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

Nodding at the second sandwich, Bobby tells him, “Eat up.” Dante doesn’t need to be told twice—he unwraps the sandwich, a warm Italian hoagie that smells of olive oil and onions, and digs in, suddenly starving. “Is it good?”


Dante nods, barely noticing when Bobby sidles closer to lean against the counter beside him. Another few hours here, two at the most, and he’ll see his boy again, he can’t wait. Though he thinks he’ll have to run home first, brush his teeth, he can’t be kissing on Ryan and tasting like capicola, thatwon’t be sexy—


Bobby’s elbow brushes his. He tries to play it off as an innocent gesture, but Dante jumps and moves over, putting some much needed distance between them. When it happens a second time, Dante stumbles over the box at his feet in an effort to get out of reach. “Careful,” Bobby says, one hand finding Dante’s hip.


“Don’t,” Dante tells him, twisting away.


Chapter 73