Ryan Talonovich is the star of his college hockey team, until an accident during practice leaves him confined to a wheelchair. The doctors say he'll walk again but a new season is already underway and he's been replaced on the team, which leaves him feeling alone and betrayed. What's the use of fighting to get back on the ice now?<br><br>Then he meets Dante Espinosa, a short track skater on the city's speed skating club. Though he has to work overtime to afford his sport, Dante is hell on ice, and dreams of making the cut on the U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team.<br><br>Their love of the ice brings them together, but too many obstacles stand in their way: Ryan's struggle with therapy. The memory of Dante's first boyfriend. Lack of funding to the event, Dante's harassing boss, a skating friend in love with him, and Wil Dietrich, who will do anything to win.

Power Play

And he was right. “He pushed you,” Ryan says. Dante’s smile fades, and his gaze drops to Ryan’s hand gripping the arm of his wheelchair. “I saw it from here, Dante.”


“That’s short track,” Dante murmurs, but he doesn’t sound too convinced. “Happens all the time.”


Ryan doesn’t buy it. “What’s his problem with you anyway?” he wants to know. At Dante’s slight shrug, anger soars in him, blinding him. “Dammit, you’re the best skater the club has—I’ve seen you on the ice, you’re amazing. The crowd thinks so, I think so…” Dante looks up at that, and Ryan turns away from those dark eyes that search his. Careful,he warns himself. He doesn’t want to scare off his new friend. “All I’m saying is you’re good. You knowyou’re good, everyone knows it. What, he hates you because you’re better than he is? How old is he anyway? Two?”


Chapter 20