Valerie Michaels knows all about life, responsibility - and hockey. After all, her brother is a defenseman for the Baltimore Banners. The last thing she needs - or wants - is to get tangled up with one of her brother's teammates. She doesn't have time, not when running The Maypole is her top priority. She opened the popular sports bar and restaurant two years ago and has been busy ever since. Maybe too busy. Could that be the reason she's suddenly drawn to the troubled Justin Tome? Or is it because she senses something deeper inside him, something she thinks she can fix? On the surface, Justin Tome has it all: a successful career with the Banners, money, fame. But he's been on a downward spiral the last few months. He's become more withdrawn, his game has gone downhill, and he's been partying too much. He thinks it's nothing more than what's expected of him, nothing more than once again failing to meet expectations and never quite measuring up. Then he starts dating Val and realizes that maybe he has more to offer than he thinks. Or does he? Sometimes voices from the past, voices you've heard all your life, are too strong to overcome. And when the unexpected happens, Justin is certain he's looking at a permanent delay of game - unless one strong woman can make him see that life is all about the future, not the past.