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

“That was some fancy shooting,” Gideon said, before kneeling beside Cole.


“Practice, my man,” Quint replied as he alerted the officers—who apparently had been waiting outside the gallery—that they could come in.


“Are you all right?” Gideon asked Cole, helping him to sit up.


“I’m alive, so yeah,” Cole replied as he tried to stop shaking. It helped that Gideon now had his arm around him, holding him tightly to his chest.


One of the officers cuffed Brooks, while Quint read him his rights. Then the officer led him out of the gallery.


“How the hell?” Cole asked. “And where’s what’s-his-name?”


“Terrance? Stashed behind the counter,” Gideon replied.


“Your favorite hiding place for bastards like him,” Cole said with a weak laugh.


Chapter 27