Privilege — Claire Matturro

WHEN BEAUTIFUL, JADED ATTORNEY RUBY RANDOLPH IS ARRESTED FOR KILLING HER SNAKE OF A LAWYER HUSBAND, NOBODY BLAMES HER -- EXCEPT THE COP WHO LOVES HER.

Ruby Randolph is a street-smart lawyer with a dark past who finally makes it big, but she's snared in an abusive marriage. Privilege has its costs.

When her husband's shocking murder sets her free, Ruby vows to keep it that way at any cost. But when her former lover shows up at her door as the police detective investigating the case, freedom gets tricky. There's still heat between them, but can she trust him?

Hank Rider, an honorable, world-weary cop, knows better than to get emotionally involved in a case. But he can't forget what he once felt for Ruby as they re-ignite their steamy affair. When he discovers evidence against her, the line between duty and passion gets blurred, fast.

As the investigation spirals out of his control, Hank struggles through a long list of suspects who wanted Ruby's husband dead -- including Ruby. A bankrupted law firm, a busted client-attorney privilege, an ex-con out for revenge, a corpse in an orange grove, and Ruby's own shady history conspire to make everyone a suspect.

Excerpt:

The face under the sheet didn't look like Gardner. It was flat, pale, weak jawed, with cheeks somehow collapsing into themselves. Vacant. For a moment, Ruby saw the animated Gardner's face flash over this dead thing, obscuring the putty mask on the floor.

Gardner's face, lively, alive, talking. Kinetic, ringing with energy even in sleep. That undercurrent of rage humming in him, keeping him on the move. Alive, his eyes had held everyone, engaged them, tricked them, bullied them. But now though his eyes were open, they were empty and blank. His lips were twisted, as if in pain, but even behind the grimace, he looked dull, weak, already cold. Utterly gone.

Ruby rocked forwards on her knees, dropping her head till it was nearly resting her on her thighs as she knelt on the floor. …[S]he put her index finger in the center of his forehead. Then she traced her finger down his nose, down his upper lip, and rested it on his full bottom lip. Inhaling sharply, she said, “Damn you, Gardner. Now what?”