Page 37 of Palace of Betrayal

“Ah, well, that’s complicated. He’s a contract killer who just so happens to hate my guts.”

Leo pulled back and looked down at her. “And why is that?”

“I might have assassinated his brother for being a child-murdering bastard.”

Leo lifted his hand and waited until she tapped it with hers in a high-five.

“Is it wrong that I find that a huge turn on?”

Bebe giggled. “What? Me killing a man?”

“No, you killing a piece of scum.”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Hey, not the answer I was looking for.”

Bebe straddled his lap, placing her hands on his chest. “Well, Prince León, if you want a yes woman, I’m not the one for you.”

His face lost its humour as he looked at her intently. “But what if you are?”

Her heart was beating wildly in her chest at his words. This was crazy, she was on the biggest mission of her life and all she wanted to do was fall into this fairy tale feeling with this man.

“It’s not real.”

Her voice was a whisper as she struggled to get the words out and believe them. She had to stay focused. “But what if it is?”

Bebe stood, putting distance between them. “It’s adrenalin and hormones. We’re playing a role and maybe things will get confused, it happens but if you let yourself believe in it, things will end in tears and heartbreak, Leo.”

He stood and grabbed her hips, pulling her closer as if he couldn’t stand the space between them after what they’d shared.

“Are you saying you didn’t feel it?”

Bebe shook her head. “No, I felt it but I’m saying it isn’t real. It won’t last.”

“Then be in the moment with me. Let’s see what happens?”

Bebe was tempted. God she wanted that. “We have a job to do.”

“Yes, let’s go all in and do this together and when it’s done if we decide it wasn’t real, we walk away.”

“I’ve seen this movie, Leo, one of us will catch feelings and the other won’t. Then there are broken hearts and promises, and I can’t deal with that in my life right now. I have a plan.”

“Then we promise to not catch feels. We have fun and walk away.”

Bebe had no clue if she’d be able to keep up her end of the bargain but she wanted the extra time with him so she’d try. If it went wrong, she’d go home to her friends and have the memory of it to last her a lifetime. “You’re a stubborn sod, aren’t you?”

A grin stretched across his face, making him look younger and more carefree.

“I’m a Prince. I like to get my own way.”

“Well then fine, Prince Leo. But when I break your heart, no locking me in a tower.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “Now, there’s an idea.”

“Yeah? Well, it will have to wait. I need to figure a few things out. Can we get away from the palace for a bit so I can breathe?”

“Sure, I know just the place.”