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

“Curry your favor? Duke, I’ve already got this case in the bag. But regardless of that, there’s still a murdered girl, a lack of physical evidence, and a detective who is smart enough to figure everything out, if he stops looking at the red herring.”


The last thing he needed was for a cocky lawyer telling him how to do his job. “If the only way you’re going to hand over that list in a timely manner is for me to join you for drinks, then you don’t really give me much of a choice, do you?” He peeled off his gloves, grateful for the mundane distraction. His control walked a knife’s edge already. Damn Scott. He’d rather deal with Abbott and his backstabbing homophobia than Scott right now.


If Scott had any idea how annoyed Duke was, he didn’t show it. In fact, his wide, charming smile returned. “I knew you would see things my way. I would offer to drive, but I have the feeling you don’t want to leave your car around here.”


Chapter 14