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

“Were you working the day she disappeared?”


Ms. Kunz rolled her eyes at what she obviously thought was an inane query. “Of course, I was. It was the last day. There was a lot to be done.”


“Did she mention anything about her plans for that night? Perhaps she had a personal celebration planned.”


“If she did, she wouldn’t have told me. All I know is the work she left behind that I had to finish up.”


Duke frowned. “I thought it was the last day.”


“It was. You think just because the classes are over, there isn’t more to do?” Shaking her head, she turned on her heel and marched back into the office from which she’d emerged. Duke followed as discreetly as he could. “We were in the middle of reorganizing the sponsor lists. Weeding out the dead ones, sourcing new leads.”


“Ms. Mayfield was helping you with that?”


Chapter 50