He looked back down at Adler. The damn dog had nothing but love in his eyes for Shea.

“Want to come stay with me, bud?” Adler popped up, basically jumping into Shea’s arms.

“Adler!” Elli yelled, pulling him down, “No sir, that’s a nice suit. Come on, say bye to your lover boy and get on in the house.”

Shea laughed as Elli pulled Adler into the house, shutting and locking the door behind him.

“You are so cute,” Shea cooed as he pulled her to him, dipping her before smiling down at her.

“You look so classic; I figured you needed to be kissed like this,” Shea said before he planted a sweet kiss on her lips.

If Elli thought she felt like a 50s pin up girl before, she really felt like one now in the arms of her strapping hot boyfriend.

Could life get any better?

Yes, but it was probably going to get worse instead, Elli thought as she got into Shea’s truck. Shea got in and started the truck before grabbing her hand, holding it in his lap as they drove off in the direction that Elli said. Her knee bounced as they drove through the countryside to Clarksville, her home town. She felt like she was going to pass out, and she wished that she really had gotten Xanax like Harper had suggested instead of the damn birth control. She might be dead before she even got the chance to use the birth control.

“So we’re going to have to make the most of this weekend since I won’t be able to see you for two weeks.”

Elli looked over at Shea, and nodded.

“Please don’t remind me,” she said with a sad smile, “Maybe if I act like it isn’t happening, you won’t leave.”

“Oh, I’m leaving baby. Just don’t replace me while I’m gone,” he said with a teasing grin. She smiled, squeezing his hand tightly.

“Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?”

Shea shook his head as he brought her hand to his lips.

“I have eyes only for you, baby.”

She loved his term of endearment for her; baby. It just rolled off his tongue so perfectly. She loved it, and loved that only he called her that.

“Same goes here.”

Shea just smiled as they drove listening to the radio. When they hit Clarksville’s city limits, Elli’s heart picked up and her palms got sweaty. Shea rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, bringing her hand to his lips again.

“Baby, don’t be nervous. Everything will be fine.”

“I hope,” she said, directing him towards her parent’s estate. “You’re not nervous?”

“Nope.”

He sure didn’t look nervous. Damn hockey player!

“So what did you do today?” he asked, probably trying to keep her mind at ease.

“I had a doctor’s appointment this morning and then four engagement shoots and two newborn shoots.”

Shea looked over at her with a puzzled expression.

“Why did you need to go to the doctor? Are you not feeling well?”

“Oh, I’m fine. It was just a check up, and I, um, I got some birth control.”

He looked over at her again, a surprised look on his face.

“Well you know, I know we haven’t talked about it in the past two weeks, but I just wanted to make sure I was safe in the pregnancy department since I’m pretty sure you don’t want to have a baby with me and-”

“Elli.”

“Yeah?” she asked looking over at him, he smiled.

“I’m glad you went.”

She smiled and looked down at their hands.

“So how long does it take for it to start working?”

“A month.”

“Okay, so when I come back…”

“More than likely, I will be jumping your bones.”

That had them both laughing, which smoothed some of the tension.

“Sounds great to me, just let me know when you’re ready.”

“I will.”

“Because I am.”

“Oh I know you are,” she said with a teasing grin as he laughed.

Just the other night, he was practically begging after they fooled around. He kept telling her he just wanted to be inside her. While it made her hot beyond believe, she just couldn’t take her underwear off. She had never met a man like him. Usually guys would get theirs and were done, but not Shea. He wanted it all, even after getting his.

When Shea turned down Fisher Road, Elli was full out having a panic attack. Shea looked over at her and started laughing.

“Baby, calm down,” he said with a shake of his head just as Elli saw the black steel gate that lined the property of the house she grew up in. “Where’s all the other houses?”

“There aren’t any,” Elli said as they followed down the road.

When the front gate came into view with the security house, Elli wanted to ask Shea to turn around, but she didn’t.

She pointed towards the house and said, “Turn in there.”

“Where?”

“Right here,” she said.

He turned into the driveway that would lead up to the main house after getting past security. Rick Harris, the security officer that had been with the Fisher family since Elli was born, came to Shea’s window. His hand was on his gun while Shea rolled the window down with a grin on his face.

“ID please, sir. What brings you by?” Rick asked.

Shea looked over at Elli with a surprised expression. She smiled nervously at him as she moved across him to look at Rick.