Using heat to skim along ice delivers her into the arms of a botanist who has more than a casual interest in her and her talent.

Kescu has been raised under ice. Under the surface of Wanlio 6, the locals live and thrive with the Ice Runner moving emergency and experimental supplies from one city and base to the other. Her talent is heat, but she channels it through metal plates, and she skates along the frozen surface of her world.

Lorvik is a new botanist who is assisting a researcher at another base to develop fast-growing fruiting plants for starving populations. When the Ice Runner first arrives in his base, he knows she is more than she seems, but a kiss and genetic testing proves that his path has led him to the right woman. His woman.

Negotiations do not go too smoothly, but Kes knows she is meant for another world. Life in the ice is beginning to hurt. She agrees to his suit, and he only has one more hurdle to pass. Her mother.

Excerpt:

She hit the door lock with her clenched fist. The light went from clear to blue, and the outer door slowly rose to full height. Kescu entered and waited patiently for the inner door to open.

She felt a scan and blinked up at the monitor pointed in her direction. “Hello, I am the courier, and I have time-sensitive samples from Yola Base. Please give me access and hold me separately from the samples, but they have four hours until they are no longer viable.”

A disembodied voice asked, “How can you have come here so quickly? We got the notice that the courier was on our way two hours ago.”

“I am the Ice Runner.” She fidgeted from foot to foot. When the door opened, she stepped forward, closer to warmth.

She stepped forward again into the final lock and waited.

When the inner door opened for her, she stumbled into the heat with relief. She knelt and put her hands on her head. “Call Yola Base and take the pack. I am expecting a bonus for this time.” She was tired and kept her gaze down. Booted feet stopped in front of her.

“I am not going to shoot you. Lift your head.”

She tilted her head back and had to keep looking up. A man wearing a thick bodysuit and a swirling robe was smiling down at her.

“Get up.”

She pulled the releases on the cargo box and handed it to him. “Here you go, the botanical samples.”

“Excellent. Now, get to your feet. I am making dinner, and it is as easy for two as for one.” He reached his hand down and gripped her forearm. He hissed and released it. “You are hot!”

“Why, thank you. You are rather attractive as well.” She grunted and got back to her feet. “I am thermally active. That is the polite phrase for it.”

He chuckled. “Well, hot stuff. Come this way. You can heat my greenhouse for a while.”