by Toni Aleo
“For sure, if I ever figure out how to use my email.” She laughed as he picked up his blanket and their trash. “Maybe you could teach me,” he said as she stood straighter, he had that sexy smirk on his face, the one that made her girlie parts scream.
Bad girlie parts!
“Sure,” she said breathlessly.
“Cool, where did you park?”
“Over by the Sportsplex.”
“Awesome, me too. We can walk together.”
She smiled and they started walking in silence. Not weird silence but comfortable silence. How she had became so comfortable with him so quickly was beyond her, but she would never let him know. He probably thought they were becoming friends. She was someone to teach him things, since he obviously was an idiot with technology.
She was not girlfriend material.
Duh.
When Elli saw her truck, her heart dropped to her stomach. This was the end. No telling if he would ever have contact with her. He would be nice, of course. The occasional hello if they ever ran into each other. But this was the end of probably one of the best afternoons of her life.
“Where’s your car?” he asked as she started towards her truck.
“My truck is right here,” Elli said, pointing to her truck. Like always when guys saw her truck, their eyes got big, their mouth dropped open some, and they gave her the ‘you gotta be kidding me’ look. She expected it, liked it even.
“That’s your truck?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I expected you to drive something small, like a Beetle.”
“Why, cause I’m a girl?!”
“No, well, maybe…that’s a big damn truck!” Elli ran her hand lovingly down the side of her baby. Along with her house, it was one of her favorite things.
“It is big, but I like big things if you haven’t noticed: my dog, my truck-“
“Maybe you’re man?” Elli choked on the words that were trying to leave her mouth as her face went deep red in a matter of seconds, he laughed. “Sorry, didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“I’m not embarrassed,” she lied, not looking in his eyes.
“Actually, you are. You’re bright red!”
“Oh, hush,” she said, smacking him on the arm. Was she flirting? Jesus, what the hell is wrong with her? She glanced up at him and he was grinning at her, making her feel even more stupid, so she looked away to unlock her doors.
“So, can I get your number?” She looked over her shoulder at him as she laid her bag down.
“Oh, of course,” she muttered as she rambled the numbers off when he had his phone out. He pushed a button, and then her phone started ringing.
“For when you want to call me,” he said with a grin as he did some more stuff with his phone.
“Oh, okay,” she said with a nervous giggle as she saved his number, when she looked up from her phone, he was closer to her, his blue eyes piercing into hers. His jaw ticked at the side, and, her eyes were drawn to his mouth.
Good golly, it was a pretty mouth. Such strong jaw bones, a little scar at the end of his chin. His lips looked so soft, so inviting.
“I had a great afternoon with you, Elli,” he said. Was he whispering? Was his voice husky? Oh, God.
“Me, too, one of the best ever,” she cringed at her nervous babble. God, she was an idiot. Shea gave her a sexy grin that she was starting to think he was born doing, and leaned closer to her. Her breath caught, and he smiled again.
“Can I kiss you?” he whispered in a husky manly, yummy voice. Elli could do nothing but nod and his lips were over hers within seconds. His lips were so warm, so strong, as his hand came up to her cheek, caressing her softly. She had never been kissed like this. When Justin would kiss her, it was quick and rushed, but Shea took his time, tasting her mouth as she did the same to him. When he pulled back, he smiled down at her. “I’ll call you later?”
Elli’s head bounced up and down like a freaking bobble head.
“Bye, Elli.”
“Bye,” she said after he was already to his car.
Okay, what the hell just happened?
“He kissed you!” Harper bellowed through the house when Elli had relayed the afternoon to her. “Oh, my God! Was it good?” Harper had come over for dinner and a movie. Something they did a lot. Sometimes their other friends came, too, and they made a night of it, but tonight it was just her and Harper. Sometimes she liked it better that way.
“It was amazing,” Elli gushed out. “I don’t know why he did it though.”
“Because he likes you!”
“Oh, come on, Shea Adler? Like me, Elli Fisher, please. I am nowhere near his type; he likes the leggy blondes with big boobs, small waist, and fake faces. I am not that.”
“You don’t know his type, Elli, plus you can give them blondes a run for their money! You’re beautiful.”
“I’m fat, and I guess okay looking.”
“Oh, shut up!” Harper said throwing a piece of popcorn at her, Elli giggled as she picked it up, throwing it in her mouth. “I slept with Jakob again.”
“Well, that came out of nowhere,” Elli giggled as Harper just grinned widely at her, “Again? I thought that was a one time deal.”
“Me, too, but he kept like calling me and then he showed up at my condo last night and I’m, like, well, since you’re here come on in and fuck my brains out. You know?”
“No, actually, I don’t.”
Harper giggled. “That’s what you should do with Shea, just have him knock your boots off, then be done. How long has it been since you’ve gotten any?”
“Wow, Harper. Um, no, I will not be knocking my boots off with Shea Adler. That would be a horror. A big sexy man like him with my dumpy body? Please!” Elli purposely didn’t answer the other question. That was an embarrassment in itself. Something Elli didn’t even want to venture too.
“Your body is beautiful, Elli; you’ve got sexy curves, something I wish I had. I’m just bones and skin.”
Elli gave her a pointed look. “Please, don’t give me that I wish I was curvy speech, no skinny girl wants to be fat.”
“You’re not fat!”
“I’m not skinny.”
“Whatever, Elli, and don’t think I forgot about my question. How long has it been?”
“Why does it matter?” Elli asked, picking a piece of popcorn apart. When she was nervous she always had to keep her fingers moving.
“I want to know.”
Nothing was said for a moment and when Elli realized Harper wasn’t going to let it go, she let out a breath before saying, “Six years.”
“What! Since Justin?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Oh, my God, you need to get laid. No wonder you’re such a bitch sometimes.”
“For the love of God, shut up! I am fine.”
“You most certainly are not!”
Elli was about to yell some more when her phone rang. She picked it up and looked at the display.
“It’s him,” she whispered, looking up at Harper in horror. What the hell was he doing calling her?
“What? Shea? Answer it!”
“No! What would I say?”
“Umm…hello?”
“Shut up!” Elli stood off the bar stool and walked to the living pushing, talk. “Hello?”
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
“It’s Shea.”
“I know.”
“Oh, okay, you sound weird.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“Don’t be, what’s up?”
“Um, nothing, what’s up with you?”
“This is Elli right?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s wrong? You sound really weird.”
Elli slapped herself in the forehead, trying to get it together, but how could she! Shea Adler was calling her! “Oh, well, I’m just surprised you called.”
“Am I not supposed to?”
“Oh, no, it’s not that. I just didn’t think you would.�
��
Silence.
“Alright, did I do something wrong? Cause I thought this afternoon went great.”
“It did, but I thought that was all it was, an afternoon.”
“Oh, is that all you want it to be?”
“Oh, no, you don’t, don’t put that loaded question on me!” He laughed, and she smiled. Harper came into the living room, throwing herself on the couch, grinning up at Elli. She, of course, gave Harper the death glare.
“Okay, then I will tell you this. I want it to be more. I want to see you again, Elli.”
“You do?”
“Oh, yeah I do. What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yeah, as in the day that comes after today?”
“Smartass.” He chuckled, which made her smile “I gotta work during the day and I have a wedding tomorrow night.”
“Okay, Tuesday?”
“Bar mitzvah and work all day.”
“A bar mitzvah? You do that?’
“Yup,” she said with a grin. Harper just smiled big.
“Okay, I got an event Wednesday, what about Thursday?”
“Wedding.”
“Well, shit woman!” she laughed, “I bet Friday and Saturday is a no go.”
“Friday, weddings out my butt, but Saturday, I’m spending the day with my nieces and nephews. My assistants are doing the weddings that day, then I have a wedding that night.”
“Okay.”
“I know I’m stupid busy and-“
“We’ll make the time, okay? The season opener is Wednesday, and then I’ll be wicked busy.”
“I know. I understand.”
Silence, she guessed he was thinking, because she sure was. She was thinking maybe she could throw some stuff on Harper, but she quickly dismissed that. How could she expect Harper to do her job just so she could go on a date with Shea?
“All I know is that I can’t wait till next Wednesday to see you.”
Her heart warmed, he was so sweet.
“It is a long time away.”
“Yeah, it is. I go to practice every day from nine to eleven. Your studio isn’t far from the arena, maybe we can do lunch?”
“Sure, I don’t have my schedule in front of me, but I can text you in the morning, let you know.”
“Sounds good, so I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I hope so.”
“Good, do you have time to talk?”
“Um, well, actually I have a friend over.”
“Okay, well, I’ll let you go, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Bye, Elli.”
“Bye, Shea.”
When she hung up, she looked over at Harper, who had the biggest grin on her face. Elli’s hand came up to cover her mouth. Was this really happening? Did Shea Adler want to see her? For real? Not as friends? Elli was on the verge of tears. She had never been so happy and scared all at the same time. Her mind was reeling; Shea Adler wanted to date her!
Harper stood up, came over, and wrapped her arms around Elli.
“Told you,” she whispered in Elli’s ear as she hugged her tightly.
Chapter 4
Okay, how in the world did Shea miss Elli after one date? It made no sense to him, but it was happening. She was on his mind, hardcore. Her smile, her eyes, her legs, everything, he just didn’t understand. No girl had ever made him miss them, ever. And after one date with Ms. Fisher, he was hooked. He was worried last night when he called her; the way she sounded was as if he wasn’t supposed to be calling. It made him feel like an idiot, even though he was pretty sure she liked him with the way she had flirted with him.
And the way they kissed.
Good Lord, it was heaven.
Shea was hard the whole night. Her perfect little lips on his large ones, the way her soft cheek felt in his rough hands.
Jeez, it was hot.
Shea was in the team workout room, running on the treadmill, thinking about Elli, when his phone beeped, he had a text message.
Hey Shea, it’s Elli. I can take lunch for 12-2, anytime between then.
He smiled as he texted her back.
I’ll see you at 12 then.
He kept running and smiled when he saw she sent him back a smiley face. She had two hours? Well then they would spend the whole two hours together, he thought with a grin. Just as he was finishing his workout, Jakob walked in.
“Dude, there you are!” Jakob yelled.
“What’s up?” Shea asked as he turned the treadmill off and stepped off as he wiped down his face.
“So, that girl I was telling you about, I slept with her again Saturday night.”
“Really? How did it go?”
“Great, until she kicked me out again! I just don’t understand!”
“How did you even get in her bed, Jakob?”
Jakob was silent for a moment, “I went over there,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Jesus, Jak, you look desperate.”
“I miss her, when we’re together its crazy amazing, then she goes crazy on me and kicks me out!”
“Well, get the hint bro, she just wants sex and that’s all.”
Jakob hit his head on the back of the wall, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath. This wasn’t the first time this had happened; Jakob could fall in love with a hockey puck. Shea’s best friend was a hopeless romantic and didn’t care who knew, unlike Shea who kept that stuff in the closet. Plus, Shea had never been with a woman that drove him crazy the way every woman drove Jakob…well that was until he met Elli.
Shea walked by him, cupping Jakob’s shoulder.
“Let it go, bro.”
When Shea arrived at Time Stands Still, he took in the beauty of the building. It was an old building, lots of white brick and when he pulled the door open to the studio and saw the teal and brown accents, it bought a classic essence to the place. Large photos lined the walls: babies, couples, kids, families, and weddings. He was looking at a beautiful blue eyes little girl when Elli came rounding the corner and again, she took his breath away. She was wearing a teal and green dress. The teal part was a tube top looking thingy and the green had designs all over it for the skirt--it went to mid thigh. Her breasts looked so plump. She must have been hiding them the last time he had seen her. Her hair was in curls down her shoulders, with a feathery bow holding up a part of her hair, but Shea had to admit, the best part of the outfit was her shoes. They were some pointy teal heels and her ankles and calves were screaming to be touched.
Elli wasn’t looking up when she came around the corner, she was looking down at her phone when she said, “You caught me when I walking out, how can I help you?” she looked up with a fake smile on her face, since he knew what her real smile looked like, until she saw him. Then she grinned for real.
“You can go to lunch with me,” he said as he came towards her. She was still grinning as he kissed her cheek, “How are you, Elli?”
“I’m fine,” she said breathlessly. He loved when she got that breezing tone to her voice.
“You look beautiful.” Her face flushed as she looked away.
“Thank you,” she said, still not looking at him, “You look great, too.” He smiled. He was wearing some ripped up jeans and a tee with his favorite black hat.
“Yeah, but I didn’t dress up. I’m sorry, I just came from practice.”
“Shea, you look good, don’t worry about it. I probably over did it,” she said, moving away from him, towards the front desk. She was messing with some papers when he came up behind her. When she froze, he moved her hair off her shoulder, placing a small light kiss on her bare shoulder since he didn’t want to scare her.
“I don’t think you over did it, babe, but then again, it is for my viewing pleasure.” He kissed her shoulder again, and she turned, leaning against the desk.
“I’m nervous, so I’m babbling.”
“Don’t be, you look great. I look okay, so let’s go, we’re wast
ing eating time.”
Like Elli could eat. Please. She was wearing a dress that showed off too much thigh, in her opinion, her breasts were about to fall out and the damn heels she was wearing were hurting her damn feet!
Damn Harper, this was all her fault.
Elli should have never worn this dress. She bought it back when she was a little thinner. Now she looked like a damn fat man in a little coat. God, she was nervous.
As they rode in Shea’s Range Rover, the first thing Elli notice was that it was super clean, and then that he had a picture of him with his niece and nephew. Her heart melted a little at the sight. It was nice to find a man that loved children as much as she did.
They arrived at Maggiano’s, a really great Italian place on West End. It was actually one of her favorite places to eat and when they entered the back way, they were personally greeted by one of the concierge. She figured that Shea came here a lot.
“This is my favorite place. I live about ten minutes from here.”
“My studio always orders from here.”
“It’s good food,” he said as the concierge lead them to a table in the back. She scooted into the booth, making sure her dress stayed down, as he scooted in beside her. Beautiful music was playing as the concierge went over the wine list.
“Do you want your regular bottle, Mr. Adler?”
“Please,” then he turned to her, “You like wine?”
“I do.”
“Moscoto okay?”
“Sure, is it good here?”
“Wicked good. I love wine. Grace says I’m a sissy boy for drinking it, but coming here all the time, it converted me.” Elli giggled as he smiled bashfully at her.
“I like wine, but a nice cold beer is how I end my night.”
Shea’s jaw fell open a little as he looked at her lovely, “Marry me, now.”
That had them both laughing, as she turned deep red, because she was pretty sure if Shea Adler ever asked her to marry him, she would die of a heart attack. “No, I love beer, too, but my classier side, is a vino.”
A waiter showed up with a bottle of their best Moscoto and poured both of them hefty glasses. Since Elli knew that it was a dessert wine and you were only supposed to get half a glass, she was surprised to see that she had a full glass. Elli brought it to her lips and took a sip. Both the waiter and Shea watched as her eyes opened in surprise and a little moan escaped her lips.