"If you knew something about someone that you didn't care about but that information could damage someone you love, what would you do?" I ask while I stare at my hands in my lap.
"That depends, dear." Mrs. Adams takes a heavy breath. "Is this about your fellow?"
"It is." I smile lightly. "Someone has done something that is illegal and if I report it, the consequences of that could hurt Jax and me."
She squints her eyes as she looks toward the midday sun pouring into her apartment. "I think you need to ask him about it."
"I'm not sure I can do that." I rush back in my mind to that moment at the restaurant when Jax was seething with anger about Mark and his father. If I give him this ammunition there's no telling what he will do with it. At the very least the three of us will be pulled into a very complicated investigation with the FTC. All I want at this point is to leave Mark behind me. I just want him to stop being such a force in my relationship with Jax.
"Ivy, come sit here." She pats her wrinkled hand on the couch next to where she's sitting.
I move from my position in a chair next to the window, to sit with her. She reaches for my hands. "Dear, lies break people apart. You know that."
I nod. I know she's talking about Mark and it's ironic that she has no clue that my problems have come full circle right back to him.
"Don't be like Mark. You're better than him." She lightly squeezes my hand. I can tell it takes a lot of effort for her to do it. "Do the right thing. Your fellow will understand."
I sigh. I know that she's right.
"Never tarnish your heart." She taps my chest with her finger. "You have to tell him. If you don't, you're a liar too."
Her words bite not because they are cruel or malicious but because they are grounded in fact. She's completely right. I have to tell Jax and I have to report Mark.
***
"You're such a good cook," I say as I place the fork down on the plate. "Where did you learn how to cook pizza that's this good?"
"My mother was an amazing cook." He reaches for my plate and places it in the sink along with his own. "It was one of the things we always did together when I was child."
I smile. I love when Jax talks about his childhood. Each time he has it's always brightened his face and brought a lilt to his voice. "That's such a beautiful memory to have."
He reaches for my hand to pull me from the chair. "It's one of my favorites."
I watch his back as he leads me down the hallway to the bedroom. "Isn't there a rule about waiting at least a half hour after you eat before having sex?"
He stops, turns and lets out a ferocious laugh. "Do you know how charming you are?" He brushes his lips across my forehead. "I just wanted to show you something?"
"I've seen it and it's impressive.
" I giggle. The one glass of white wine I had with my dinner is already having the desired effect on me. I need to bring up my conversation with Mark but first I have a few questions for Jax.
He shakes his head as he chuckles. "There's something in your drawer for you." He motions towards the dresser. I flash back to the day I was moving in and he had shown me the emptied drawers that were reserved for my unmentionables as he called them.
I glance up at his face and his gaze is clear and steady. There's no apprehension there. Tonight he's just my Jax. He's not the ruthless businessman determined to ruin Mark. I don't want to tell him what I've learned about Mark but I know I have no choice.
"Open the drawer, beautiful." He reaches for my hand and holds it to the metal pull.
I yank it open and I'm greeted with the sight of my lingerie I left behind when I raced out after seeing the video. Beside it is a plain white envelope with my name on it. On top of that is the necklace. The beautiful necklace that Jax had designed for me was now fixed.
He reaches past me to pick up the delicate chain. "Turn around," he whispers into my ear. 'I'll put it on you."
I do as I'm told and I feel a shiver course through me as he grazes my neck with his fingers after securing the clasp. "Thank you," I say breathlessly. I feel complete again. I cradle the necklace in my hand, wishing that I could make the world swallow everything up and chase it away so that all that existed was Jax and me in this moment, in this room, forever.
"It belongs on you." He kisses my neck. "Now open the envelope." There's a giddy edge to his voice and I whip around to look at the expression on his face. It's exuberant. He's excited and I feel my stomach flip flop as he hands it to me.
I raise an eyebrow expectantly as I watch a wide grin take over his face. "I can't wait." He's almost bouncing up and down. "Rip it open."
I do it knowing that if I hadn't at that exact moment he was liable to take it from me and do it himself. I stare down at a beautiful invitation. I run my finger over the raised lettering before I pull it closer so I can read it. The information is sparse. It only lists a date and time and an address in Soho. "Is this another of Brighton's shows? If it is I'm going to have a headache next Friday." I scrunch my nose up.