Gideon Monahan is a man dedicated to what he does -- recovering stolen art -- to the exclusion of anything else, including a personal life. There's a reason for that, something that happened in his past that he can't forget.<br><br>Cole Newell is an archaeologist with a problem. He needs to find out who looted a dig he worked the previous summer, after one of the artifacts shows up at his gallery. Cole calls on Gideon to lend his expertise, which, much against his better judgment, Gideon does.<br><br>When one of the looters is murdered, they set out to find answers, with the help of Detective Quint Hawk. In the process, Cole realizes he's attracted to Gideon, even though he's certain the man is straight. After he helps Gideon open up about -- and accept -- his past, can the two men become more than friends? Both Gideon and Cole hope so, once they overcome the myriad problems facing them.

It Takes an Archaeologist

He dressed in slacks and a good shirt, made certain he had his keys and wallet, then took off for the gallery. Unsurprisingly, it was already open when he arrived, since it was a bit after eleven.


“My new comrade-in-arms,” James said in greeting when he saw Gideon.


Gideon chuckled. “I thought I was clerking, not going to battle.”


“Never worked in a gallery before, I take it. It can be a battle, explaining to people who don’t know what they’re looking at why, say…that Tularosa cooking pot from circa 1150 is worth more than that modern Acoma one.” He pointed to both items.


“I’m sure. Why don’t you show me the ins and outs of what I’m supposed to do, presuming I do manage to make a sale?”


They were in the midst of that when Cole came out of his office. Gideon wasn’t certain how he felt when Cole’s expression lit up momentarily when he saw him—before he tamped it down to a casual smile as he came over to join them.


“Getting a fast lesson on how we do things?” Cole asked.


Chapter 23