Chapter 22
“Where’d you go, darlin’?”
Willa pulled herself out of her stupor and looked over at Ida, who was staring at her expectantly.
“Sorry, Grams,” she said. “Just thinking.”
About her grandson.
About the way he seemed to anticipate her every need.
About the perfect day they’d had on the boat together.
About the way it felt when he was inside her, trying to hold off an orgasm so she could finish first.
It’d been a few days since their boat trip, and like clockwork, Shawn had kept coming over every night to fish off the wharf. Of course, the amount of time they spent actually fishing had become less and less. Lately, they’d only lasted about 15 minutes before Willa dragged Shawn into the house and had her way with him.
Over.
And over.
And over.
That man had stamina, and Willa was all too pleased to take advantage.
“Well, I was saying that the Bingo Ball is next week, and I hope you have a nice dress picked out,” Ida said.
Willa bit back a laugh. “How nice? I have a few sundresses I was thinking about.”
Grams gasped and frowned. “Only wear a sundress if you want to embarrass yourself. This is the biggest event of the year. People go all out for it. And the invitation specifically states that it’s Black tie. Don’t make me regret putting you on the guest list.”
“So you’re the reason I got invited?”
“Of course, honey. Keep up. Now, what are we going to do about your outfit?”
Willa sighed. “I’ll figure something out.”
She made a mental note to talk to Charlie about ordering a few dresses from Rent the Runway for the event.
Ida huffed. “You’d better. Shawn will be wearing a tux, and I had a dress custom made for this event.”
Willa’s heart sped up. “Shawn’s going?”
“Seems that way. He asked to come with me, though God only knows why. He hates dressing up. Every year, he comes up with an excuse not to come with me. Not this year, though.”
The thought of Shawn in a tux made Willa sweat. She wondered if she could convince him to come over after the Bingo Ball and wear his tux while he fucked her with his tongue. She shook her head, trying to focus on the conversation with Ida.
“My friend, Charlie, is coming to town next weekend,” she said. “She’ll be coming to the Bingo Ball with me.”
“Better make sure she knows the dress code,” Ida muttered.
“I’ll call her today and we’ll figure it out,” Willa said. “Promise.”
“Is she single?” Ida asked. “Maybe we could set her up with Shawn.”
Willa stopped in her tracks, her blood running cold. “Set her up with Shawn?”
“Yes, dear,” Ida stopped and glanced back at her. “I promised Shawn I’d stop trying to play matchmaker after I tried to set the two of you up, but maybe he’ll let you set him up. Since you’re friends and all.”
Willa’s eyes narrowed at Ida.
She was baiting her. She knew it, but she couldn’t stop the raging anxiety from flowing through her at the thought of Shawn dating someone else. Never mind that she’d insisted he date other people while they were friends-with-benefits. She took a deep breath.
“Unfortunately, Charlie’s not much of a dater,” Willa said. “She likes to play the field. Plus, she lives in California.”
“Hmmm.”
Willa rolled her eyes and they walked in silence for the last few minutes of their workout.
“Alright, Grams,” Willa said as they approached Ida’s house. “I’ll get some dresses this weekend. Promise. And you can even give final approval if you want.”
“That’d probably be for the best, sweetie. Send me pictures. And I’ll see you tomorrow.”
FYI, the Black tie thing is not a joke. Come ready to impress for the Bingo Ball. Ida threatened me within an inch of my life that we better come dressed like it’s the Met Gala.
Willa shotthe text off to Charlie as she headed inside the hotel lobby. Her sunset yoga class had gone great, and more and more hotel guests were coming every week. She’d been working with Layla to promote the class via text and email to guests at the Beachside Inn as well as other tourists staying nearby. Many of them ended up staying for a drink at the hotel bar after classes, and Layla was excited about the increased business coming into the hotel.
Willa’s stomach churned as she thought about what came next: her one-on-one with Blake. She gave Layla a tight wave before heading to the bar, where Amanda was preparing drinks for a small group of women in one corner.
As she expected, Blake was already there, waiting. He’d found a secluded tall table and had two glasses of wine. His too-white teeth were bared at her as he gave her a smarmy smile, and she sat in a stool opposite him.
“I hope you don’t mind that I ordered you a glass of our best red,” he said, handing her the wine.
She did mind. She minded a lot.
Willa had planned on ordering a mocktail. Amanda made really good ones. Sometimes, her yoga students asked her to join them for a quick round before she headed home. She didn’t really like to drink before getting behind the wheel, especially wine. It made her sleepy. So Amanda had been making her various mocktails, and she’d loved them.
She felt like she had no choice but to accept the glass Blake extended in his hand. But that didn’t mean she had to drink it.
“So, what would you like to cover in this meeting?” Willa asked, setting the wine glass down in front of her.
“Where’s the fire?” Blake responded with a teasing grin. “Let’s visit for a few minutes before diving into business.”
Willa ground her teeth together.
“So, how are you?” Blake asked. “How are you settling in?”
“Fine, thanks. What about you?”
“Aren’t you going to drink your wine?”
It took all her self control not to roll her eyes. She took a small sip, then shared a look with Amanda and flagged her over.
“Could I get some water?” she asked
“You bet,” Amanda said, her tone overly chirpy as if trying to sound normal.
“Feeling a little dehydrated after yoga tonight,” Willa said.
“Of course,” Blake responded. “It seems like your classes are picking up popularity around here.”
Willa almost sighed in relief.
Finally, time to talk shop and get this over with. “Yes, they’re going very well. Layla has been helping me market my classes and spread the word to guests. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but a lot of them stay after class and have drinks here.”
Blake nodded. “There is one problem, though.”
Willa quirked a brow. “What’s that?”
“That boyfriend of yours probably shouldn’t be coming to your yoga classes.”
“Why’s that?”
“It’s just unprofessional.”
Willa frowned. “That makes no sense. How is it any different than if one of Amanda’s friends or family members came to the bar for a drink?”
Right on cue, Amanda set a glass of water in front of Willa and locked eyes with her for a brief moment before retreating.
“It’s different because they’re paying customers, and your boyfriend, Shane, isn’t.”
“His name is Shawn.”
“Well, the point stands.”
Willa felt her body vibrate with rage. “So if he comes to the bar after, would that be fine? What if he pays a fee to participate?”
She was digging her heels in for no reason and she knew it. Willa doubted Shawn would come back to one of her classes, and even if he did, would Blake ever find out?
“Look, I didn’t want to have to go here, but it’s more than just that other people are paying customers,” Blake said, setting his wine down and locking eye contact with Willa. “He seemed a little rough around the edges. Out of place. You know?”
“Rough around the edges?”
“Just not the kind of guy our guests would appreciate having around here.”
Willa opened her mouth to respond and shut it. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“He doesn’t really seem like your type, either,” Blake said. “Not sure what you’re doing with him, anyway. Is he really your boyfriend?”
This meeting had gotten way out of control, but Willa couldn’t seem to regain her ability to speak. She was utterly confused and frustrated, but more than anything, she was fucking furious. How dare he talk about Shawn that way? How dare he make assumptions about Willa? And how dare he talk to her about something personal when they barely knew each other and this was supposed to be a business meeting?
Blake reached across the table and grabbed her hand, which had been resting on the table near her glass of water.
“If it’s company you’re after, I’d be happy to oblige,” he shot her another cheeky grin, and she felt dirty. “I’m sure I could make it worth your while. I’d even be willing to look the other way if you brought him to another one of your yoga classes.”
She tugged her hand out of his grasp.
“What are you suggesting?” she asked through clenched teeth.
“I’m suggesting that you ditch the long-haired caveman and let me take you out instead,” he whispered seductively. “And if you’re a good girl, maybe we can even?—”
She grabbed the glass of water on the table and emptied it over his head. He sputtered and his eyes turned black with anger.
“You little bit?—”
“Shut the fuck up and listen carefully, you disgusting creep,” Willa said, getting closer to him and setting the glass back down on the table. “Even if I wasn’t with Shawn, I would never go on a date with you. You know why? Because you’re the kind of guy women have nightmares about. You overcompensate for what I’m assuming is a tiny dick with your fancy suits and perfectly manicured hair. I doubt you even know where the clitoris is, you walking pile of human garbage. You think women want you, but you know the truth? You have to fucking blackmail them into sleeping with you.”
“Get out of here, you fucking cu?—”
“Gladly. But first, you should know that I’m done teaching yoga here.”
“You’re fired.”
Willa laughed. “Always have to have the last word, don’t you? Well, you can get fucked.”
She turned on her heel and left, head held high as onlookers stared. She walked up to the front desk, where Layla watched with wide eyes.
“I guess you probably saw, but I just quit,” Willa said.
Layla nodded.
“Don’t let that guy fuck with you,” she continued. “It’s not worth it. Quit if you need to.”
“I can’t,” Layla said. “I can’t quit.”
“Why?”
Layla shook her head. Willa didn’t press.
“Well, be sure to let the guests know that there won’t be any yoga classes anymore.”
“I will,” Layla whispered.
“I’m sorry.” That there’s no more yoga. That you’re stuck working for this asshole. That you’re trapped here. All things she wanted to add, but didn’t know how to.
Layla shook her head. “Don’t be.”
Willa held eye contact with her for a few moments, then left without a backward glance.