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

Parking at the Civic Center turned out to be relatively easy, and Duke walked quickly along McAllister, ignoring the rear of City Hall looming to his left, as he headed for the ballet building. The weather was cooler today, the sky still gloomy, but in spite of the serious nature of his morning, his spirits were high. He’d woken up with James nestled firmly in his arms, which, in and of itself, was reason to be a good mood. He couldn’t remember the last partner he’d had who didn’t complain about being smothered while they slept. Scott seemed to not only not care about Duke’s predilection for physical contact in bed, but actually enjoyed it, burrowing deeper into his body whenever he possibly could.


Chapter 49