Be My Valentine

The film opens with a fire at a flower shop owned by Wendy Clark and Kate Burlingham. Fire Lieutenant Dan Farrell, a widower of several years, responds to the scene. While the shop suffers no structural damage, the compressor fire forces them to close for repairs during the peak Valentine's Day season. Dan, who is organizing the annual Firefighters' Ball to raise money for a scholarship fund, later runs into Kate at a grocery store. Kate, an MBA graduate who left the corporate world to follow her passion for flowers, offers to help Dan with the ball's decorations as a contribution to the cause. As they spend time together, they discover a mutual love for softball, leading to a 'batting practice date' where Dan officially asks Kate to the ball. Meanwhile, Dan's 12-year-old son Tyler navigates his first crush on Rebecca, the daughter of a paramedic. Tyler struggles with jealousy after seeing Rebecca with another boy at the mall, but eventually reconciles with her after learning that 'fighting for love' is part of the process. The central conflict intensifies when Kate's ex-boyfriend, Gavin Malone, arrives from Los Angeles and proposes to her with a large diamond ring. Gavin admits he made a mistake leaving her five months prior. Feeling like he cannot compete with Kate's long history with Gavin, Dan decides to step aside, telling Kate he doesn't want to complicate her decision. However, a life-threatening experience during a hotel fire—where Dan's oxygen mask malfunctions—gives him a new perspective on life and love. He leaves a heartfelt voicemail for Kate saying he wants to 'fight for her,' though he immediately deletes it out of insecurity. On the night of the ball, Tyler and the other firefighters conspire to get Dan on the auction block after the scheduled 'prize,' Michael, feigns illness. Kate, having realized that her future lies with Dan rather than Gavin, arrives at the ball. She engages in a bidding war with Joey's sister, ultimately winning a date with Dan for $5,000, which she explains she can afford because she bought Apple stock in 1997. The film concludes with Dan and Kate dancing at the ball, finally united.