Page 71 of Palace of Betrayal

Groggy from sleep, Bebe watched Leo sit up looking much the same way.

“We’ll be down in a few minutes, Roz.” Rubbing her hands down her face, she blinked a few times and then turned to León. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” He kissed her slowly, taking her mouth in a languid dance before he moved back, muttering, ‘like a drug’ as he headed to the small bathroom.

Bebe laughed and headed down the stairs, finding fresh coffee and turkey, brie, and pear sandwiches laid out on the table.

Her belly rumbled and Kanan smirked. “Help yourself. I made enough for everyone.”

Bebe dug in, sitting on the kitchen chair, her leg tucked beneath her as she waited for news.

“You know these are my favourite.” Bebe sighed as she took a bite, realising she hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. Leo walked in and came straight to her, sitting beside her and stealing her coffee.

“Hey.”

He smirked and her belly fluttered with nerves and lust and all the delicious things associated with new love.

“Here,” Kanan passed Leo a mug and a plate so he could help himself to a sandwich, “before she decides to bury your body somewhere cold for stealing the goods.”

“Nah, she loves me, she’d never.”

Reaching out, he caressed her calf and she winked at him.

“Your funeral, man.”

Kanan disappeared back into the kitchen and Leo helped himself to a sandwich, inspecting the content before taking a cautious bite.

“What?”

“Pear in a sandwich is weird.”

Bebe pursed her lips and shook her head. “I guess it was fun while it lasted, but I can’t be with a man who doesn’t appreciate the culinary genius of a turkey, brie, and pear sandwich.”

“Is that so?”

“Mmhmm.” She inclined her head toward him a look of fake sadness on her face.

Leo chewed the mouthful he had and swallowed before he placed it on the plate before him. “I guess I can see the appeal.”

Having finished her own, she sat forward and draped her arms over his shoulders, leaning close to his face. “Good because I really like you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yup.”

“Good.”

Roz swept into the room, looking as wide awake and gorgeous as ever. “Sorry to break up this love fest, but I have the details of the auction.”

Bebe sat forward, dropping her feet to the floor, the atmosphere in the room turning serious. “Tell me.”

“It will be held at the sight of the old Rose Garden Psychiatric Hospital. At eleven tonight. As we expected the dress code is evening wear.”

“A psych hospital? That’s not creepy at all.” Bebe stood, energy buzzing through her veins now the game was on, yet the nerves she experienced knowing Leo would be there were new. “What else?” She paced the small space, tapping her hands together as adrenalin began to ooze into her bloodstream.

“We have to deposit five million dollars into an account before the auction starts to ensure no payments fall through after the bid ends.”

Bebe eyed Roz. “And to make sure it isn’t a sting. No government is going to risk that kind of money.”