Page 10 of Catch and Release

“That’s what I’m told. Either way, no harm in being neighborly. Her grandparents were good people. I want to look out for her.”

Shawn sighed. Of course, she did.

Grams knew everyone, and she was beloved. Because, of course, she did stuff like this. Looked out for people. Took them under her wing. Spent an afternoon making them homemade brownies.

She also had the tendency to say every thought that entered her head. That lack of filter often got her into trouble, but people loved her sass. So did Shawn.

Most of the time.

“Wait,” he said, replaying her words in his head. “Did you say you thought that I could welcome her to the neighborhood?”

She winked.

“Grams, please tell me you’re not matchmaking again,” Shawn said, stifling a groan.

A blooper reel of terrible first dates Grams set up for him played in his head. One of them was extremely shy and barely spoke the whole time. Another wore Lily Pulitzer everything and asked him to escort her to an upcoming ball in Mobile, which he politely declined after a few minutes of being rendered speechless. And another belittled him for running a bait shop.

“I’ve learned my lesson,” she said. “I won’t set you up on a date. But I will make you take her those brownies. She’s very pretty, from what I hear. I knew her back when she was a little girl. She was a sweet, curious little thing. And oh my, she had a mouth on her. Of course, her family moved away from Mobile when she was barely a teenager, and I don’t think I’ve seen her since.”

Shawn pressed his lips together. He loved his grandmother dearly. He would do anything for her, and had. After his grandfather died last year, he moved in with her after one phone call where she confided in him that she was terrified to live alone for the first time in her life.

Naturally, she put up a small fight about it. The woman was stubborn, and loved him more than anything in the world. She told him she didn’t want to hold him back. But he insisted. They’d always been close, he and Grams, so he knew she was thrilled when he decided to move in with her. She never would’ve asked it of him, but he was more than happy to do it. He loved living with her, even if it meant that bringing girls home was out of the question. He didn’t know how many years he’d have with Grams, and he knew their time together was precious. But her habit of meddling was getting on his nerves.

“Grams, please.”

“Shawn Porter Gray, you will do this for me,” she said, her voice stern.

Shawn bit his lip, frustration rising.

Damn, she could be so pushy.

“Fine,” he said, and Grams beamed. “I’ll do it on one condition.”

She narrowed her eyes and looked at him expectantly.

“After this, no more setups, no more introductions to your jazzercise friends’ granddaughters, no more girls casually dropping by for dinner, and no more taking brownies to new neighbors. I love you, Grams, and I appreciate what you’re doing, but it’s not working. Alright?”

She studied him for a moment and blew out a breath.

“Fine, Scoob. You win.”

He grinned at her.

“Can you say that again and let me record you?” he asked her.

She glared at him, but was clearly holding back a laugh.

“Leftovers for dinner?” Shawn asked.

“Yes,” Grams said. “And then you’re taking those brownies to our new neighbor.”

“Right. And what’s her name?”

“Willa.”

3

All of Willa’s new fishing supplies were messily sprawled out on the kitchen table, along with some old fishing rods and the tool box she’d found in the garage closet. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she considered where to begin. She grabbed her cell phone and connected it to her bluetooth speaker before turning on some music.

---