Shea smiled as he walked towards her. She was looking too hot for words today, wearing a pair of jean shorts that were ripped up and an Assassins’ tee. His grin got bigger when he saw that it was his number on her back. Her hair was pulled into a high messy ponytail, and she was wearing her big sunglasses from the first time he saw her. He watched her for a moment as she fussed over the kids, kissing their cheeks and tickling them. She was beautiful, breathtaking.

He read his name over her back one last time, before stepping behind her.

“So, you’re an Adler fan, huh?”

“Shea!” Elli gasped when she turned around to tell the person that made the comment about her shirt that of course she was an Adler fan. She was definitely not expecting that person to be Shea, though.

“What are you doing here?”

He grinned at her, hoisting his niece higher on his hip, as he swung his nephew’s hand back and forth.

“Grace was really tired, so I took the kids.”

“I thought you were scared of them,” she said with a teasing grin.

“Unky Shea, I thought you weren’t scared of anything,” Ryan said looking up at his uncle lovingly.

“I’m not, bud.”

“My Unky isn’t scared of anything; he won the Lord Stanley Cup last year. He held it over his head as he skated around, and he cried but that’s only because he was soooooooo happy. Hockey players don’t cry at any other time.”

Elli grinned at Ryan before looking up at Shea, he was actually blushing. “I know he did, I was there. I cried too, I was really happy.”

“Wow, really? Where did you sit? Unky had us in a box with this girl with really big hair. She smelled funny, but she was nice, I guess. Whatever happened to that girl, Unky?”

“I don’t know, bud. Listen, cool it for a second so I can introduce you.” Ryan nodded, hanging on every word Shea said. It was obvious he thought his uncle hung the moon.

“Ryan, this is Elli. Elli, this is Ryan and you’ve met Amelia.”

“I have,” Elli said with a grin, touching the baby’s cheek, before she shook Ryan’s hand.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to me you, too, Ms. Elli. Unky, can I go play?”

“Of course, go ahead.” Ryan ran off towards the play area leaving Shea, Elli, and Amelia in his dust.

“He’s a sweet kid.”

“Runs his mouth all the damn time, but I love him so much. Do you think it’s safe for Amelia in that sand box?”

“Yeah, I’m sitting on that bench right there, so it would be perfect,” she said with a grin as she followed them over. Shea sat Amelia in the sand box, then walked over to the bench to sit with Elli.

“It’s so sweet of you to watch the kids for Grace. I know how tired she’s been lately.”

“Yeah,” he said with a grin. “Are you mad I came here? Am I moving in on your time with the kids?”

“No! Not at all.” She looked at the kids, and then looked down, picking at the fray of her shorts, “I’ve kinda missed seeing you these past two days,” she added in a whisper.

“Awwwwww,” he teased, leaning into her as he grinned down at her. He looked over at Amelia, and Elli instantly felt dumb. Great way to make yourself look needy, she thought as she sat there mentally kicking herself. You don’t put yourself out there like that with guys like Shea, she thought.

God, I’m an idiot!

“I’ve missed you too, Elli. A lot. More than I care to admit. That’s why I came today, not to give Grace a break. I just wanted to see you.”

She sat there, shocked, looking up at him, as he watched Amelia. He had his glasses on; she was starting to think that he never wore his contacts except on the ice. His tattoos weren’t covered this time. He was wearing a t-shirt and cargo shorts. He hadn’t shaved since the last time she saw him, so the hair on his chin was darker and longer.

“So, when are you going to introduce me to the kids?” he asked, looking over at her.

Oh shit, for the first time ever, she hadn’t even thought of the kids. A look of horror crossed her face as she looked towards the playground where her nieces and nephews played.

“Shit.”

“Huh? What?”

“Okay, Shea, don’t take this the wrong way, but I can’t introduce you to the kids. They will go back and tell their parents, and then my mom would find out, and I cannot even deal with my mom about you right now, so we’re gonna have to act like you just sat down beside me,” she said, frantic, just as Riley and Max came running towards her.

“Auntie El, there’s this kid over there, saying his uncle is Shea Adler! Isn’t that crazy! You think he’s lyin’?” Max practically yelled.

Elli gave Shea a sideways glance then looked back at Max.

“You never know, honey; I heard that Shea Adler does have a nephew, and a niece, too.”

“Wow, wouldn’t that be awesome if we met him!? Dad would be so jealous!” Riley exclaimed.

“Yeah, he would. Alright, go play,” she said, shushing them away.

They ran off, talking about Shea and she took a deep breath.

“Ryan talks a lot.” Elli looked over at Shea. He looked upset under his hat. She hated that she was the one to put that look on his face.

“Shea, I’m sorry.”

“It’s cool. Do you want me to go, so you don’t have to explain why you’re sitting next to me?”