Wild Zone (Rough Riders Hockey 4)

“What are you doing in Los Angeles?” were Lexi’s first words to the other woman. “And why are you here? Why didn’t you call?”

Martina didn’t smile, didn’t greet Lexi, but she did say, “I’m sorry for not calling, but this was urgent, and I was nearby.”

Jax thought she might be a relative, only Martina was dark skinned, dark haired. She carried a purse and a manila envelope.

In Jax’s experience, manila envelopes were never good. Things that stayed inside envelopes were time bombs. His chest tightened with apprehension.

Lexi was still locking the door when Martina said, “I was having dinner with colleagues. I just got into town for an event at the fashion center. I’m speaking for someone who couldn’t make it at the last minute.”

Lexi gazed out the glass door, searching up and down the street, before turning back to Martina. “Can I get you something? Water?”

“You can get her the hell out of your studio at nine o’clock on a Sunday-fucking-night,” Jax muttered to himself. Who the hell did that?

“No,” Martina said to the offer of water. “I’m here because someone had this delivered to my table at dinner.” She thrust the envelope toward Lexi.

“Oh shit,” Jax whispered, fisting his hands.

Lexi looked down at the envelope but kept her arms crossed. “What is it?”

“A photograph.” She thrust it forward again. “Look for yourself.”

Jax ran his hand through his hair and fisted it. His mind scoured his time with Lexi. When could someone have gotten a picture of them together?

Only about half a dozen times.

He held his breath while Lexi took the envelope, lifted the flap, and slid the photograph out. She stared at it for a long second when Jax couldn’t read her body language. Couldn’t catch enough of her face to see her expression.

When Lexi looked at Martina again, all she said was, “Who?”

“I don’t know, but I told you about this in New York, Lexi. I told you that some of these designers are cutthroat—”

“I know the designers involved in this competition.” Her voice was fierce. No one was going to push this woman around. And Jax was humbled by her inner strength. “None of them would stoop this low.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Lexi. I have no intention of sharing this with the board, but who knows whether this person has already sent it to them or not?”

Holy fuck. Jax’s stomach fell to his feet. This was the designer. The designer. The one who could make all Lexi’s dreams come true. Make all Lexi’s hard work pay off.

Lexi rubbed her forehead. “I can’t do anything about this. Especially not if I can’t confront the sender.” She threw her hands out to the sides in exasperation. “What do you want me to do, Martina?”

The break in Lexi’s voice turned him for the stairs.

“Stop seeing him.” Martina’s voice felt like a snap of cold electricity in Jax’s gut. “You know this is suicide to your career, Lexi. Why would you do this?”

“Because I love him.”

The words were barely out of her mouth when Jax stepped up beside them, startling them both. He put a hand on Lexi’s shoulder while Martina backed away three full steps, eyes wide with fear, hand at her chest.

“Jax.” Lexi turned into him with a hand on his arm. “It’s okay, I can handle this.”

“Let me see it.” She opened her mouth to argue. “Let me…see it.”

Lexi handed him the envelope and lowered her gaze, but he saw the shame in her eyes.

Martina eyed Jax, standing there in nothing but blue jeans, with a dark glint of suspicion. He didn’t care what the woman thought of him. He only cared how she could hurt Lexi. He kept a hard gaze on her until he’d pulled the photo from the envelope and lowered his eyes to it.

The image must have been taken last night. In the dark. It was grainy, but he could clearly see the image of him and Lexi pr

essed up against the alcove’s sandstone wall, his tongue down her throat, hips between her legs, hands pulling up her dress.