Free Book Fair and Foul (Ashton Corners Book Club) by Erika Chase

abruptly as Ashley walked over to talk to her.
    “So, where’s your hunky guy today, Lizzie? Lovers’ spat?” Ashley laughed, the same old condescending laugh that Lizzie knew so well. “Don’t think I believe for a minute that line about being friends. I saw how you were looking at him. You’re still not any good at lying.”
    Ashley took a break to wave at a couple of women close by who appeared to be very interested in what was being said.
    “Now, I think Mark’s your beau and wouldn’t it just break your lil’ old Southern heart if he fell for someone more glamorous?”
    Lizzie could feel her anger increasing. She took a deep breath, meaning to turn away and get back to packing books but Ashley grabbed her arm.
    “I know just the type he would go for, too,” she taunted.
    “All right, Ashley. If it’s the truth you want, yes, we are a couple and Mark would never fall for someone like you. He’s a cop and that means he can read people well enough to know your sweet exterior hides a venomous soul. Why don’t you just go back to New York and leave us all alone?” She tried staring down Ashley but didn’t get very far.
    “Aw, Lizzie. Don’t you think a bit of tit-for-tat is fair play?” Ashley said with a menacing laugh, gripping Lizzie’s arm even tighter. “You do like to sound so righteous and all.”
    “Don’t you think you’ve already done enough damage? You’ve spread lies about me. You’ve stolen every guy I was interested in back then. I’ve had enough of you. Just back off, or else.” Lizzie snatched her arm away, taking Ashley by surprise. She tottered a second before gaining her balance.
    Lizzie looked around herself in horror as she realized how quiet it had gotten in the room and how loud her voice had grown.
    Ashley’s smile was cruel. “Why, Lizzie, you never could control yourself, could you?”

Chapter Seven

    You know what they say about misery loving company.
    BEELINE TO TROUBLE
—HANNAH REED
    L izzie slipped out of bed the next morning, careful not to wake Mark. She had still been seething when she’d arrived home from the book fair the night before.
    Mark had been waiting, a home-cooked meal of grilled chicken and grits ready to be served. He’d taken one look at Lizzie’s face, steered her over to the love seat and poured her a glass of wine. Then he’d demanded she talk. The food had chilled by the time Lizzie was all talked out and they were ready to eat. It took some more talk before she finally calmed down enough to get some sleep.
    The cats were not happy to have Lizzie move. They’d hovered on the edge on her side of the bed, their usual spot when having to share it with one more body. They hung back when she headed downstairs, knowing Mark’s year-old hound, Patchett, was curled up in the kitchen on his bed away from home.
    Lizzie shook some dry food into their bowls, leaving them on the counter out of Patchett’s greedy reach, gave him a couple of treats and headed out the door for a short run. She needed to clear her head, that much she knew.
    She felt depressed about having seen Ashley and realized there was still a lot unfinished business between them. She’d never told Ashley just how badly she’d been made to feel, choosing to turn tail and hide instead. And seeing her again had brought back all those feelings of being powerless and unhappy. But whether or not she had any more nerve these days, she wasn’t quite sure. No, that wasn’t right. She had stood up to Ashley, in a manner of speaking, although losing her temper and making a spectacle of them both had not been very clever.
    Lizzie sighed. She’d certainly made a fool of herself, and she knew that before long, the entire town would be talking about it. And how could she face the book club knowing she’d ruined the event they’d been planning for so long. At least the fair had ended and she had no reason to see the authors again, even though they were staying on for a couple of