"From Bill," Brendan said, carrying a vase of red roses to Freya's desk and setting it down carefully. "Red for love."

Freya blushed prettily. "Shut up," she said, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the flowers.

"But wait," Brendan said. "There's more. Wait right here." He sprinted back to the front desk and grabbed a heart-shaped box of chocolates. As he returned more slowly, he opened it and helped himself to the cashew cluster. "Check it out," he said through his mouthful of chocolate.

Freya snatched the box, still blushing. "That's the end, right Brendan?" she growled.

"So you don't want the balloons and teddy bear?"

Her head shot up. "You had better be kidding."

"Kidding," he said, and grabbed the peanut butter cup. "Old Bill's being mighty romantic."

Freya sighed. "Brendan, it is Valentine's Day. You and Emmett doing something special?"

"Oh, yeah," Brendan said, and thought about the takeout Chinese and horror movie marathon he had planned for later.