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

“Thinking what?” Dante wants to know. He sees Bobby pass in front of the doorway and rolls his eyes. “I’ll be right there, Bobby. I’m hanging up now.”


“You don’t have a computer, right?” Ryan speaks in a rush to get the words out. “And you’re not going skating tomorrow, so maybe you can come over here instead? If you want to. I can show you what I’ve done on the site.” He’s inviting me to his house,Dante thinks, suddenly light-headed. So hopefully he’s not wrong about Ryan after all. Mistaking his silence for reluctance, Ryan adds, “You don’t have to stay long.”


“No, that’s great,” Dante tells him. “I really have to go, though. Bobby’s having a fit up there. Can you call me tomorrow? In the morning maybe? I get up early—”


Ryan laughs. “Me, too. Nothing like a morning skate, is there?”


Chapter 26