Music teacher Niles Edwidge gets the shock of his life when Maestro Augustus Castellanos, a world-renowned musician and composer, shows up at Timber Creek Academy. Not only has the maestro been asked to guest-teach alongside Niles, but he’s brought his prodigy daughter and enrolled her as a student.

Niles has been waiting for the day the academy will decide to replace him. His educational background falls short of the school’s usual standards, but a revered maestro? It doesn’t make sense. Why would such a prominent figure want to teach high school music?

Fearing for his job and envious of the other man’s career, Niles doesn’t give the maestro a warm welcome, but their feud eases when Niles learns the respectable musician is struggling with a mountain of problems and would prefer to be anywhere but Timber Creek.

As the truth about August’s troubled life surfaces, so too does a secret he has carried for decades. As a self-proclaimed repressed bisexual, August rarely allows himself the freedom to explore his sexuality, but an undeniable attraction to Timber Creek’s music teacher tests his resolve. He can’t afford to fall for Niles. He has a life and responsibilities outside Timber Creek.

The minute his obligations are fulfilled, he’s out the door.

Unless he finds a reason to stay…

The last thing Diem Krause wanted to do was ask for Tallus's help.

The too-hot-for-his-own-good records clerk was so far outside Diem's league that he became tongue-tied in his presence. Six months ago, after an embarrassingly unimpressive exchange in the bedroom that accentuated Diem's flaws, he swore never to go near the sultry man again.

When a new case lands on Diem's desk, one involving a dead, allegedly unfaithful husband, Diem exhausts every means of investigation until he has no choice but to seek out the man he swore never to see again.

Tallus has skills Diem doesn't. In addition to being confident and sociable, Tallus can act and help him get answers.

But inviting Tallus into his case means relinquishing control, and Diem hates not being in control. Not only is the Toronto Police Department's records clerk fanatical about investigative work, but he also has a thing for making Diem uncomfortable and pushing his boundaries.

When the case takes a dark and dangerous turn, the two spend far too many long nights trying to puzzle things out. Tallus's flirty, suggestive behavior is going to get them in trouble, and the last thing Diem wants is to end up in bed with him again. It was a disaster the first time, and Diem doesn't want to revisit the shame.

Will Diem be able to resist Tallus's charm?

Can the two work together to solve the unusual case without crossing lines?

Diem isn't so sure. He doesn't want a partner. He doesn't need a lover.

But with Tallus Domingo, he somehow ends up with both.

An embarrassing mishap with a lightbulb lands Toronto Police Department records clerk Tallus Domingo in the arms of Diem Krause, a surly ex-cop turned private investigator—literally.

In search of his usual informant within the department, Diem wasn't prepared to end up with a handful of Tallus, but that was who he got.

Diem's case is complicated, but his relationship with his old employer is more so, so he's not inclined to accept help from someone he doesn't know.

But Tallus won't be disregarded. He won't be cast aside. Tallus's dreams of investigative work push him and Diem together.

Can this unlikely pair work amicably to solve Diem's case?

Will their evident attraction to one another get in the way?

It's not a real case, he's not my boyfriend, and we aren't partners.

Three lies I told myself for survival.

After ten months of shamefully stalking and showing up randomly on Tallus's doorstep at midnight (for reasons), the sinfully hot records clerk decided he'd had enough of my games.

In fact, he went out of his way to bring me the most ridiculous case (it was not a case) on the planet as an excuse to push me over the line (he wanted a date). Our arrangement (hooking up) didn't suit him any longer.

Could I say no? Of course not (this was Tallus).

Five days, I told him. Five days to prove his silly theory, then we were done.

Little did I know, Tallus had a deadline of his own.

Investigating a mind-controlling-murdering psychic was hard enough (because it was not a thing), but resisting Tallus's charm was the real challenge.

It turned out, I was wrong about a few things.

The case might be a case after all.

Tallus had potential as a partner.

And after all was said and done…

I wasn't sure I could let him go.