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

Duke turned his head as soon as he walked into the room, smiling when Scott set the tray on the coffee table. “God, that looks good. Completely worth getting shot for.”


Scott snorted. “Next time you want me to make you dinner, just ask. Getting shot isn’t necessary.”


Duke grabbed the coffee first, heedless of how hot the mug was. He’d gulped half of it down before Scott managed to sit. The sigh that escaped him was one of pure bliss.


“Okay, that’s better already. Even better than the morphine.”


Scott bit into his sandwich, forcing himself to eat it though he wasn’t particularly hungry. He would need to keep his strength up later. He would rather be chewing on Duke, but it wasn’t a hardship to watch Duke enjoy his dinner. Especially since he was there to enjoy his dinner and if that bullet had just been a half-inch over…


Scott shook his head. He was not going to dwell on that.


Chapter 58