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 hears footsteps behind him and then the coach is there, sliding into the seat beside Ryan’s chair. Dante’s seat. Running a shaky hand through his thinning hair, the coach sighs and doesn’t quite look at him as he smiles a little too brightly. “How’s it going, Talon?”


“Better,” Ryan admits. He busies himself with the straps on his backpack because he doesn’t like the nervous tremble that runs through the man next to him, a quiver just beneath his skin that hints at a breaking point. “I’m doing a lot better.”


“Good, good.” The coach nods, yes, that’s good. Searching for something more to say, he tries, “The web site looks good.” He nods again, stares out over the ice at the players below, and his voice grows distant. “Real good.”


Trepidatiously, Ryan asks, “The team’s not doing so hot, is it?”


Chapter 90