Page 139 of Boyfriend of the Hour

“It matters when it comes to my assets.”

I bristled. “I’m not a fucking bank account, Shawn. Or one of those fake Fendis you used to hawk out of the back of your car.”

Shawn’s easy smile curled into a snarl, just like it always had. “Watch it, baby. Don’t let that temper run away with you now. Things are just starting to get fun again.”

I smiled at the bartender, who glanced at Shawn but was wise enough to say nothing while he mixed an old-fashioned.

“Four-eyes know you’re working here?” Shawn asked, first nodding out at the crowd, then making no effort not to ogle my breasts. “Rubbing yourself down with baby oil like a piece of meat for these old men?”

Then he looked away in disgust, like my body meant nothing to him. Like I was old news.

I supposed I was.

“Who?” I asked again as I watched Mac start on a gin martini. He was a lot faster than me, but I wished he could go faster just so I could escape this conversation.

“Don’t play dumb, Jo. Your boyfriend.” One black brow lifted. “Is it serious?”

I shrugged. “Serious enough. We live together.” I turned. “And we’re getting married.”

The lie tasted like the biggest pill I’d ever had to swallow. I literally almost choked.

“And he doesn’t want to control my job, unlike you,” I added. “Heactually trusts me.”

“Married, huh?” Shawn looked me over again. “If you needed a job, honey, you know I’d always help you out.”

I turned, unable to keep the glare off my face. “I don’t need a pimp, you asshole.”

Shawn looked me up and down. “You sure about that?”

It was everything I could do not to throw one of the drinks in his face.

“Yes. Now fuck off, and let me get back to work.”

I tried to turn away, but before I could, Shawn snatched my wrist and whipped me back around to look at him.

“You and your smart fuckin’ mouth,” he bit out. “I can tell you one thing: he ain’t ever gonna marryyou, Sunshine. No man wants to come home to used goods for the rest of his life. I sure as shit wouldn’t.”

“Didn’t stop you before,” I snapped back.

His hand gripped even tighter. “You think you’re better than me? You always did, didn’t you? Well, you’re not, and youknowI have the proof. You think your fancy man in glasses is gonna want you when he knows you’ve done way more than shake those titties around?”

“Don’t,” I gritted out. “Stop.”

“All I gotta do is click a button, gorgeous. Then your face is all over the internet, moaning for more while you take it good and hard for the camera.”

Shame flooded me as my face and body heated like a flame. “You promised you wouldn’t.”

“And you promised you’d always be mine,” Shawn cut back. He looked me over again like a car salesman valuing a trade. “They’d be crazy for you over on OnlyFans. That body could still be good for something, after all.”

I stared at the bar top, then over to Mac, who was still pouring drinks, somehow even more slowly, as if he were enjoying the show.

“Don’t,” I said again, though my voice had lost its edge. Then, “What do you want?”

Shawn glanced back at the table, then returned his smarmy gaze to me. “Nothing. For now. Just for you to remember who youreallybelong to.”

When Mac placed his drink—basic scotch on the rocks—Shawn picked it up and raised it in my direction.

“One of these days, I’m going to need that charm again, Sunshine,” he told me. “Especially with this crowd. Lis seems to like you. So have fun with old four-eyes, but when I call, you’regonna come. Or else that video is going up everywhere, and you can kiss your boy toy goodbye.”