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

He shouted and fumed on her behalf again when Margo failed to qualify to compete in the downhill. “Camein at the bottom of the score sheets. I told you so!”


Riley’s stomach turned over. She could have brought home a medal, possibly even a gold one, for her country. As she walked away from watching Margo’s run, Donley appeared. As she sped up to get away fromhim, she heard him laughing behind her. And she knew he’d deliberately removed her from the team because she wouldn’t let him touch her.


Riley fled the games. Didn’t even tell Jean why she decided to do so. He hugged and kissed her. “I understand. This was rough on you and totally unfair. I’ll see you back home.”


Tears filled her eyes. “I’ll watch you ski on TV.”


Back home, she told her father, a former Olympic skater, about what had happened, including Donley’s behavior.


Chapter 9