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

“My problems all along have stemmed from letting other people finish tasks I should have done myself. I think I learned to delegate just a little too well.”


“That’syour problem?” Amazingly, Scott almost sounded like he was laughing. Amusement definitely colored his voice. “I think your problems might stem from the fact that you’re an egomaniacal douche.”


“That’s a matter of perspective. It’s understandable yours would be skewed. After all, you’re going to lose. Again, though I suppose after botching the Jenkins case, you might be used to it.”


“I don’t mind losing when the fight is fair. When everybody is following the same rules. But you wouldn’t know anything about having a fair fight, would you? I don’t understand. Did you just get greedy?”


A door slammed at the far end of the hallway. Duke flattened against the wall next to the open office and squinted into the darkness.


Chapter 70