“For the past few days, those researchers have been pulling crazy hours, working side by side day and night on that new formula. Karenina’s been dead serious—she hasn’t even gone home in days and totally forgot to charge her phone.”

Vance offered the explanation without being asked. He had no clue what was really going on between Ashley and Karenina, but he’d gotten good at reading Ashley’s expressions.

Sure enough, Ashley’s face brightened the moment she heard it. She ...