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

The Rio del Oro is far enough into the heart of the city to be considered downtown but it’s in a classier section than Dante’s used to. The streets here aren’t as congested as those near where he lives and the sidewalks are swept clean, there’s little graffiti marring the buildings, trash cans and dumpsters are kept behind the stores, out of sight. The bus stops a good two blocks from the restaurant but Dante finds it easily enough—with its fake adobe fa?ade, plastic cactus planted at the edges of a sanded parking lot, and an enormous red, white, and green Mexican flag painted along one wall, the Rio del Oro is hard to miss. Because it’s barely five thirty yet, there are only a handful of cars in the lot and Dante suspects they belong to the hired help. Still, his heart pounds in his throat as he pushes through the door and into the darkened interior of the restaurant.


Chapter 101