Free At Your Mercy (VIP The Pink Collection, #1) by Rhyme Devereux Page A

that beautiful
body of yours." Smiling, he begins to walk away, but stops and
comes back. "I know this is going to sound like a pick-up line, but
do I know you? Are you from around here?"
    "For the most part. I lived in Florida a long
time ago."
    "Really, what part?"
    "Tampa." A part of my life that I truly try
to forget.
    "Well, if I did know you, I definitely would
remember those big, green eyes," he says while scanning my body
from head to toe. And then he walks in the entrance of the
restaurant.
    Something in my mind is nagging at me. He
seems very familiar. Looking into my Coach tote, I search for the
envelope holding the picture that I haven't seen yet. I find the
envelope as I reach the elevators. Finding the elevator empty, I
push the third-floor button, which is the Italian restaurant.
Violet loves this place for meeting new clients. Each of the five
floors caters a different cuisine. I hear the soulful tunes of that
famous female British singer, Adele. I just love her. There's so
much heartache in her lyrics. As always my sweet mother’s voice
resonated in my head.
    Ivy, listen. People will make you mad and
treat you bad. Don't let those things cause hate in your heart. My mom always sought solace in her quotes.
    Looking at my reflection in the glass
elevator walls, I smooth out various areas of my camel-colored
linen pants suit and check that the lace part of my silk tank top
covers my bra. My nerves are always a wreck when first meeting a
client. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. Ready, set,
action …
    * * *
    Once the doors open, I step onto the marble
flooring and walk straight ahead toward a tall, thin woman with
long, platinum-blonde hair standing at the podium.
    Showing her perfect white teeth as she
smiles, she says, "Good afternoon. How may I help you?"
    "Hi, my name is Ivy Montgomery. I'm meeting
someone here. His name is Jax Sterling." For the first time, I
finally look at the picture as I show the hostess. I immediately
recognize the sexy, dark-haired man as the one who prevented me
from busting my ass on the ground outside.
    The hostess's lips make an O. "Ah, yes." She
escorts me toward the back of the restaurant.
    Looking around, I take in the ambience of
this place—soft music, the lighting dimmed just right, and
high-back, luxurious leather booth seats. Privacy is unquestionably
obtainable if that's what you desire. As we reach the last intimate
booth in a corner, my eyes drift to a handsome face whose name I
now know. Oh, crap. It's him.
    The hostess's eyes are focused only on Jax
Sterling. "Miss Montgomery, Mr. Sterling, is there anything I can
get for—"
    Cutting the hostess off, I smile and shake my
head. "No, thank you." I laugh to myself while watching the hostess
bat her eyes at him. He is yummy . She smiles as she walks
away.
    As I pull out my cell phone and text Joe that
he can leave, I slide into the seat across from Jax. "So we meet
again. Are you Jax Sterling, who requested a VIP companion?" My
stomach is a little uneasy, and my heart pounds wildly. What is
happening here?
    With a crooked smile, he rests his muscular
arms on the table and leans toward me, whispering, "Yes, Ivory ."
    I can feel my heartbeat in my ears. My hands
are trembling. How do you know that name? All my childhood
memories rush back to me at once. Trying to control the tears that
are threatening to escape, I say, "It can't be …"
    He quickly stands and walks around the
mahogany table to join me, grabbing my face with both hands. "I
can't believe it."
    He presses his forehead on mine and closes
his eyes. "Ivory, it's me, Jaxson."
     

Chapter Two
    "I may be stepping over some boundaries. Your
dad's style of living-jail-fits him. Then your mom having
Alzheimer’s; what a terrible disease. Your mom has been through so
much. Ivy …" Jax snaps his fingers, taking me out of my trance.
"You're not saying much. You okay?" Jax's eyes bore into mine.
    "Yes, I'm fine. I think I'm still in shock. I
can't believe we met