“Anytime, bye.”

Shea ate his food as he watched the morning news, then cleaned up before leaving. After getting into his truck and starting it, he drove off towards his sister’s house. Grace was probably going to be livid to see him so early, but he needed to talk to her. When he pulled up to her house, he saw her at the window. She was in front of her computer feeding Amelia. Good, she was awake. He shut off the truck and started up the driveway, before opening the front door and going in. Ryan came from the hall and ran right for him, jumping into his arms.

“Unky!”

“Hey, bud,” Shea said kissing his cheek, before walking to the living room where Grace was sitting cross-legged with her hair in a mess on top of her head and a pencil in her mouth. She was still in her PJs. The joys of running your own business, he guessed.

“Hey Shea,” she said, not looking up as he kissed Amelia’s chubby cheeks. He put Ryan down and kissed Grace next, before sitting beside her.

“What brings you by?” she asked as she typed something, and then took a drink of her coffee.

“Do you really want to know, or are you too busy to talk to your only twin brother.” Grace rolled her eyes before shutting the laptop and turning towards him.

“I’m having some problems with this wedding I’m planning. My regular photographer is a dimwit and is pissing me off. I’m about to fire him, but the wedding is next month and I doubt I can get someone to take his place.”

“Call Elli, she might be able to.”

“Maybe, but I don’t want to start using her a lot, and then you guys break up or something.”

“Since you brought Elli up,” Shea started, but Grace shook her head.

“I didn’t-”

“Do you think I love her?” Grace just looked at him with a look on her face.

“Excuse me?”

“Do you think I love her?” he repeated himself.

“No, I heard you. I just don’t understand the question. How would I know if you love her?”

“You’re my twin.”

“I know that.”

“Well, what do you think?”

“I don’t know! I haven’t even seen you guys together except for that one time.”

“So we’ll come over for dinner and you’ll tell me?”

“Really, Shea? I’m swamped with weddings and parties right now, and you want me to cook a dinner for you and your girlfriend?”

Shea stood up with a grin on his face, “Thanks, you’re the greatest. How about Sunday evening, since I’m leaving on Monday for a week.”

“Are you kidding me!?” she yelled as he kissed the kids.

“No, come on. I need to know.”

“You’re nuts.”

“Yup, about you, babe. See ya Sunday. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will. Your credit card number since I’m hiring a cook!” she yelled as he shut the door.

God, he loved his sister.

Chapter 10

“I don’t know why I need a dress. Why can’t I just wear some jeans?” Harper whined as they browsed through Melanie Renee’s store for a dress. Harper hated shopping, and definitely hated anything but jeans. Elli, on the other hand, loved to shop and definitely loved to dress up. Elli had already bought a strapless lilac dress with a scalloped chest lapel that went to her knees for the party. She was going to pair it with a bone colored cardigan and bone colored, peep toe Jimmy Choo heels. She was excited, which was odd since she was never excited about trying to be cute in front of a group of guys, let alone a group of hockey players who just happened to be the friends of the guy that she was dating, but she was. For the first time in years, she had a great night’s sleep without her DVD’s help. She felt great and refreshed, and it was all because of Shea.

“Because it’s a party.”

“You can wear jeans to a party,” Harper mumbled as she looked through the racks with a little more force than needed.

“Don’t you want to be pretty for Jakob?”

“He thinks I’m pretty no matter what,” Harper countered as she pulled out a dress, looking back and forth at it, “This is pretty.”

It really was, that’s why Elli already owned it. It was a little pink flower print dress that was tight around the bust and loose around the waist. It was one of Elli’s favorites, but Harper needed something tight.

“It is, but you need something like a tube dress, something to show off that hot body of yours,” Elli said as she kept looking. Harper just grinned.

“Yeah, Jakey would like that.”

“Jakey?”

“What? It’s my nickname for him.”

“Aw, so cute!” Elli gushed, causing Harper to gag herself, which in return made Elli laugh.

“Oh God, what are you doing back here? Is there an all-you-can-eat buffet close by?” Harper and Elli both turned to see Victoria standing a foot away with a price gun in hand. Elli cursed herself. She could have sworn she hadn’t seen Victoria’s car in the driveway. Damn it.

“Ah, it’s the wicked bitch of the west! Run, Elli!” Harper yelled. Elli rolled her eyes as she went back to looking for a dress.

“Just ignore her,” Elli grumbled, turning her back to her sister, but that didn’t stop Victoria. She came around, facing Elli.

“So, I think it’s totally pathetic that you convinced our nieces and nephews that you’re dating Shea Adler. I mean, really, Elli, like he would ever look at you twice.”