“I love them.”

“Do you want your own?” She smiled, and then looked out towards the kids.

“Yeah, I do. When I was younger, I was convinced I would be married by now with a big ole family, but I guess God had a different plan for me,” she said with a sad smile, then shrugged her shoulders, dismissing the idea. “Do you want kids?”

“I do, but I need a wife first. Luckily, Grace had kids, so my mom leaves me alone.”

Elli laughed as Shea shook his head.

“When I was being traded, back in the day, my mom would be so mad at us. She would say we needed to settle down and find us both a partner. Thank God we moved here and Grace met James.”

“Y’all traveled together?”

“Yeah. Wherever I went, Grace went.”

“Really!? Everywhere?”

“Yeah, she lived with me wherever I went. When I first left, she would have anxiety attacks and when she moved to where I was, she was fine. So, we just stayed together.”

“Wow, I didn’t know y’all were that close.”

“Oh yeah, Grace is my best friend.”

Elli’s heart melted, “That’s so sweet.”

“I guess. I’m just glad she has James and the kids. I just want her to be happy.”

Elli gave him a big smile, and then looked at the kids some more.

“Are you close to your parents?” she asked.

“Yeah, I talk to my parents at least once a day. My dad and I are really close. He taught me to play hockey. We love to go deep sea fishing, too.”

“I love to fish.”

“I’ll take you home and we’ll go out on the boat with my dad. You will love him.”

Elli got all warm inside. He wanted to take her home to fish with his dad!

“My mom is crazy, but, God, I love her. She cooks all the time. I swear I gain 20 pounds every time I go home,” he said with a grin, “She spoils me and I’m ten hours away! She sends packages to me with my favorite treats. She sends stuff for the team, too. Even Coach Bacter loves her.”

Elli had to laugh at that. From what she had heard, Coach Bacter hated everyone. He was always mean-mugging someone, in her opinion. He never smiled, even when the Assassins won! Shea kept on talking about his family, and about all their amazing times. Elli could tell he loved them a lot.

She wished she could say the same about her family.

“I think my mom would love you. My dad would probably steal you away since you love hockey, and mom doesn’t know anything about hockey. She always says it’s a bunch of baboons fighting on ice.”

Elli burst into a fit of giggles. She loved hockey, but she could see where someone would think that.

“They sound great.”

“They are,” he said with his one-dimpled grin. It was funny that she never noticed that before, probably because he always sat on the other side of her. Nothing was said as they two watched the kids play.

“So you never did answer me. Do you want to spend the afternoon with me?” Shea asked breaking the silence. Elli looked over at the profile of his face. He was so gorgeous, so perfect and he wanted to spend the afternoon with her.

It was crazy.

Elli wanted nothing more than to spend the day with him. So when he looked over at her, a grin tugging at his lips, she nodded before saying, “I do.”

A bright smile came over his face as he scooted a little closer to her. Where their legs touched, it burned, but Elli welcomed it, she had missed his so much. “Good.”

They sat the rest of the afternoon talking about whatever came to mind and watching the kids. When Amelia started crying, Elli went to get up, but Shea was already there, kissing and loving on her.

He was going to make a great dad one day.

Shea brought the baby over to where they were sitting and gave Amelia her bottle. She pushed it away and rubbed her eyes.

“I might have to go. I don’t think she is going to make it much longer,” he said, looking over at Elli. She smiled and rubbed Amelia’s head.

“I understand. Grace got at least a three hour nap.”

“Yeah, that should be good enough,” he said with a grin as he stood up, Amelia on his hip. Elli grabbed Amelia’s bag and handed it to him. He looked down at her, and smiled.

“Did I tell you that you’re sexy in my number?” Elli turned deep red, crossing her legs as she pulled at the bottom of her shirt.

“Shut up,” she giggled as she hit him with her arm. She tried to pull back, but he had an arm wrapped around her so fast that she didn’t have time to protest before he crushed his mouth against hers. When his tongue slid into her mouth, she knew she should have felt dirty since he was holding his niece, but she didn’t. Her hand slid up to his cheek, and she kissed him back just as hard. She hadn’t seen him in two days. Two long days of no smiles, laughs, or goodness gracious, those damn kisses.

“Auntie Elli, why are you open mouth kissing Big Daddy Adler?”

Well, shit.

Chapter 7

Shea watched as Penny looked up at them; her eyes were as big as quarters and her mouth was hanging open. The other kids stood behind Penny, with Ryan right in the mix.

“Oh, my goodness, it really is Shea Adler!” one of the boys said. Another one was slapping the last boy as Ryan just grinned up at the adults.

“Yup, and he’s my Unky! Are you ready to go yet? I’m tired,” Ryan said.

“I am buddy, wanna say bye to your new friends, and Ms. Elli?”