Page 6 of The Billionaire and I

He put the plate down on the bar and turned back to me, obviously irritated. “I’m not in love with her,” he said, keeping his voice low. “I only ate the crab cake to be polite.”

“You’re never polite,” I said. I grabbed a pint of beer from a passing waiter, even though it was intended for someone else. My best friend was in love—I needed a drink!

James sighed and glared at me. “She’s been very good to me,” he said.

I drank some beer, waiting for him to say more. When he didn’t, I barked, “Out with it. Tell me everything and make it quick. She’ll be right back, just like she said.”

James glowered, but I knew he’d talk eventually. Like I said, I could outlast him.

“Ihiredher to be my date,” he growled.

Huh?“She’s not your girlfriend?” I was so confused.

“No,” he said.

I glanced back down the hall, where Audrey had disappeared. “She sure seemed like it.”

“I just met her this afternoon. I picked her up from an escort service,” James said.

I almost choked on my beer. “Shut the fuck up,” I said.

“It’s true. I couldn’t face my family alone, and I broke up with Logan a while ago.”

I shuddered. James’s last girlfriend was horrible. “Logan sucked ass.”

James rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to tell me that. I’m the one who broke up with her.”

“So this one’s just for sex?” I asked.

“She’s not even for sex.” James frowned. “I’m not going to fuck her.”

I gaped at him. What the hell was he talking about? “She’s a fuckingescort, bro.”

“I know,” he said. “But she’s just for show. I don’t want to get involved with her any more than that.”

“You can still fuck her. That’s why you’re paying her. It’s about as clear-cut as it can get,” I said.

“It’s not clear-cut.” He shook his head.

We watched as Audrey emerged from the hallway and smiled at James. It looked like a genuine smile.Not clear cut, indeed.

“She’s gorgeous,” I said. “It’s a fucking waste, James.”

“I’m making it worth her while,” he snapped. “Now, please, finish your beer and come over to see my father with us. I’ve put it off long enough.”

“You’re the boss,” I said. But I wondered if, for once, my buddy actually knew what he was doing.

An escort.Huh. Life didn’t often surprise me, but this was a notable exception.

CHAPTER 6

Jenny

I madea date with Loopsy and then got ready for it at the office. I wore black leather leggings, a black tank top, oversized hoop earrings, and spiked heels. I put on more lip gloss, shook my curls out, and sprayed myself with my favorite coconut body spray. I either looked like an extra fromGreaseor a hooker; I wasn’t sure. But I’d worn a similar look for a client the week before and won rave reviews. Conscious of the fact that my rent was due in a few days, I was hoping for a large tip.

Loopsy picked me up from the office. He was in rare form, which wasn’t exactly my idea of a good time. He wanted to take me out to a bar and show me off. It was some dive in Southie—Loopsy wasn’t exactly cultured—one of the few places left on earth where you could smoke inside and not get in trouble. Which is to say, it was a place for drunks run by drunks.

My father would’ve loved this place…if he hadn’t already drunk himself to death.

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