Page 18 of Battle of the Exes

Ivy glares at me. “Beau and his secrets. Some things never change.”

It’s about time I defended myself but all it will do is spark a battle of exes that no one wants to see.

“Why should that matter?” I say, keeping as neutral a mien as I can muster.

Jasper sneers at me. “Is that what your festival idea was all about? Not to highlight my accomplishments but to save that sad little bookstore?”

I’m appalled, ready to apologize when Ivy and Rue say, “Festival?”

I’ve lost all control of this evening. Not that it was mine to begin with but the idea was to share positive news with the sisters, not get lambasted. There’s no opportunity to explain because Jasper doesn’t stop.

“We are supposed to be working with the bookstores that will be a steady source of income, selling my books indefinitely, not a one-and-done thing. I came out here for the signing, against my better judgment.” A glare now from him. “My time is valuable.”

Ivy looks shell-shocked. “Of course it is, Mr. Kensington. We would never want to waste your time. After all, we need you to keep writing your fabulous books.”

Jasper purses his lips. “I’m glad someone sees it my way.”

Ivy scoots even closer to him, and I get an uneasy feeling in my gut.

Her voice drops an octave. “You know what? While you’re in town, why not let me show you around the hidden corners of Silver Pine?”

I’m not liking the sound of that. At all.

“Hidden corners?” I say, feeling increasinglyunnerved. Which of course makes no sense. Why should I care if Ivy shows Jasper around Silver Pine?

Jasper’s brow lifts. “Sounds enchanting.”

For a best-selling author you’d think the guy would have mastered a less pretentious vocabulary.

Ignoring my question, Ivy says, “I’ll pick you up from your hotel tomorrow morning at nine and give you the tour. We can grab some brunch afterwards.”

Jasper’s entire demeanor is altered. His smile reminds me of the Joker in Batman. “It’s a date.”

Ivy looks over Jasper’s shoulder and flashes me a clueless smile. If I didn’t know better I’d say my ex-wife is trying to make me jealous.

Stinks for me. Because it’s working.

Chapter Fifteen

Ivy

The look on Beau’s face is priceless. It makes the whole flirting with a sleazeball thing worthwhile.

I thought I was a fine judge of character but clearly, I got it wrong with Jasper. He’s no different than many of the other authors I’ve met who hit it big—self-absorbed, entitled, inappropriate. It’s hugely disappointing and makes my girlish enthusiasm to meet him all the more upsetting.

Problem is, I let the cat out of the bag about the Quill’s dire straits. Why Rue never said anything about keeping it on the QT is beyond me. Now I have to play interested in Jasper when I’m anything but. He has the power to make things even worse than they already are.

Seems there are other things Beau’s been keepingclose to the vest. Until now. He’s been jabbering on about a literary festival for the last few minutes.

Rue nudges my thigh. “Listen,” she whispers.

I tune back into Beau’s grand ideas. He’s animated now, excited as a kid in the flagship Hershey’s store. It reminds me of when we first met on the ski slope, Beau psyched up to try the intermediate trails for the first time. I was teaching in the ski school and he signed up for lessons. The rest, as they say, is history. Bad history.

“—vendors, publishers. We’ll set up on the rec center grounds.”

I study my ex. Something’s off. He’s holding back.

I stand, partly to make a point and partly to get away from Jasper’s wandering hand.

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