The Exception(4)

“The veggie burger?” I smirked.

“Is something wrong with a veggie burger?” He cocked his head.

“No. Nothing at all.” I snickered.

“I didn’t take you for a beer kind of girl.”

“Oh really? And what kind of girl did you take me for?”

“The kind of girl who drinks fine wines, fruity cocktails, and expensive champagne.”

I looked down as I ran my finger and thumb along where my ring once sat.

“I like a beer every now and again.”

He was right about me. I did drink fine wines, fruity cocktails, and expensive champagne. Ever since I could remember, my mother used to tell me that beer was for the lower class; that it was a cheap man’s drink and I had an image to uphold. I could never drink a beer around my parents or Grant. He was just as bad as they were, only drinking his scotch or bourbon on the rocks and holding his glass in such a prissy manner as to alert everyone he was the upper class and not to be f*cked with.

“Earth to Jillian.” Drew waved his hand in front of my face.

I looked up at him and lightly shook my head. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

“You seemed lost in thought. Care to talk about it?”

The waitress set down our beers in front of us and I quickly took a large sip.

“No.” I smiled as I set down my glass.

His eyes narrowed at me as he studied me for a moment.

“Who are you, Jillian Bell?”

Tilting my head to the side and giving a light shrug, I spoke, “I have no clue.”

A confused look swept over his face, and before he had a chance to say anything, the waitress set our burgers in front of us.

“How’s that veggie burger?” I asked.

“It’s good. How’s that grease-dripping burger you’re eating?”

“Fantastic,” I spoke with a mouthful of food.

Drew let out a light chuckle. Once we finished eating, I leaned back in my chair and puffed out my cheeks.

“Oh my God. I’m so full.”

Did I care that I had just scarfed down a burger, a plate of fries, and a beer in front of a sexy man that I had just met a couple of hours ago? No. I didn’t even give it a second thought. I was over what anybody thought of me.

“We better get to our gate,” Drew spoke as he pulled out his wallet and threw some cash on the table.

Reaching into my purse, I pulled out some money.

“I got it, Jillian.” He smiled.

“No. No. I’m paying for my own.” I set the dollar bills on the table.

Drew picked them up and placed them back in my hand.

“I said I got it. See? Now I’ve once again made your shitty day a little less shitty.” He grinned.

I couldn’t help but smile as I stared into his deep dark brown eyes. He was a really nice guy. Or was he just trying to get into my pants? Either way, I let him pay. He could be nice all he wanted but he wouldn’t get a piece of me, even though the thought of his muscular strong body on top of mine was enticing. Shit. I needed to stop thinking that.

As we boarded the plane for Hawaii, I took my seat next to an older woman who was dripping in gold and diamonds. She wore a Donna Karan suit, and when I looked down at her feet, I couldn’t help but notice her Jimmy Choo’s. Her hair was secured in a perfect bun and her makeup was immaculate. She reminded me too much of my mother. Drew’s seat was two rows behind me and I admit that I was a little disappointed he wasn’t sitting next to me.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” Drew spoke as he stood in the aisle. “Would you mind switching seats with me? I have a lovely window seat two rows back.”

“I’m fine where I’m at,” she spoke with an attitude, not looking up from her magazine.

I looked up at Drew, gave him a wink, and motioned for him to go sit back in his seat. Suddenly, I began to cough loudly until the woman looked over.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“No.” I coughed in her face.

She leaned to the side of her seat, away from me as I kept coughing.

“Can you please cover your mouth?”

“Oh sorry. It happens so much that sometimes I forget.”

As I coughed in my hand, I placed it on her arm.

“I’m sorry, but once I start, it could go on for hours. So I want to apologize in advance for the disruption it may cause you during our six-hour flight.”

She looked down at my hand, which was touching the fabric of her suit, and then back up at me. Grabbing her purse, she got up from her seat and, before I knew it, Drew was sitting next to me.

“Well played, Jillian.” He winked.

“Thank you.” I smiled. “I didn’t want to sit next to her anyway. She reminds me of my mother.”

“Is that a bad thing?” His brow arched.

“Yeah. It is.” I looked away.





Chapter Four


Jillian



Once the plane took off, the flight attendant took our dinner order, which consisted of either a chicken enchilada or a salmon salad. Drew opted for the salmon salad and I declined both. Not only was I still full from that ginormous burger, I didn’t like enchiladas and there was no way I was eating salmon from an airplane.

“I thought plane food revolted you?” I smirked.