“It’s getting there.” I sounded surer than I felt, but acting confident was halfway to being confident. I’d get the rest of the way there once I heard back from Davina—and Garrett, who I’d called on the way over. He hadn’t answered, so I left a voicemail.

“You don’t seem as certain as you were in my office this morning. Or are you just tired?” He cocked his head. “Long day?”

“You can say that.” I broke off a piece of my napkin, then ripped it again and again until the pieces fell onto the table like confetti. “Like most things, the story is taking unexpected twists and turns.”

He nodded decisively. “I’m sure it will all work out.”

“Thanks. It has to.”

Finn stared me down, asking a question with his sultry brown eyes.

I bit my lip, debating how much to divulge. “My writing endeavors haven’t gone so well lately,” I confessed. “I work two jobs in the city, neither of which uses my degree in journalism, on top of competing for freelance gigs writing uninspired content for third parties. Brewing cappuccinos? Not my dream. Making song lists for spin classes? Fun, but not my dream. Being a regular contributor for a magazine focused on pop culture and human interest? Dream. And it’s within reach now.” I felt buoyant at the thought. “If I impress the editor with this story, he’s promised me a staff position at the end of the year.” “Promise” may have been wishful thinking, but saying it out loud made it feel real.

“You’re a spin instructor? Where?”

“New York Fitness Club. You ride?”

“Sometimes. I had to give up running a while back because of Achilles tendinitis. My podiatrist suggested spin, and I liked it. Even though I’m okay to run again, I still spin a few times a month.”

“Nice.” The segue from my story to exercise pleased me. I preferred other topics of conversation until I knew I was absolutely onto something with my character profiles. Confirmation my real-life wedding planner and handyman were willing sources would do wonders for my confidence. My phone was annoyingly inactive.

“But back to your story.”

I groaned.

Finn pretended not to notice. “Maybe I can help. My boss has plans to buy more land for additional restaurants and shops. The influx of more people will breathe new life into Pleasant Hollow. It will be great for the local economy. Can you use that?”

I leaned forward in interest. “Is this land your boss is interested in currently unoccupied, or will he need to buy out the existing owners?” Perhaps the Andrew Hanes angle wasn’t dead yet.

“I’m not at liberty to say.” He paused. “Am I imagining the venom in your tone when you say ‘your boss’? He’s not some villain.”

I chewed my straw. “You’re definitely imagining it.”