Christian "Magic" Magdziuk is a minor league hockey player with dreams of heading to the NHL someday, and he'll do whatever it takes to make that dream come true. So he only plays with the Richmond Rebels for one short season before he asks to be traded to the Bedford Blizzard, a farm team for the American Hockey League where he might get a little more notice from scouts.<br><br>His attitude on the ice left him few friends among the Rebels ... that is, until teammate Ronnie took a liking to him. One thing led to another and the two men became lovers during the time Christian played with the team. But when he transferred to the Blizzard, he left the Rebels -- and Ronnie -- behind.<br><br>Now it's the first game of a new season, and he's facing off against his former teammates in the season opener. But does something still smolder between Christian and Ronnie after all this time?

Playing the Field: Faceoff

Near the end of the second period,Christian is called for high-sticking.He doesn’t care—the shot he took hit the edge of the goal,rebounded off the goalie’s skate,then landed in the net for the score.The Blizzard are up five to one,and he allows himself a victory lap before heading for the penalty box.The coach will call him on the showboating,he knows,but at this point?He doesn’t care.


In the box,he absently scratches at his left wrist as he watches the shifts change on the ice.Ronnie comes out,and though Christian stares right at him—the guy hasto feel it—Ronnie doesn’t look his way.Christian tugs on the sleeve of his jersey and hears a crinkle as he rubs his wrist.With a frown,he pulls back the sleeve to find the piece of paper Ronnie slipped him in the hall.


It’s torn from one of those scratchy paper towels the Coliseumstocks in the restrooms.Christian smoothes it out on his knee only to discover there’s nothing on it.How odd.Why would Ronnie give him this?


Chapter 8