potential. Now, on investigative pieces, that’s different. Those can take days or even weeks. So a lot of times I’ll use a colleague. Someone to bounce ideas off of, make phone calls. Use their resources. In journalism, there’s a lot of ‘it’s who you know’ that helps you get the story. You develop contacts in the police and fire departments, city hall, hospitals, snitches on the street. The longer you’re on the job, the easier it is to track down what you need, because you have more sources to call upon or feed you information.”
Like Manny Vasquez. Domino wondered who else Hayley had talked to . “What about this big story you’re working on now? Getting help with that?”
“Some. Not enough. But things are looking up.” Hayley extended her arm along the back of the couch to Domino’s shoulder. The touch of her fingertips was light, but Domino was hyper-aware of it. “What about you? Are you working on something now?”
She shook her head. “I usually freelance, and I don’t have anything lined up at the moment. I thought I’d take a time-out, and perhaps get to know you better, although I get the impression you’re a very busy woman.”
“Busy, yes. But I think I can find a break in my schedule now and then.” Hayley continued to trail her fingertips very lightly along Domino’s shoulder as she talked, and though the touch delighted her, she had a hard time thinking.
“I hope you make time to see me because I...your hand on me is distracting...in a good way. I’d like to see you again soon.” She glanced at her watch. “I should get going. When are you free for another dinner or whatever else?”
“Hmm. Well, I have an appointment Tuesday. But I’m free tomorrow night. Too soon?”
“Tomorrow’s perfect.”
“I get off at five, home shortly after. Pick me up around six?”
“Just leave everything to me.” She reached for her jacket and got to her feet. Hayley saw her to the door.
At the threshold, Domino faced her. “I had a great…” Her voice trailed off when Hayley laid a hand on her chest, palm down, above her right breast. They were a foot apart.
“I hope I don’t have to wait for eventually for a kiss,” she said. “Has anyone ever told you, you have the most wonderful lips, Luka?”
Domino didn’t get to reply before Hayley closed the distance and kissed her.
Their lips met, soft, sweet, and apparently altogether too briefly for Hayley, who let out a soft groan of disappointment when Domino withdrew.
“That’s all I get?” She stuck out her lower lip in a pout, but her eyes were smiling. “Boy, you do move slow, don’t you?”
“Like I said,” Domino grinned at her as she reached for the door, “all good things are worth taking your time. See you tomorrow, Hayley. And thanks for a lovely evening.”
“Tomorrow, Luka. And thank you . I had a great time, too.”
She left, but she could feel Hayley watching her as she walked away, so she turned back for a last look and a wave. With her bare feet, slightly tousled hair, and dimples framing that pout of a smile, Hayley embodied the definition of sexy and irresistible. She had to will herself to continue toward her car.
C
HAPTER TEN
Monday
P
ierce summoned Domino to his Arlington home at nine the next morning. When she arrived, the blinds were already drawn and no lights were on in the living room. It was akin to meeting in a cave.
“Find out anything relevant yet?” he asked, pouring coffee for both of them from a carafe on his coffee table.
“At this point you know as much as I do. You heard most of it, didn’t you?” She took a seat beside him on the couch.
“And what about what I didn’t hear?”
“Nothing significant. I haven’t found any evidence she’s a threat, Monty. As far as I’m concerned, she’s oblivious.”
He pivoted to face her, his pale blue eyes like glacial ice. “She’s no innocent. Stop kidding yourself. She’s burning up the phone lines trying to find out about you, and about
Like Manny Vasquez. Domino wondered who else Hayley had talked to . “What about this big story you’re working on now? Getting help with that?”
“Some. Not enough. But things are looking up.” Hayley extended her arm along the back of the couch to Domino’s shoulder. The touch of her fingertips was light, but Domino was hyper-aware of it. “What about you? Are you working on something now?”
She shook her head. “I usually freelance, and I don’t have anything lined up at the moment. I thought I’d take a time-out, and perhaps get to know you better, although I get the impression you’re a very busy woman.”
“Busy, yes. But I think I can find a break in my schedule now and then.” Hayley continued to trail her fingertips very lightly along Domino’s shoulder as she talked, and though the touch delighted her, she had a hard time thinking.
“I hope you make time to see me because I...your hand on me is distracting...in a good way. I’d like to see you again soon.” She glanced at her watch. “I should get going. When are you free for another dinner or whatever else?”
“Hmm. Well, I have an appointment Tuesday. But I’m free tomorrow night. Too soon?”
“Tomorrow’s perfect.”
“I get off at five, home shortly after. Pick me up around six?”
“Just leave everything to me.” She reached for her jacket and got to her feet. Hayley saw her to the door.
At the threshold, Domino faced her. “I had a great…” Her voice trailed off when Hayley laid a hand on her chest, palm down, above her right breast. They were a foot apart.
“I hope I don’t have to wait for eventually for a kiss,” she said. “Has anyone ever told you, you have the most wonderful lips, Luka?”
Domino didn’t get to reply before Hayley closed the distance and kissed her.
Their lips met, soft, sweet, and apparently altogether too briefly for Hayley, who let out a soft groan of disappointment when Domino withdrew.
“That’s all I get?” She stuck out her lower lip in a pout, but her eyes were smiling. “Boy, you do move slow, don’t you?”
“Like I said,” Domino grinned at her as she reached for the door, “all good things are worth taking your time. See you tomorrow, Hayley. And thanks for a lovely evening.”
“Tomorrow, Luka. And thank you . I had a great time, too.”
She left, but she could feel Hayley watching her as she walked away, so she turned back for a last look and a wave. With her bare feet, slightly tousled hair, and dimples framing that pout of a smile, Hayley embodied the definition of sexy and irresistible. She had to will herself to continue toward her car.
C
HAPTER TEN
Monday
P
ierce summoned Domino to his Arlington home at nine the next morning. When she arrived, the blinds were already drawn and no lights were on in the living room. It was akin to meeting in a cave.
“Find out anything relevant yet?” he asked, pouring coffee for both of them from a carafe on his coffee table.
“At this point you know as much as I do. You heard most of it, didn’t you?” She took a seat beside him on the couch.
“And what about what I didn’t hear?”
“Nothing significant. I haven’t found any evidence she’s a threat, Monty. As far as I’m concerned, she’s oblivious.”
He pivoted to face her, his pale blue eyes like glacial ice. “She’s no innocent. Stop kidding yourself. She’s burning up the phone lines trying to find out about you, and about
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