Page 33 of True Colors

“Which waters?” I ask, exasperated.

“That guy has a thing for you.”

My heart stutters. Why is that so good to hear?

“No way. He seemed downright annoyed to see me.”

Finn cocks an eyebrow. “Darlin’, I know men ‘cause I’m one, and that dude is into you.”

I set my water glass down a little too aggressively. “He was cold.”

“He was jealous,” Finn says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Mm-hmm.” Finn leans back and pops one of the last of the tortilla chips on the plate into his mouth. “Men are simple creatures, Annie. When they see something they want, they get weird about it.”

I glare at him. “He’s not weird about anything. He’s a CEO.”

“Exactly.” Finn chuckles. “Weird squared.”

I give him my best withering look.

He laughs softly as he nudges my arm. “Hey. If he’s the wrong guy, he’ll show you. If he’s the right guy, he’ll show you. Either way, I’ve got you.”

I look up at him, at the boy who became my family—who chose me when the world didn’t. Who shares a birthday with the woman who saved us both.

“Happy birthday, Finn.” I kiss his cheek.

He smiles. “Best one yet.”

“You say that every year.”

“And it’s been true every year since you came into my life, Annie.”

CHAPTER 8

Luther

Work on the Novagene project is moving fast—faster than I expected, and it’s because the team we put together is solid.

The base model is already in draft form. Anouk’s logic is airtight. She’s brilliant, and Vijay is practically worshipping at the altar of her pivot tables.

It should make me proud. I took a chance on her, and it’s working out beautifully. Instead, it pisses me off.

Because every time I see her and Vijay huddled over a spreadsheet, laughing at some obscure data joke, I think about the guy she was with at the pier.

The guy who put his arm around her like he did it all the time.

The guy she lives with, according to Vijay.

“No, man, she lives with someone,” he told me when I asked what the fuck was going on between him and Anouk.

“Lives?”

“Yeah. They have a place in Haight. Bought it together. He’s a firefighter.”

Finn. The guy with the big muscles is a fucking firefighter? Seriously? Even Erin had wondered how Anouk snagged someone so hot. That irritated me as well.