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

After taking a drink, then a deep breath, Cole asked, “Why did Keith’s story about his wife and the divorce hit you so hard?”


“It didn’t,” Gideon protested vehemently.


“Yeah, it did. I was watching you.” After a pause, Cole said, “I know it’s none of my business, but are you and your wife having problems?”


Gideon closed his eyes, shaking his head. “I’m not married,” he said, barely above a whisper. “I never have been.”


Opening his eyes, Gideon looked at Cole. “Never have been, never will be. It’s not…me.”


“Because you’d rather spend all your time working? Or”—Cole nodded slowly—”working gives you an excuse not to be involved with someone?”


“Both?” Gideon replied with a ghost of a smile.


“Surely there have been women in your life that you thought might be the one.”


“Have there been men in yourlife you felt could be the one, as you put it?”


Cole shrugged. “Sure. Though it never lasted. And you avoided my question. You’re good at that.”


Chapter 28