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

But that opened a door Duke hadn’t expected. Scott had an unmistakable boyish charm, and an appealing intellect that fascinated Duke. Once he knew Scott was gay, his thoughts started to stray, considering the man on levels beyond the case, beyond anything that was suitable for their positions. They were only random moments—catching a glint in his hazel eyes, noticing his strong fingers during his continuous touching of his water glass—but they were enough for him to confess he might not necessarily have turned him down if they had met under different circumstances. Duke didn’t date much. Few men understood his dedication to his work. But for Scott, he thought it might have worked out.


Might have. Or possibly in the future. Not now. Not while they were working the same case. The last thing he needed was for Captain Sager to discover a conflict of interest that might damage their case against Hector Young.


Chapter 18