Four years ago, Dimitri Petrov had his leg blown off by a landmine while in military service. Suffering from PTSD, he doesn’t do crowds, and he doesn’t do people. If he had his way, he’d never leave his house at all. Dimitri’s sister, Irina, runs a dating agency, and despite that it would be better for business if they had a pretty woman working the front desk, Irina insists Dimitri’s the man for the job.<br><br>In a whirlwind of pink shirts, flapping hands, and outrageous flirting enters Elian Hubert. Elian needs a date. Invited to speak on love through time in fiction at a Valentine dinner, there is no way he’s showing up alone. When Dimitri tells him The Single Pursuit is unable to help on such short notice, Elian suggests Dimitri be his date.<br><br>Dimitri doesn’t do dates, and he doesn’t do dinners, but Elian’s made him happier in the last few minutes than anyone’s been able to do in years. He might not do Valentine's, and he might not do gatherings, but maybe he can do Elian ... a favor and accompany him to his presentation? If things go too badly, he can always hide behind a curtain and pretend he’s somewhere else.

Be Still, My Heart

“Yes. You’re strong and capable, and Dimitri is a strong name.”


Dimitri gave him a skeptical look. “I’m not, at least not anymore.”


“Ah…” Elian nodded. “I won’t argue with you, but the way we view ourselves isn’t always the way others see us.”


Dimitri nodded. He was sure everyone was aware of him being a wreck, but he wouldn’t argue either.


“It was lovely talking to you, Dimitri. Refreshing.” He zipped up his jacket, and Dimitri frowned.


“Well, we’ve been talking for several minutes, and while I’m sure you’ve figured out I’m not exactly sane, you haven’t called me on it. You haven’t insulted me, have uttered no snide comments, haven’t put me down for misunderstanding what it is you do, and you haven’t reacted at all to me flirting with you. I mean, most tough guys would have snarled by now.”


Dimitri stopped breathing for a second. “You’ve been flirting?”


Elian threw his hands in the air. “I must’ve lost my mojo.”


Chapter 4