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

So far, flop was completely off the menu.


Once the check was paid, Duke took one look out the window at the black horizon and decided the view wasn’t worth sticking around any longer. “Normally, I’d suggest walking over to Camera Obscura, and then taking it onto the trails, but I think tonight warrants breaking my routine a little bit.” He casually folded the napkin on his lap and set it on the table. “Would you like coffee back at my place?”


Scott smiled. “How routine is your routine? Do you bring a lot of guys up here?”


The way Scott said it made him flush in embarrassment. “You would be number five in the last six years. Though I haven’t been out here for over a year.”


“That’s a bit of a shame. A place like this should be enjoyed more often than that.” Scott finished the last bit in his glass of wine. “I think right now, coffee sounds perfect.”


Chapter 75