Wild Zone (Rough Riders Hockey 4)

Lexi reached around and tried to pull the sketches from Rubi’s grasp—the sketches she’d started that night she’d met Jax and hadn’t stopped doodling since—but Rubi just held them out of reach like an annoying sibling.

She finally gave up and waved at the notebook. “Shit, I don’t care, go ahead and look at them.”

She wasn’t keeping the sketches from Rubi as much as she was keeping herself from having to recognize this hot little deviant streak in her current personal and professional persona.

“I was just…playing with ideas. But it’s a complete waste of time, especially when Galliano won’t even consider an asymmetric off-the-shoulder design showing cleavage or a transparent bodice, even when the fabric pattern hides everything important, for Christ’s sake.”

Lexi picked up the dress designs, her mind already reworking them at this stage of their production. Seams could be ripped out. New fabric cut and sewn in. Lexi could do absolutely anything with a piece of fabric. That wasn’t the issue at all.

“What generation do they think we’re designing for?” she murmured, shaking her head. She could look at all designs, her own included, with an objective eye. These were cutting-edge. These were breakout material. The suggestions Martina had made brought the designs right back down to average. Vanilla. Well within the box. That wasn’t what Lexi LaCroix Designs was about.

Nor was it what she wanted to be about. Or had ever wanted to be about.

Inner turmoil raged.

“Is this partnership setting me up for success…or failure?” As soon as the words were floating

in the quiet room, all Lexi’s fears solidified. She lifted her gaze to her friend. “Am I… Am I selling out, Rubi?”

Rubi gestured with the images in her hand. “You tell me.”

Lexi shrugged. “I’ve been on this track for so long. Shooting for this one goal, to move beyond the store, take that next big step that I’ve been living for nothing but this. Is that selling out?”

“Not if the end goal takes you where you want to go.”

Her phone call with Martina made it clear the chances of that happening with Galliano were slim. Lexi looked away from Rubi, thinking of all the time and money and effort she’d wasted—when she had none to waste. The clients she’d disappointed by turning down their requests to design their wedding dresses.

The man she’d walked away from because he would have taken her attention away from her work. Because he had the potential to make her happy.

A familiar shame edged in. “I think I just…lost sight of…” Lexi shook her head, still confused. “…something.”

“You just need to refocus. These are big-time breakthroughs right here.” Rubi lifted the sketches again. “These are… I don’t mean to diss your other work, because you know I think you’re brilliant, but these might be the most unique work you’ve ever done. They’re elegant, feminine, sexy, erotic, edgy…all at the same time. I’m thinking…” A slow smile grew and lit Rubi’s gorgeous face. “Honeymoon line.”

For a fleeting second, excitement darted through Lexi’s system, leaving her high. Then reality crashed in, and Lexi crossed her arms, frustrated. “I’ve thought of that. I actually…”

“You actually what?”

“I actually feel like an idiot.” Lexi laughed at herself, but not in a good way. She lifted her arms in a gesture of pure frustration. “I was so excited about this idea—I didn’t even know how or where I was going to fit it into my business—that when I was at the fabric mart, I bought a bolt of”—she closed her eyes and pressed her hands to her chest—“the most exquisite embossed white leather. It was so freaking expensive. I couldn’t afford it, shouldn’t have bought it. I’ve been meaning to return it but haven’t been able to part with it.”

She sighed and let the creative pleasure linger. The height of pure self-expression through her designs was, honestly, the best feeling in the world. Instantly, the memory of Jax’s mouth bringing her to an orgasm so intense her muscles bowed and gave and quivered filled her mind.

Right. Expression through her designs was the second-best feeling in the world.

“Let me see,” Rubi said.

Another lick of excitement burned Lexi’s chest as they walked to the fabric storage area. She untied the wrapping on the bolt and tugged the plastic back, then turned a corner to show the right side of the fabric.

“It was such an impulsive buy. And it’s now just sitting back here.”

“Spontaneous sex. Radical designs. Impulsive buys.” Rubi crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing, expression growing serious. “I really like the effect this Biker Boy had on you. I’m thinking investing your time and attention in him would be a better business decision than dumbing down your amazing designs. And I’m dead serious.”

The sheer validity of that idea turned Lexi’s world on its axis.

Unable to process such an emotionally risky idea, she pushed it away as she fingered the ultrasoft leather. The fabric melted to the curves of her hand, as soft as rose petals. “God, feel this, Rubi. It’s orgasmic.”

Rubi ran her hand along the bolt with a gasp, then took the edge from Lexi and rubbed it between her fingers, her hands, and finally against her face. Rubi closed her eyes, took a deep breath of the rich, sweet leather scent, and hummed with intense pleasure. “What a wicked thrill.” Her green eyes reopened and pinned Lexi with a serious gaze. “You’ve got to do this line, Lex. It will skyrocket.”

A knot of anxiety tightened Lexi’s chest. She knew that look in Rubi’s eyes. That tone in her voice. They had preceded every breakthrough design. Rubi was like a fortune-teller when it came to Lexi’s business. She could look at a design, tou