If I thought the tension was thick before, it’s nothing compared to the sexual haze that falls over the dining table, food forgotten, as soon as the door shutters us in relative privacy.

Liam and I drink in the sight of each other for what feels like the first half of our twenty minutes, when in reality not even five seconds sneak by. A grandfather clock chaperones from its unobtrusive corner of the room, and I listen to the hands swing back and forth.

“What is the Heart of the Queen?” I ask, fracturing the quiet.

His attention lowers to my mouth, thoughts blatant as he folds his hands on the table—as if he wants to touch me but knows he can’t. “It’s a rare diamond necklace passed down the Castle line. Evangeline gave it to her eldest son before he married his queen.”

His explanation whirls in my mind, and I struggle to keep up, to grasp onto the meaning behind those telling words. “So this necklace…it’s a family heirloom?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t understand.” Offending him is the last thing I want to do, but I can’t help but question the wisdom in the deal he just made with my keeper. “Why would you sell it to Mr. Bordeaux for two chess games?”

“Because, my sweet inquisitive girl…” His smile is the only sign he picked up on the subtle incredulity in my tone. “You’re worth it.”

I haven’t heard him speak the endearment since the morning I left his penthouse, but now it washes over me with the comfort of sunshine, enfolding me in a warm spring breeze, and I ache to hear him say it again. “It’s just chess,” I whisper, rather stupidly, because we both know he’s not selling just to play a game with me.

It’s true he’s bartering for time with me, and he’s willing to sell something undeniably valuable to get it—the kind of valuable you can’t put a price tag on—but there has to be more to this than he’s shared.

Because it doesn’t make sense.

“Novalee,” he says, leaning forward and fisting his hands between us. Frustration vibrates off him. “This isn’t about chess. I need to see you—as often as is possible—but the money I get for the necklace is more important than I can tell you. I don’t think I need to explain the extent of Heath’s wealth. Out of the twelve of us, his net worth is at the top.”

“Meaning he has the means to win the auction.”

“Yes, he does.”

“So what do you need the money for? Surely it won’t be enough to outbid him.”

“You’re correct.” Clearing his throat, he pushes his chair back and rises.