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

He looks over the list he made shortly after Dante dozed off, things he wants to do to the web site before the State competitions. He’s already e-mailed the local radio and television stations, sending them a brief write-up about Dante’s performance on the ice this morning, a few of his pictures, the link to his site. Maybe one of the reporters will mention the site in an article, generate some hits. Then maybe a few companies in town will offer to sponsor Dante at the championships— “Hey sexy.”


Ryan turns to find Dante starting out at him from beneath the covers. With a grin, he asks, “Did she wake you up?”


“Come over here,” Dante says in reply. For emphasis, he scoots over to make room on the bed beside him, then flips the edge of the blanket back, exposing an empty space. “Who said you could get out of bed?”


“I’m busy,” Ryan answers. He hopes it sounds coy, which it does. From the corner of his eye he sees Dante’s quick frown and he laughs. “I’m working on your web site.”


Chapter 63