Page 72 of Catch and Release

“Yes, this is Blake,” Willa said. “Blake, this is Shawn.”

“Her boyfriend,” Shawn added as he stuck a hand out.

Blake glanced between Willa and Shawn, looking sullen. “Didn’t realize you had a boyfriend, Will.”

Blake grabbed Shawn’s hand tight and shook it in a stiff up and down motion. It took everything he had not to roll his eyes at his blatant use of a nickname he was pretty certain Willa hated and his attempt to break Shawn’s hand with the force of his handshake.

Shawn smirked. Blake would have to try harder if he wanted to overpower Shawn; he’d been stung by jellyfish, hooked by stray lines, and bitten by crabs. A pretty boy’s attempt to intimidate him didn’t hurt in the slightest.

In fact, Shawn would find it amusing if it weren’t for the blatant discomfort radiating from Willa.

“Not sure if it’s appropriate for your boyfriend to be attending your yoga classes,” Blake added.

It took everything in Shawn not to punch this guy in the face.

“But let’s talk about it at our one-on-one,” Blake continued. “I want to hear how it’s been going. Attendance has been pretty good, but clearly we need to review some things. How about we grab a drink Thursday night after your class?”

Willa gave a stiff nod. “Sure.”

“Alright, then,” Blake winked, putting his headphones back on. “Better finish up my run.”

As he ran away, Shawn turned Willa toward him and cradled her head in his hands again. He searched her face for any lingering sign of discomfort, but he only saw relief.

“Thanks for being my fake boyfriend to scare away my creepy boss,” she said with a smirk.

Almost immediately, Shawn felt his stomach drop. He hoped he hadn’t overstepped, but more than anything, he wished he weren’t her fake boyfriend. He was beyond the point of lying to himself. It was more than just a crush, now. He wanted to date her. For real. And it would likely never happen. He couldn’t blame her after what her exes had put her through. And with his history, Shawn figured he probably came off like the exact kind of guy she’d want to avoid dating.

“Anytime,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

It was too far.

Too intimate.

But he couldn’t help himself.

She gaped up at him as he stepped back.

“Do you have plans for the rest of the day, Greene?” he asked.

“No…” she raised her eyebrows at him.

“Good,” he said. “Because I have an idea.”

21

Shawn had told her to wear “normal Bay clothes.” When Willa asked for clarification, he said a swimsuit and something to cover up with. So that’s how she ended up wearing her favorite navy bikini underneath jean shorts and a tank top.

Willa sat on the steps of her front porch waiting for him. They’d started to be more careful around Ida, so they agreed that he’d pick her up rather than have her walk over to his place. That woman was too nosy for her own good, and Willa’s walks with her were slowly turning into an inquisition. Usually, asking about Bingo or the latest birds she’d seen on the wharf would pivot the conversation well enough for Ida to drop it, but lately, she’d been asking more about Willa’s dating life and talking up Shawn like it was her job.

Willa grinned to herself. It was sweet how much Ida loved Shawn, and how well Shawn took care of her in return. The wall she’d built around her heart was cracking, and she had to admit that the way he treated his grandmother warmed her to no end.

And his way of seeing her—of really seeing her—and somehow saying the exact thing she needed to hear endeared her to him as much as it scared the shit out of her.

There is nothing wrong with you.

Willa squeezed her eyes shut. She hadn’t planned to open up to him about Leo the other night, but he’d told her so much—he was so open, so vulnerable. She felt like she owed it to him to do the same, even if he’d given her a clear out. And before she knew it, she was spilling her guts, saying things she hadn’t even said to Charlie—things she’d been working up the courage to say in therapy.

So she’d told him the whole story, but held back sharing that she felt like she’d never get it right, that she was inherently messed up somehow for always choosing the wrong guy.

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