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

“You’re really sure you’re all right?” Scott smiled sheepishly. “I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but…I don’t think my heart has stopped racing.”


“Do you want to see it for yourself? Would that help?”


Wincing slightly, Duke reached up to untie his hospital gown, letting the blue patterned fabric slip down his arms and expose his upper body. Taped to his right side was a white gauze bandage. He picked at the edge of the tape holding it in place, only to scowl seconds later when it didn’t come free.


“Can you do this?” he asked. “The morphine’s affecting my coordination.”


Scott hesitated. Would it be wise to remove the bandage? He didn’t want to put Owen at risk, no matter how minor. On the other hand, hedidn’t seem concerned. “Yeah.”


Chapter 55