Dr. Ray Carmichael is a wealthy African-American doctor and political activist running for office on the platform that the brutality and corruption of the local police force is out of control. Nick Sorenson is a white cop who grew up poor and almost lost his life in gangs and crime before turning his life around by joining the police force. When Ray’s brother is beaten by a couple of police officers after a traffic stop, Nick is the Internal Affairs detective put in charge of investigating the incident. Dr. Carmichael's obvious distrust of the police force rubs Nick the wrong way, and the man becomes a pain in his neck. Too bad, because neither of them can deny their attraction to each other. Ray has Nick removed from the case when he decides he’d rather date the man than fight with him. In spite of their differences, they begin an affair and grow closer. Until an explosive incident at a family gathering puts nagging doubts in Nick’s head -- he's not sure if they can overcome the differences that separate them. When Nick is about to lose everything important to him, will he realize his budding relationship with Ray is worth trying to see the other side?

The Other Side

“Since the cops beat him?” Ray let his anger seep in for a moment. “He’s doing better. Still only able to work part days at the restaurant though. He gets tired very easily.”


Nick toyed with his potatoes, still not looking up. Ray noticed he blushed a lot. It was very attractive, actually. He didn’t know why, but the spots of red on Nick’s pale cheeks were a real turn-on. Hell, the whole man was hot. Ray couldn’t remember being this attracted to a guy so fast in a long time. A guy so obviously different from him.


The truth was, when Ray thought of whom he’d live happily-ever-after with, if that notion was actually real, he supposed he’d end up with another black man. His dates with white men were generally about sex and not much else. Most were curious to find out if black men were as well hung as the rumors said. Anyway, Ray ended things pretty quick with these sorts once they’d had their physical fill. He’d not been that curious to get to know them better.


Chapter 6