Hotshot defense attorney James Scott always follows his gut -- even when it tells him an obviously guilty man is a victim himself. Homicide detective Owen Duke doesn't have time for gut feelings -- he lives by logic and evidence. And all the evidence tells him that Scott's client is guilty of the cold-blooded murder of a young ballerina.<br><br>Scott, a notorious media darling, is willing to risk his reputation and his career on the kid's innocence. But his undeniable charm is not enough to save his client's life. He needs Owen Duke, a man who stands for truth and justice, even if the detective hates Scott and his gut feelings.<br><br>What's supposed to be an open-and-shut case quickly becomes a quagmire of lies, murder, and rotting corruption. Suddenly, instead of being a thorn in Duke's side, James Scott is the only person in San Francisco the detective can trust. As the attraction between them deepens, they race to save an innocent man, but can they save their own hearts in the process?

Pas de Deux

“Good. And James? Don’t beat yourself up too much about the Jenkins case. Nobody could have asked you to do better.”


A sharp rap on the door pulled John away. “Mr. Terrell? Your car is waiting downstairs, and you have a seven o’clock reservation at The Fifth Floor.”


“Just keep your head above water,” John warned, as they walked to the office door. “Maybe try to give yourself a break before you work yourself to death.”


“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”


“That’s what we call famous last words.”


They walked together to John’s private elevator. Scott demurred from joining him, as he had already been away from his laptop and his phone for too long. But as he settled in his chair and woke his computer up, he wondered if maybe John Terrell didn’t have a small point about getting in over his head.3


Chapter 7