I was just confirming that the iconic buxom redhead in the black catsuit used on many CCG cards is in fact Alex Kole. (Though her actual card is an evening gown pic).
Yup. That's her.
And if that is true, since she and Richard were once lovers, was it a skeevy "Sean-Connery-and-Catherine-Zeta-Jones-in-Entrapment" kinda thing, or is she a well-drawn cougar like the Black Widow?

I don't see it as either. The taboo/father figure/best friend's daughter thing is certainly in play - how could it
not be? - but so is the thrill of danger thing (they worked a lot of missions together, facing life or death scenarios on a regular basis). Both of them are pretty desperate for intimacy their jobs don't allow. They can't afford true romantic relationships so they turned to the next best thing - someone they already trusted as surrogate family. It's definitely off but I wouldn't call it "skeevy."

They're also both a bit ashamed of the weakness that drew them together, which plays into the rather extreme bender their story takes once Poole turns. Alex doesn't just want to stop Poole, she wants to punish him for betraying her. The Poole of old, of course, doesn't share in the modern romance, distantly viewing it as a strategic weapon to use against her - and the rest of his enemies.
I
soooo want to get back to those PDFs. Soon, kiddies, soon...
Oh - is Iron Flower Alex or is that woman someone else?
Yes. Iron Flower is one of her Krypt codenames.