Page 18 of My Mail Order Valentine

Every day since, I've been teaching her fire safety as if she were a little girl who just learned about fire and the dangers around it. She's deeply embarrassed but listens intently and writes everything down in a notebook I gave her.

It's a few days before Valentine's Day, and I'm thinking of doing something special for that day. Meanwhile, I need to talk to someone about my feelings for this beautiful but dangerouswoman. I have an early shift at the fire station, and when I finish, I go looking for Captain Miller.

"Captain, do you have a minute?"

"Hey, Hunter, come on in and close the door behind you."

"I wanted to ask your opinion on something."

"Is it about your little arsonist?"

I lean forward and put my hands on my face.

"I don't know what to do, captain."

"I was just kidding, Hunter."

"The problem is I don't really know if she's doing it on purpose or if she's so clumsy that she keeps setting these fires. I mean, I live in a log cabin, for god's sake."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down, Hunter."

At this point, I'm hyperventilating, so the captain passes me a bag to breathe into. After a few minutes, I start to calm down. I need to tell him the real issue.

"I'm starting to have feelings for her."

"Is that so terrible?"

"It is if I have to have her wear a fire detector wherever she goes."

I laugh at the idea of Elena wearing a necklace with a fire detector on it. This whole situation is driving me insane.

"Apart from the accidents, how are you two getting along?"

"The night of the last accident, we shared an incredible kiss,” I admit awkwardly. “I've never experienced anything like it, but after I put out the fire and accused her of being an arsonist, she pulled away. She's walking on eggshells around me, and I feel the same around her."

"What are you going to do?"

"I want to do something special for her on Valentine's Day."

"You can always get her a nice bouquet at Where Hope Blossoms. Blossom will take good care of you."

"Yeah, but I'd like to take her to a fancy dinner. Have champagne and everything. I want us to start getting close again. I need it."

"What's she like with Evie?"

"She's marvelous. Evie loves playing with her. They do tea parties with all of her stuffed animals. She's really good with my daughter. I like the bond they are forging, but it scares me, too."

"What are you worried about?"

"What if Elena can't handle living in a small town like this? What if she changes her mind and then leaves us? Evie will be devastated."

The captain gives me a look that I can't decipher.

"Just Evie?"

"Do you know of a nice place where I can take her for dinner on Valentine's Day?"

"There's a little Italian restaurant that opened a few months ago, don't you remember? Gianni's?"

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