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

Dante’s waiting in the kitchen when the phone rings a little after eight the next morning. He’s been up and dressed since quarter to seven, staring at the phone, willing it to ring. Twice he picked up the receiver to call Ryan—twice he set it back down, sure he missed the call just because he had the phone off the hook. God, when was the last time he was this anxious? He can’t remember.


He answers the phone on the first ring with a breathless, “Hey,” that makes Ryan laugh. Dante grins at the sound. “About time you called.”


Is it just him, or does Ryan sound coy when he replies, “You been waiting long?”


All my life,Dante thinks, but he doesn’t say that—great way to scare someone off, no? “I’ve been up a while,” he says evasively. “How are you feeling today?”


Chapter 28