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

He pealed out of the parking lot, eager to get home. Focusing on the road helped calm his libido a little bit, but when Scott reached across the distance between them and rested a hand on his thigh, Duke thought he was going to lose it and drive them onto the shoulder.


Neither spoke the duration of the short, tense ride to his townhouse, but the second he killed the engine, Duke bolted from the car. Scott met him at the hood, and this time, Duke didn’t hesitate to grab his hand.


Their fingers entwined, locked together as Duke led Scott to the door. He must have used that key on that door a million times in the past several years, but for a moment, he forgot just how to do it. Scott wasn’t being shy about touching or kissing Duke, and while each caress was light and almost fleeting, it drew his attention until he could barely focus on anything that wasn’t Scott’s skin or his mouth.


Chapter 76