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

The next day, right after lunch, the sound of Irina’s heels filled the lobby, making Dimitri look up. He knewit was her heels, but he glanced out on the street anyway to make sure no one was firing any guns


“Will this do?” She held up a long black evening dress.


Dimitri blinked. “Has Elian gotten you in?”


“He damn well better have. I’m wearing this.” She shook the dress. “And I have an appointment for my hair tomorrow after lunch.”


Dimitri nodded. “I’m sure you’ll look amazing.”


Irina frowned at him. “You better look amazing too. We have a reputation to think of. And, please, shave.”


Dimitri ran a hand over his raspy chin. Shave?He shaved the day before yesterday. Irina sighed and walked toward her office, but stopped in the doorway. “Is he picking us up or are we picking him up?”


Chapter 19