C.D. Bales is a witty and charismatic fire chief in a small town, known for his exceptionally large nose. Despite his appearance, C.D. is confident and has a sharp sense of humor, though he is secretly insecure about his looks. He becomes infatuated with Roxanne, a beautiful and intelligent astronomer who moves to town for the summer. Roxanne, however, is unaware of C.D.'s feelings and instead becomes interested in Chris, a handsome but inarticulate new firefighter. Chris struggles to communicate effectively with Roxanne, so he enlists C.D.'s help to write eloquent love letters that express his feelings.

Through the letters, C.D. pours out his own genuine emotions, leading Roxanne to fall for Chris, believing him to be the author of the heartfelt words. Meanwhile, C.D. struggles with his own emotional turmoil, torn between his sincere love for Roxanne and his loyalty to Chris. The situation becomes increasingly complicated as C.D. continues to assist Chris, while Roxanne starts to sense the disconnect between Chris's letters and his real-life personality. The tension builds as C.D. must navigate his feelings and the growing complexities of their relationships.