While the giant wooden hearts are a real deal, and the remailing program is world-famous, and the beautiful sculpture foundries are real, and Loveland has seen a number of Valentine’s Day festivals come and go, much of what you’ll read here is an exaggeration, or, possibly, a fantasy. I think Loveland could be the major Valentine’s Day destination in the U.S. with someone like Maddie to shepherd the city into a unified effort.

That said, it’s absolutely worthwhile visiting around Valentine’s Day (or any other time of year). If you like beer, Loveland Aleworks has some of the best in the world.

Dedication

For my one and only valentine. I love you, honey.

Chapter One

Ryann threw the doors to the boardroom open, one of them swinging so hard and wide it slammed into the wall. Normally she’d let one of her assistants open them for her, but she was on such a high after that meeting, she didn’t think of it. And anyway, opening her own doors had a dramatic effect. She couldn’t be sure without turning around, but she thought her board members watched her leave, mouths hanging stupidly open.

Her assistants were scrambling to catch up, Ted scurrying to her left, clutching her coffee and leather portfolio, Gloria to her right, trying to manage a pile of papers she carried despite their speed.

The three of them turned from the hall into the bullpen, the large central room with open cubicles most of her employees shared. They almost instantly hushed at the sight of her. Several of them blanched and sat down at their desks, whatever they’d been talking about or doing forgotten. She couldn’t help but smile. Her triumph from the meeting was too perfect, too glorious to dim. She acknowledged a few with a quick tilt of her head, their surprise evident as they stood there gaping.

“Open,” she told Ted, indicating her office doors with her chin. He ran to get there before her, throwing them wide just in time for her to waltz through. Gloria slammed the door behind the three of them, sending the papers in her hands sailing everywhere. Her face drained of color, but Ryann was too happy to chastise her.

“Oh my God,” Ted said, positively beaming. “That was the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Wasn’t it?”

He set her coffee and portfolio down on her desk and held out his hands, as if in defeat. “You absolutely killed them.”

Ryann pretended to polish her fingernails on her blazer, blowing on them before giving him her biggest grin. “I did, didn’t I? I fucking nailed them.”