The Exception(14)

“Thanks. Are you ready? The car is waiting for us downstairs.”

“Hello, Jillian.” Drew nodded.

“Hi.” I gave a small and careful smile as not to upset the girlfriend.

I grabbed my purse and we headed out of the hotel.

****

Drew

My heart picked up the pace the minute Jillian opened the door. My God, she was so beautiful. I loved the way her long brown, blonde-highlighted hair with the subtle waves swept over her shoulders. Her lips were stained in a perfect red color that matched her dress, which hugged her body in all the right places. Jess and I had had a small argument before leaving the room. It wasn’t anything major, just her complaining that she felt I wasn’t being romantic on this trip, and it was enough to set me off for the rest of the night. I couldn’t take my eyes off Jillian and I needed to be careful because my cock was being uncooperative.

As soon as we were seated at a cabana table at Azure, I ordered a double scotch. I was going to need it to get through this night with a woman of whom I had already had enough and a woman for whom I was pretty sure I was falling head over heels for. Fuck my life.

“Aren’t you going to order us a bottle of champagne, Drew?” Jess asked with a slight attitude.

“If you want a bottle of champagne, then I will order one.”

“I’m fine with my fruity drink.” Jillian held up her cocktail glass with a smile.

That smile. It was something that took my breath away every time she did it.

When the waitress came back to our table, she took our order, and I asked her to bring a bottle of their finest champagne, just to shut Jess up. I was fine with my scotch and Jillian was happy with her fruity cocktail.

“How was your day?” Jess asked her.

“It was wonderful. I swam with the dolphins.”

“Oh. You actually got in the water with those creatures? I could never.”

“It was a lot of fun.”

“They’re so slimy.” Jess shuddered.

Jillian casually picked up her drink and took a sip without responding.

“I think swimming with the dolphins sounds like fun.” I smiled at Jillian.

“You would, Drew. I don’t think I would allow you to sleep in my bed after being in the water with those things.”

Rolling my eyes, I thought to myself, I think I’ll go tomorrow.





Chapter Nine


Jillian



I was starting to understand the unhappiness that radiated from Drew when he was with Jess. She was definitely a piece of work. She reminded me of Grant and that was not a good thing.

“So, Jillian, what made you decide to leave your fiancé standing at the altar?” she asked.

“Don’t you think that’s a little personal?” Drew interjected.

“No. She told you that she did it, so I was just wondering why.”

Sitting there, I was feeling uncomfortable about her question, but I wasn’t going to let her get to me. If she wanted to know, then I would tell her.

“I wasn’t in love with him.”

“Fair enough. But didn’t you know that before the wedding?”

I wasn’t about to get into my whole life story with this bitch I didn’t even know.

“I had my doubts, but when I found out that he slept with two strippers at his bachelor party, that sealed the deal,” I lied.

“Oh you poor thing. I wouldn’t have left him at the altar. I would have castrated him first and then left him.” She reached over and placed her arm around Drew. “That’s something I never have to worry about with Drew. Right, baby?” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

He nodded his head as he gulped down the rest of his scotch and the waitress quickly brought him another.

“What do you do for a living?” I asked her.

“I’m a buyer for Neiman Marcus. And you?”

“I just graduated from Yale Law.”

Her brow raised and, suddenly, I became a threat.

“Wow. Impressive. I never would have taken you for the lawyer type.”

Her and me both.

“How long have the two of you been together?” I asked.

“About a year now.” She smiled. “A wonderful and beautiful year. Isn’t that right, baby?” She smiled.

Drew raised his brows as he took another sip of his drink. It was taking everything I had to hold in the laughter that so desperately wanted to come out. Things were starting to become very clear now. She invited me to have dinner with them so she could tell me how happy they were and to discreetly tell me to stay away.

“That’s great. I’m in a man-free zone and I couldn’t be happier.” I smiled.

“Really?” she asked with a twisted face.

“Yes. I’m on a journey of self-discovery and I have rid men from my life. No exceptions.”

“Forever?”

“No. Not forever. But I don’t have any plans to be involved with a man in the near future. I need to find myself first.”

All of a sudden, her attitude changed towards me.

“That is wonderful, Jillian. You are very inspiring. If I didn’t already know who I was, I’d go on a little journey myself.” She winked as she sipped her champagne. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the little girls’ room.”