by Toni Aleo
“Do you want to know the price? I think we can get it at ten thousand less.”
“Jill, at this point I don’t care about the price, I just want a house.”
He hung up to Jill’s laugher, this was it. It had to be.
This was it; this was the house of Elli’s dreams.
Beautiful white hardwood floors, all the rooms were white, but Elli would change that, she would hire the gal Harper has used. The rooms were big, spacious, the windows, oh God, they were to die for. Huge and clear, the trim along with windows had pretty little designs in them. The bathrooms all had the same shower as Shea’s condo; only the master bathroom had a spa bathtub. There was beautiful entry ways to each room, the kitchen; spectacular.
And the porch was every country girls dream.
It wrapped around the whole house, with big pillars holding up the second story. The back patio was done in cobblestones that lead to the huge in ground pool. The whole property was gated in by a tall white picket fence.
This was it.
This was Elli and Shea’s house.
“I have to have it,” Elli said up to Shea as they stood on the cobblestone walkway that when Elli got a chance would be surrounded by tulips.
He nodded, looking up at the beauty of the red brick home. It was perfect. There was a four car garage at the bottom and there was a man cave for goodness sakes! This had to be their home.
“I love it,” Shea said, causing Elli to grin ear to ear.
“Me, too.”
“We’ll need to have everyone come see it, see what they think,” Shea said, Elli nodded in complete agreement.
“But if they don’t like it, is it bad that I really don’t care? Cause I want this house, Shea.”
Shea laughed, nodded his head, “I couldn’t agree more with you,” He looked down at her, as she grinned up at him. He turned wrapping her up in his arms, kissing her with such care. When they parted he picked her up, spinning her around as she giggled.
“We found our house!” Elli yelled with her arms up in the air, making Shea laugh.
“Thank God!” Jill yelled causing everyone to laugh.
“Shea, it’s beautiful,” Grace said, as she stood in front of her stove, cooking some lunch for him and the kids.
“We think so,” Shea grinned as he colored with Ryan, “Hey bud, when me and Ms. Elli get our house, you wanna come stay the night?”
“I sure do! Can I have my own room!?”
“I don’t see why not, a hockey room for sure,” Shea gushed, kissing Ryan’s head before looking over at a smiling Grace.
“I’ve never seen you this happy, Shea,” she pointed out as she laid a grill cheese in front of Amelia, then Ryan, before giving one to Shea.
“I’ve never been this happy. I’m with the most amazing woman in the world, we’re buying a house, the hockey season is looking like another cup winning one, my family is healthy and good. Why wouldn’t I be happy?”
“I love how Elli beat out everything else on why you’re happy,” Grace said with a chuckle as she sat down with her own sandwich.
“Jeez Grace, why are you always so jealous all the time.”
“Shut up, I am not jealous.”
“Yes, you are,”
“Whatever,” Grace laughed before taking a bite of her sandwich and then she said, “I’m happy for you.”
“Good, cause I’m always happy for you.”
They shared a smile, before going back to eating.
“I think it’s time, Grace,” Shea said after a moment, Grace looked up, nodding her head.
“I thought that was the reason you came over,” she said with a grin, “and Shea, I couldn’t agree more. It’s early, but yeah, I couldn’t agree more.”
Gosh, he loved his twin.
Shea hated lying to Elli, but she was so damn nosy, he had no choice but to say he had a meeting with his agent and that’s why he was gonna be gone all day. Of course, she was upset since she wanted to go look at paint and other house things, since their offer on the house was accepted and they would be signing the paperwork later that week. Hopefully, they would be moved in by the end of the month when Shea would be on a small break before heading out for another couple weeks on the road. Playoffs were coming up quick, and the Assassins were kicking some major hockey ass. They were number one in their division right now, and things were looking great for another cup year.
Things were going good, great even. All he could do was hope that the next hour would go as great as his life had the past six months.
Shea pulled up to the security house as Mr. Harris walked towards the car, his hand on his trusty gun once more. Shea rolled down the window, smiling when the old man noticed who he was.
“Mr. Adler! How are you, is Elli with ya?” he asked, looking into the car.
“No, sir, I’m on my own today. I have a meeting with Mr. Fisher.”
“Oh I think I do have a memo that you were coming by, go on up, son. It was nice seeing you,” he said with a wrinkled grin as he pushed a button for the gates to open up. Shea nodded and waved before driving through the gate.
Shea pulled in by the large fountain before getting out his truck and making his way up the stairs to the front door of the large plantation home. Shea ranged the doorbell, and after a minute or so, Mrs. Harris opened the door with a grin.
“Well, hey there, Mr. Adler. Come on in, Mr. Fisher is waiting in the study for you.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Harris,” Shea said with a nod, before following her through the many rooms, to Michael Fisher’s study. Michael stood with a large smile on his face when Shea walked into the room. Shea couldn’t return the smile because he felt as if he was going to throw up, his nerves were on edge, and he felt like he might faint. Walking through the house, he was fine, but standing in front of Michael Fisher, Shea wasn’t sure he was going to make it.
“Shea, so great to see you, I’m been wondering all day what you need to speak with me about,” he said, shaking hands with Shea, Shea went through the motions but he was sure he wouldn’t remember doing them later. “Have a seat son.” Shea fell into the chair that sat across from the chair that Michael sat down into.
“Thanks for seeing me,” Shea all but mumbled out, he cleared his throat, embarrassed by his actions and his intense nervousness. Shea had went through this billions of times on the way over there, he knew what he wanted to say, what the hell was wrong with him?
“Anytime, so what brings ya by? Everything alright? You’re sweatin’ something crazy there, son,” Michael said with a laugh. Shea couldn’t laugh but he did wiped his dripping wet forehead with the back of his hand. He was sweating like he was playing in the Stanley Cup finals and he was about the make the goal winning shot.
Damn it, he had to get it together!
“Um, well, I came by because, I um,” Shea was interrupted by Michael’s laughter.
“Jesus, Shea, what’s wrong with you?”
Shea looked up, taking a deep breath in before saying, “I want to marry Elli.”
Chapter 30
Shea eyes went wide when Olivia and Victoria busted into the room, their hands over their mouths.
“Well then,” Michael said with a grin.
“I’m sorry. I had this whole big speech ready for you on the reasons I want to marry her, but I have forgotten all of it. All I know is that I love her, very much, and I need your approval before I ask her because if I know anything, it’s that Elli is a down home old fashioned girl, and she would want your blessing.”
Michael nodded, “You’re right on that one.”
“You want to marry Eleanor?” Olivia asked, “It's only been, what, a couple months.”
“We’ve been together six months, almost seven, but, I mean, when you know you know? And I know. I want to be with Elli for the rest of my life. I love her.”
Olivia looked Shea over, as Victoria stood beside her mother with a look of contempt on her face. He would never understand these people. “I ne
ver noticed your arms before Shea,” Olivia said, Shea looked down at his arms, then back up at her. “Last time, you were dressed up, I guess.”
Okay, what the hell did that mean? Yeah, they were all wearing their nice clothing while Shea was wearing a tee and jeans, but still what the hell was she trying to say!
“Yes, last time I came for dinner. Today, I just came to talk, so I didn’t think I needed to be dressed up.”
“Shea, ignore her. Back to the situation at hand,” Michael said with a wave of his hand towards Olivia and Victoria. “Wanna marry my daughter, huh?”
“Yes, sir,” Shea said, focusing on Michael and not the two women that were looking at him as if he was a bum off the street while they whispered something to each other.
“I like you Shea, a lot. You’re a good man and my Eleanor has never been so happy until you came along, so my answer is yes. Absolutely, you have my blessing.”
A relieved sigh left Shea’s mouth, as he grinned, “Thank you so much. I haven’t asked her or anything. I haven’t even bought the ring.”
“Oh! Well you should take Victoria with you, Shea!” Olivia gushed coming towards Michael’s chair, leaning against him, “Victoria knows what Elli likes, and plus what Justin had gotten her, so you don’t pick anything like it since Elli hated that ring.”
Victoria nodded, coming up beside Shea, “Yeah, Shea, I’m great at shopping and I know what my baby sister likes.”
“Um, well.”
Shea kind of wanted to go by himself and get the ring. He had planned on asking Elli the day they signed for the house. They were supposed to sign the papers on Valentines’ Day, him and Elli had laughed saying that would be their gift to each other, but Shea wanted to ask her when they went back to the house after signing the papers. Grace said she would have the living room filled with candles, and Jill had already agreed to give Grace the key early so she could go do it for him.
What he didn’t plan on was going shopping with Victoria for Elli’s ring, but the way Olivia and Victoria were looking at him before he thought he might need too, just to make sure things were okay between them all.
“It will be fun!” Victoria said again, while Olivia nodded.
“Be good for y’all to get to know each other, too, since you and Eleanor have been spending a lot of time with Noah and Liam,” Michael said. Shea nodded. He and Elli had been over at her brothers’ house a lot lately, but that was to see the kids.
“It will be your decision, Shea, I’ll just suggest what I think Elli would like,” Victoria added.
“Yeah, that would be fine.” Shea said, even though he felt like it was the worst idea ever.
“Great!” Olivia and Victoria gushed, with big grins. Evil grins, Shea noticed, yeah there would be no trusting those two.
“Good,” Michael said, with a nod, standing up and pulling Shea into a back slapping hug, when he pulled back, Shea saw tears in his eyes, and Shea actually became nervous again. What if he changed his mind? “Only one thing left to do, my boy,”
“Which would be?” Shea asked.
“Go ask Bryan, you know Eleanor would want his approval, too.”
Fuck.
Elli didn’t think she could be any happier, not only was she getting the house of her dreams in five days time, but she was doing so much more promotion work with the Assassins. She was working with Melody Yates again, this time on a wine charity event at the arena. Elli was really excited about the event, since she would also be working with her good friend, Fallon. Fallon’s company needed shots of the wine being consumed and just general pictures of all the wine bottles. Elli couldn’t wait, it was going to be a great party.
After working all morning on the shots she needed, the people Elli had to take pictures of, Elli walked out towards the back entrance of the arena.
A small flutter went through her as she walked towards the back door, it was the same door she went through the day she met Shea. That day would forever hold the most amazing memory of her life. Who would have known that that was the day she was gonna find the man of her dreams, the same man she would love, and being moving into the house of her dreams with. It was almost unbelievable how happy Elli was.
Elli was about to reach the door, the heels of her boots clicking against concrete floor, when the door opened and the same man she had been thinking about came through it. He wasn’t looking and ran right into her, catching her before she fell over.
“Crap, I’m so-,” when Shea saw it was her, he grinned, “I am not sorry I ran into you, Ms. Fisher,” he said before he kissed her lavishly. Elli’s heart swelled at the feeling of it. God, she loved him.
“Well, that’s one hell of a hello, what are you doing here?”
“I have a meeting with Bryan,” he said as he let her go, still holding her hand in his. His eyes were the brightest blue, his smile almost match the brightness of his eyes, he was happy about something.
“What about?”
“Business crap. I’ll see you for dinner?”
“Yeah, I’m on my way to the studio.” He nodded, kissing her cheek before moving around her.
“Okay, baby, I’ll call you, love you.”
“Love you, too,” she said as she watched him walk away. He was up to something and Elli hated not knowing what. She would find out when she got home later, sexual incentives always worked on Shea.
Always, she thought with a grin.
When Elli arrived at the studio, things were crazy.
They had a full waiting room and only two photographers, Harper included. They had been so busy the past couple weeks, which had been wonderful since Shea was traveling a lot. It was sad to say, but Elli actually couldn’t wait for hockey to be over. She and Shea had discussed going somewhere tropical as a vacation when the season was over. Shea had said he was gonna take the cup with them, but Elli was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to do that.
Only three months left until she was in paradise with Shea. Three long months.
Elli didn’t waste any time. She threw her purse behind the desk and jumped right in, working her butt off to get everyone done and out, making sure they were happy. It was going to be a long day. The only thing that kept her smiling was that she would see Shea when she got home.
“Are you sure, Shea?” Bryan Fisher asked, as he leaned back in his chair, “It’s a big step.”
“Yes, I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life, sir.”
“Well, then, you have my blessing.” Shea smiled big, nodding his head. That was actually easier than he thought. “So I guess I won’t have to pay you much for another five years, huh?”
“I don’t know about that, we’re buying a new house, and Elli likes to shop.”
“Well, darn,” Bryan said with a grin as he stood up, Shea did the same, “I was hoping I would be able to get you for cheap since your contract is about up. Guess I’ll have to pay you full price, even though I’m letting you marry my Eleanor.”
Shea laughed, “We’ll see if we can cut a deal.”
Bryan let out a gut busting laugh, and nodded his head before sticking his hand out for Shea’s, “Welcome to the family, son, that is if she’ll say yes.”
“Oh, she’ll say yes.”
He hoped.
Shea sat beside Victoria in the gallery of Tiffany’s, wishing like hell he didn’t agree to have her come with him. Everything she picked was disgusting, gaudy, and Shea knew Elli would hate it. The girl had expensive taste, something he knew Elli had, too, but Jesus, not only did he know Elli wouldn’t want a ten carat diamond ring, but really, what the hell would she do when she couldn’t pick her hand up to take a picture! The damn thing had to weigh ten pounds and Elli’s hands where so small and cute, he was sure she wouldn’t be able to pick up her hand!
Shea stood up and the cute little girl behind the counter looked worried. She probably saw her big sale walking out the door. Victoria had no problem announcing who he was and what he did, so the girl knew he was shopping b
ig.
The more time he spent with Victoria, the more he disliked her. No wonder Elli really didn’t like her. She was mean as hell and he was pretty sure she was trying to sabotage his ring selection.
“I’m going to look around,” he said, as the girl and Victoria looked around.
“Okay, let me know if you see something,” the girl said. Shea nodded and started towards the back of the store. He was looking in the cases and wondering if he could get out of there without Victoria noticing even though that would be wrong since he drove her there from the condo, when someone called his name.
“Shea! How ya doing!?”
Shea looked over at the sweet looking blondish brown hair girl that was smiling at him. She looked a lot like Harper, and that’s when it clicked. It was Harper’s littler sister, but he couldn’t remember her name to save his life.
“Hey,” he said, raking his brain for her name, she giggled at him as he walked over to her.
“Its Piper, I don’t think we really talked all that much at the party,” she said with a grin, he smiled back; she was a cute little thing, so different from Harper’s crazy ass.
“Piper, how could I forget, how are you doing?”
She smiled in delight, “Good, working my butt off since I took the semester off from school.”
“Cool, you like it here?”
“I do, its good work.”
“Good,” Shea nodded, looking at the case that she stood behind. It was full of different colored stones, when he saw the pink one, he smiled. Elli would love them. “These are pretty.”
“Yeah, they are amazing, my favorite is the pink diamonds, they are so pretty.”
“They are diamonds?”
“Yeah, you should see ‘em in a platinum setting, pure magic on your finger! They are awesome! You ain’t ever heard of pink diamonds?”
Wow, once she got talking, she was Harper all over.