictures of the grandkids. When Shea spotted some of Elli, he stopped.

“Hold on,” he said as he looked up at what look like a collage of her. There were her school pictures along with other candid shoots. The best one was one of her on a stage, her arms above her head as she sung something; she looked so happy it was breath taking. “What was this?”

“Um, a school thing I did when I was seventeen.”

“So you were in musicals?”

“I was.”

“Why did you stop?”

“I gained all that weight.”

“Oh,” was all he got out before Elli was pulling him along. Elli stopped in front of a huge white door; since the room was red; it stuck out like a sore thumb. She took a deep breath before pushing the door open. The room was full of chatter, everyone talking at once not paying attention that they had just walked in. Shea took in everyone. He could tell they were Elli’s family; all of them, except for the two blondes, had the same features Elli did, except they were all bone skinny. With all of them dressed so classy, it was intimidating and Shea was so glad he wore his suit.

The oldest woman in the room, even though she didn’t look old enough to have four kids, or even six grandchildren, turned and looked at them. She rose slowly as everyone else’s’ eyes turn to look at him and Elli. Everyone had different reactions. The two blondes took in a deep breath while Ell’s brother’s mouths dropped, and Elli’s sister had an evil look on her face, while her mother just stared at them. Elli’s father stood up, the happiest out the bunch, and came towards them with a grin on his face.

“Elli bug, darlin’, aren’t you looking too beautiful for words.” he took Elli’s hands in his, kissing each of them before kissing the side of her mouth. Elli was beaming as she turned to look up at Shea.

“Daddy, this is Shea Adler, Shea, my daddy, Michael Fisher.”

“Nice to meet you, sir,” he said taking Michael’s hand in his, he had a good grip.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things, Shea, it’s good to finally meet you. I’ve seen you play, and I’ve been impressed with you since day one.”

“Thank you,” Shea said with a nod as Michael turned since the older woman came up beside him.

“Shea, this is my mother, Olivia Fisher, mother, this is Shea Adler.”

Elli being so proper was messing with Shea’s head, but watching her mom look him over was worst. She took his hand, shaking softly as she looked him from head to toe.

“So you’re Shea Adler,” she stated, not asked.

“I am.”

“And you’re dating my daughter, Eleanor?”

“Mother,” Elli said with a bit of warning in her voice, Shea looked at Elli, a grin on his face.

“Yes, I am, for almost a month and a half now. Right Elli?”

Elli smiled up at him, “Right.”

“Humph, have you met my daughter Victoria?”

Olivia moved out of the way as the leggy brunette came over to them. She was walking with a little more sway then needed. She was all legs, small breasts, and nothing but skin and bones. She had the same features as Elli, but her features were sharp while Elli’s were soft.

“How do you do?” Victoria basically cooed as she took his hand in hers. “Wow, you have big hands.” Shea could feel Elli getting mad beside him.