Page 22 of Catch and Release

“And listen, sweetie, I want you to meet my friends,” Ida clapped her hands together. “Oh, they’ll love you! Would you join me for Bingo this Friday night?”

Right as Willa nodded in agreement, the door flung open and a shirtless, sweat-covered Shawn walked in.

“Hi,” she squeaked.

Well, that was new.

She’d never squeaked in front of a man before.

Usually her confidence threw them off, but she hadn’t realized just how hot Shawn was—or maybe, she hadn’t wanted to realize it. But standing before her, there was no ignoring the strong curve of his arms, the way his six-pack glistened under his sweat, how that little V pointed down, down, down…

She was looking at his crotch. She couldn’t tear her eyes away, though, because below that were his legs, and fuck. She’d never considered herself much of an appreciator of men’s legs, but with Shawn, she could make an exception. They looked like they were sculpted, as rigid and muscled as Michelangelo’s David.

Heat pooled in her core, and she cursed herself for suddenly feeling horny.

Horny and boyfriendless for the first time in years.

Not to mention, she’d sworn off men and had yet to unpack her favorite vibrator.

“Are you okay?” Shawn’s breathless voice interrupted her rapt perusal of his body.

He’d taken out an Airpod and was looking at her with so much concern that she wanted to start crying again.

Had Leo ever looked at her like that?

Had anyone?

And suddenly, she realized how she must look—red-faced and blotchy and puffy, like she’d just cried. Which she had. She stood so abruptly she almost knocked over her tea.

“I’m fine,” Willa said. “Thanks, Grams. For everything.”

“Anytime, hon. See you tomorrow.”

Willa walked past Shawn and their shoulders brushed, enough to send a zap of need coursing through her.

First order of business when she got back to the house: find her vibrators.

7

“Don’t beat yourself up, Willa,” Charlie said.

Willa had her on speakerphone as she laced up her sneakers to go over to Ida’s for another walk. She’d had two of her yoga classes that week, and only a few people showed up to both. Of course, Layla came to both of them, but Blake showed up, too. Presumably, he was there to keep an eye on things and gauge the success of their program.

“I just feel like there should be more people showing up, but maybe I’m not doing enough to help them spread the word,” Willa said.

“Okay, so make a flier,” Charlie said. “Ask them to mention it to guests when they’re checking in. Woo the bartender into telling everyone about it.”

“Making a flier isn’t a half bad idea.”

“See? Everything starts out small. A few people is still a few people. And you get paid either way.”

Charlie was right about that, but Willa didn’t want low attendance to cause her to lose the job. She’d never worried about this before. Back in San Francisco, she’d had her regulars. Her classes were always well-attended, and even when they weren’t, she was able to brush it off. As much as she wanted to pretend like she was unbothered by Leo’s betrayal, she knew her deepest insecurities were surfacing since finding out he cheated on her.

Or rather, he cheated on his wife.

With her.

Willa sighed. She felt like she couldn’t trust herself. Didn’t know who she was anymore. She’d been with a married man for two years without knowing. She thought she was smarter than that. She thought she would see through a guy like him.