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

“That’s what he always says.” They held gazes until the other man finally snorted and shook his head, focusing again on his project. “It’s not our fucking fault he doesn’t like the answers he gets.”


He.Duke could wager guesses as to who this hemight be, but he didn’t want to be wrong. Or maybe, on the chance it was Sager, he didn’t want to be right.


“You want me to pass along a message to him for you, then?” he played along.


The man rolled his eyes. “Yeah, like Mr. Bigshot DA gives a rat’s ass what an ex-con thinks of him.”


Disappointment mingled with relief. Horan, then. Probably came down to question some of Hector’s associates in an attempt to get a stronger link to Tana. That didn’t help Duke very much, but at least it wasn’t Sager. That counted for something.


“Yeah, you just keep on shoveling it. Pile it deep enough, and you won’t be able to see it for the pile of shit it is.”


Duke reached inside his jacket for his notepad. “Listen, Mr.—”


Chapter 36