Lethal Affairs by Kim Baldwin, Xenia Alexiou Page A

As she nodded politely to his discourse on the state of federal funding for the arts, she sensed she was being watched and looked beyond him at an attractive redhead studying her from across the room.
Nice. She favored this type—the right age and height, with appealing curves displayed to perfection in a clingy, low-cut, lavender dress.
When their eyes met, the redhead smiled, conjuring up wonderful dimples, and Domino smiled back. As she decided to strike up a conversation with this woman next—and perhaps mix a little pleasure with the business at hand—someone called her name, her real name, all too loudly. “Luka. I thought that was you.”
She turned to find the assistant director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, her contact for a lengthy art restoration project she’d tackled a year or so earlier. “Madeleine. It’s been a long time.”
“Yes, it has. Too long,” the woman agreed before she acknowledged the young mohawk-artist Domino had been talking to with a tilt of her head. “Hello…Bernard, isn’t it? I saw your exhibit at the Anton Gallery last month. You have a unique perspective.” Domino had heard the line often when someone had to acknowledge an artist whose work was lacking.
“Thanks.” The young man grinned. “Some people don’t get my stuff. I know it’s kind of out there…” He clearly planned to continue, and probably for a long while, but Madeleine cut him off.
“Would you excuse us, dear? I need to talk business with Luka, see if she has a place in her schedule to work on a painting for us.”
“Oh. Sure. No problem.”
As he ambled toward one of the open bars and Domino tried to decide how to cut short this conversation, the attractive redhead she’d been staring at earlier suddenly appeared at her elbow.
“Luka, is it? And you’re an artist?”
“Art restorer,” Madeleine curtly answered for her, obviously perturbed to lose one competitor for Domino’s attention only to gain another. “And we were about to discuss some private business.” She smiled as though this explanation compensated entirely for her rudeness.
“Let me give you a call tomorrow, Madeleine.” Domino said, finding it difficult to keep from staring at the redhead’s cleavage. “I have your number, and tonight should be about pleasure, not business.”
“Indeed it should,” the redhead flirted back, addressing her response exclusively to Domino.
Madeleine frowned, clearly outnumbered. “Of course. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.” Her tone was pure pout, but she took the hint and left them alone.
“Luka’s an unusual name. What’s the rest of it?” The dimples made another appearance, and Domino had to keep reminding herself she was here on a job, which she’d better get back to. But this woman was too damn attractive to brush off for good. She’d get her number, and perhaps they could meet later for a drink and an evening of fun. It had been too long since she’d been out with anyone.
“You have me at a disadvantage,” she replied. “How about giving me your name?”
“Hayley.” The redhead offered her hand. “Hayley Ward.”
“Nice to meet you, Hayley. And I’d like to get to know you better, but I actually do have to work some tonight. I’m supposed to be looking for a friend.” Domino looked around for Cameo but didn’t see her immediately. The crowd was getting thick as people continued to arrive. “Perhaps we can get together later?”
“Oh, I’d like that. Very much,” Hayley replied.
A cluster of partygoers dispersed, and Domino finally spotted Cameo standing by one of the bars, alone. And she was staring at the two of them. What the hell? What was she doing?
“Well, come find me.” Hayley sounded disappointed, and her body language as she departed spelled reluctance, which Domino found immensely encouraging.
I’ll find you. As soon as she could determine what she was doing here and how fast she could get away.
Domino focused on Cameo, but she also