Sweethearts on the high school ski team, Riley and Jean-Claude always expected to marry and stay together forever. But as they become world-class skiers, they drift apart, and Jean abandons Riley.<br><br>Years later, Jean appears unannounced to train at the resort where Riley works. He's  still charmingly irresistible and physically powerful, and is the US's hope for a second Olympic downhill gold. Once Riley herself expected to win gold, but a skiing accident dashed those hopes. Jean never sent any condolences, and he shattered her heart when he married -- and quickly divorced -- a skier she dislikes.<br><br>Anger and pain flare between them, and Riley ignores Jean's attempts at friendship to insulate herself from further hurt. Yet the old longings and the love they once shared resurface. What will it take for her to come to terms with the past? Or can she?

Snowfall

The DJ who’d been hired for the event—a dark-skinned guy probably in his middle twenties who wore his hair clipped on the sides and piled high in tight curls on top of his head—fed CD after CD into the player. Gradually, he amped up the sound. Everyone looked happy and eager to celebrate no matter whether they’d done well or not in the meet today. Soon, people were squashed together, and the effect of his excitement in a hot and steamy room caused Jean’s arm pits to dampen his shirt.


The music grew so loud that Mr. Evans, the tournament coordinator, insisted the DJ tone it down.


Chapter 7