Page 97 of Conspiracies and Chemistry

“Let me know if it works. My cream isn’t cutting it anymore. And it’s four hundred dollars.”

“Yikes. Fucking patriarchy.”

“Fucking patriarchy,” she agreed.

“Shelooks happy,” I said, tipping my chin at Tessa.

“Incandescent. And I don’t think it’s her face cream.”

“Or even the good D,” I sipped my chardonnay. “She’s actually in love.”

“Yeah.” Justine wrinkled her nose. “I hope it lasts.”

“I have faith. I know you only see the dying relationships, but my parents are still married.”

“Or they just can’t afford to get divorced. Fucking patriarchy.”

“They’re in love!” I insisted. “They still kiss every morning before they go off to work.”

“Okay, sure. But the only reason to get married these days is for the financial benefits.”

“Wow.” I stared at my friend over my wineglass. “That’s bleak.”

“You wouldn’t believe in love, either, if you’d seen what I have.”

“Maybe not. Still, I know it’s not for me.” Tessa and Oliver looked so damned happy. I was thrilled for them and only a little jealous. I certainly wouldn’t sacrifice my career for it the way Savannah, my mother, and my sisters had done.

“Me neither.” She slipped her arm through mine, locking our elbows together. “Spinsters forever?”

“Spinsters forever,” I agreed. “Come on. Let’s get more wine, then you can help me strategize about how I’m going to win this thing at work.”

“Help you beat some dude who got a promotion just because he’s got a penis? I’m so in.”

Warm affection rushed through me. With my friends, I could do anything, even beat Cole Campion.

Ihope you enjoyed this tease of Bridget’s story, which is next in the series. When Bridget and her nemesis, Cole, are temporarily assigned as co-CEOs and given the chance to compete for the solo job at a corporate retreat in Costa Rica, they encounter crocodiles, sabotage, and—possibly—love. Be sure to get your copy ofAdvances and Retreats,available at all retailers.

Epilogue 2

False Victory Over the Soviets

From Barry Wright’s manifesto:

The Apollo 11 “moon landing” was faked by actors on a secret NASA sound stage. Everyone knows the moon is a projection onto the celestial dome, but during the Cold War, the US was desperate for a win against the Soviets. So they pretended to travel to the moon. Only suckers believed them.

TESSA

One month later

“Look.” Standing in my—our—kitchen, I kissed Oliver to take back a little of the hurt. “We’ll be fine. Better than fine…”

He set a hand on my lower back and kept me from pulling away. “As long as I leave you alone.”

“It’s a girls’ thing.” My cheeks heated, partly because I’d claimed, at age forty-four, to be agirl,and partly because of the way I wanted to stay with him in the kitchen and keep rubbing up against his body to chase the tingles that had started with that touch on my back.

“I’m cool with that,” he rumbled. “I’ll serve you snacks and hang out in the bedroom, and when you need a break…” His hand slid up my side, his thumb brushing the underside of my breast over my sweater. “I’ll serve you something special.”

I moaned. “I want something specialnow.”

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