The Exception(52)

“I’m so proud of you for holding it together in there and standing up to them.” I kissed the top of her head. “Are you okay?”

She broke our embrace and looked up at me.

“I’m fine. Actually, I feel great. Is that f*cked up?”

I let out a light chuckle. “I’m not sure.”

“Let’s get out of here before one of them opens the door,” she spoke.

As we climbed into the back of the Bentley, Jillian laid her head on my shoulder.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” she asked.

“Of course I will. I wasn’t planning on leaving you anyway. Where do you want to stay? My place or yours?”

“How about your place? But can we stop by mine really quick so I can grab some clothes for tomorrow? I really don’t feel like putting this dress back on in the morning.”

“To Jillian’s apartment, Roland,” I spoke.

After stopping by Jillian’s apartment, we headed to my townhouse. Jillian went upstairs while I grabbed a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses. When I walked into the bedroom, she was in the bathroom washing her face and letting her hair down. I poured us some wine, climbed under the covers, and waited for her.

“I brought some wine. I figured you’d want some.”

“Thank you.” She softly smiled as she climbed in next to me.

Taking the glass from my hand, she brought it to her lips.

“So now what?” I asked. “What are you going to do about your parents?”

“Nothing. I said what I had to and it’s done. I’m never going back to Seattle. I’m sorry you had to witness all that and I’m sorry for ruining your night.”

“You didn’t ruin my night and don’t be sorry. Your parents. Wow.” I shook my head.

“I told you. They’re something else. I lived my whole life like that.” She finished off her wine and held her glass to me.

Grabbing the bottle from the nightstand, I refilled her glass.

“Are you still up for going to my parents’ house tomorrow?”

“Of course I am. Do you think I’m going to let this ruin anything? I’m done letting my parents ruin and run my life.”

I reached over and softly stroked her cheek. “You are a brave woman, Jillian Bell.”

“Thanks. I’m trying to be. Tonight was the last thing I needed with everything else going on.”

“I know.” I pulled her into me and kissed her head.

****

The next morning, I opened my eyes as Jillian stirred in my arms. Kissing her back, I softly spoke, “Good morning.”

She turned and faced me, placing her hand and her head on my chest.

“Good morning. What time is it?”

“Eight o’clock.”

She yawned.

“You were restless last night,” I spoke.

“I kept having bad dreams about my parents. Ugh. I don’t want to think or talk about them. What’s for breakfast?” she asked with a smile.

“What do you want?” My arm tightened around her as my hand softly stroked her arm.

“I don’t know. Let’s go see what we can whip up. Do you know how to cook?” She glanced up at me.

“Yes.” I grinned.

“Really? I’m surprised.”

“Why?” I chuckled.

“I don’t know. I just am.”

“I used to help my mom cook all the time. Come on, let’s go make some coffee and get breakfast started.”

“Can I just say one thing?”

“What?” I smiled.

“I’m happy you can cook because I can’t. I can’t even boil water.” She laughed. “If you said you couldn’t cook, we’d be screwed.”

“Then I will teach you.” I winked as I kissed her soft lips. “And after breakfast, I promise you will be screwed.”

As she lifted herself up from me, she grabbed the pillow and hit me with it.

“You’re dirty.” She grinned.

“You have no idea how dirty I can be, Miss Bell.”

After breakfast and a long lovemaking session in the shower, I got dressed and ran to the office to grab some files I wanted to look over before Monday. When I entered the building, I saw Jillian’s father in the lobby.

“Mr. Bell? What are you doing here?”

“Please, call me Donald.” He held out his hand.

“How did you know that I’d be here today?”

“This is your company, right?”

“Yes.”

“People like us are always in the office on Saturdays. I need to talk to you for a moment.”

“Sure. Come up to my office. We can talk there.”

Taking the elevator up to the twelfth floor, we entered my office and I told him to take a seat.

“What’s this about? I’m not really sure I should be talking to you.”

“I understand, but you’re the only connection I have to Jillian right now. I need you to get her to see me. I need to talk to her alone.”

“What about your wife?” I asked as I leaned back in my chair.

“Screw her. She’s to blame for all of this and I won’t let her stand in the way of me and my daughters anymore. I need to apologize to Jillian and I need to meet Kristen.”