“So you see? I’m not boyfriend material, Adi. I could never bring you home to my family like you did with me tonight. Trust me, you wouldn’t want me to.”

Over the years, I’d heard a lot of reasons for being single, but nothing like this. “That’s not fair. I don’t want to date your father, Finn! I don’t care about that.” I pressed my palms up and down the length of my thighs. “Well, of course I care, but for you. I wish it was better for you. That’s all.” I stared at the side of his face. “I would never judge you because of your father. A television sitcom dad wouldn’t make me want you any more than a messed-up alcoholic dad would make me want you less.”

“Are you sure about that? My dysfunctional family doesn’t exactly match up to the ones in those wholesome small-town shows you love so much.”

“Life isn’t TV!”

Finn snorted. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you.”

I flinched. “That’s not fair. Just because I’m a sucker for a sappy romance doesn’t mean I expect real life to be that simple.”

He moved his eyes from the road to me for a beat. “Your speech at Lakeview House says otherwise.”

I fought the impulse to respond immediately. Yes, part of me believed life in a small town mirrored what I saw in corny made-for-TV movies. And yes, I had gone into my trip to Pleasant Hollow yearning for that. But that was after being let down by yet another Manhattan bachelor.

And more importantly: “I didn’t know you then,” I said.

Before Finn, I didn’t think it was possible to fall for anyone I met in the city. I dated anyway, just in case and because…well…needs…but I didn’t really believe love would happen. Maybe my feelings were on the fast track because of how much time we’d spent together almost daily (and nightly), but less than ten days into knowing him, I was absolutely falling in love with Finn Adams.

He laughed sardonically. “You’ve never seen my dad on a bender. The things he says could make a sailor blush. Ask my ex-girlfriends. They couldn’t handle it. I wouldn’t expect you to either.”

I froze at the mention of his past relationships. Someone out there had called Finn her boyfriend, and their breakup had driven him to change his dating preferences. Was I angry at her for not standing by Finn’s side, or was I jealous she had the opportunity in the first place? I absently opened and closed the glove compartment on repeat until I felt Finn’s eyes on me. I snapped it shut. It didn’t matter.

“I don’t scare off that easily.”