Page 85 of The Hideout
“I’m so proud of you, baby.” Juliet reached out a hand, placing it gently to Paige’s cheek. The soft touch, the careful caress, it only made Paige fall more in love with Juliet than she already was. “I love you, and I’m with you every step of the way.”
“I…couldn’t do it without you.”
“Then let’s get that bastard together.”
Chapter 26
TRUE COLOURS
Juliet fidgeted behind the bar, the place looking a little strange since Paige wasn’t working. She couldn’t get used to Cara having Paige’s tools in the wrong order, the wrong place…just Cara. She couldn’t get used to her. There was something that felt off with her. She’d tried it on with Juliet, she’d tried it on with Paige, and something just didn’t appeal to either of them about her.
But when she needed extra hands, at least she could rely on Cara. Even if that was because Cara thought she had a chance with Juliet and helping out was scoring points, Juliet could live with that. She’d never tell Paige she was struggling without her. Paige had far more important things on her mind. Between James, their relationship, and the thought of seeing Harriet today, Juliet knew Paige was struggling to make sense of everything in her head.
They were still sleeping in separate rooms, but Juliet was okay with that. Paige needed space to process. To breathe. She needed Juliet…but not in an intimate setting. Not right now. And while Paige had told Juliet that she was staying, Juliet still wasn’t sure how to approach Paige. Her biggest fear was saying or doing something that could have Paige teetering towards the edge. She wasn’t stupid; she’d seen just how fearful Paige was last night when Cara innocently placed a hand on her shoulder. Juliet couldn’t make the same mistake. Trust and support were paramount in the coming weeks.
As she turned the coffee machine on, Juliet heard the key in the lock of the main door. She smiled, knowing it was Paige, but she still found it difficult to see her in the state she was in. That beautiful face marred with bruises and cuts, those soft lips hurting. But Paige’s eyes had some life back in them, and it was her eyes that Juliet had fallen in love with. Paige’s eyes told a million different stories. Still, they’d got the ball rolling this morning by going to the local police station. Paige had seemed nervous upon entering the building, but by the time they’d left—Paige getting a lot of past trauma off her chest—Juliet saw her in a different light. She seemed invigorated in some way.
“Hey.” She leant against the bar, the counter separating them. “Did you get here okay?”
“I did. I walked.”
“Paige, I told you Henry was outside to give you a lift.”
Paige shoved her keys in her pocket, taking a step closer. “I needed to loosen up. I’m okay, and the walk helped to clear my head. Today has been a lot.”
“I know. But you’ve done the right thing,” Juliet said, taking two coffee cups from the stack beside the machine. “Have you heard from the police yet?”
“No. They were passing the information on to whoever they needed to in Kent. And they said they’d be in touch once they had something for me. I doubt they’ll rush themselves. They never do with domestic violence cases.”
Paige didn’t have to tell Juliet that. She knew the statistics, the likelihood of a conviction, and the rigmarole of the whole process. Unless they got lucky and James admitted it all, this could be a long, drawn-out journey. Paige yawned, her eyes watering as she sighed. “Still not sleeping?”
Paige lifted a shoulder slowly, approaching the counter. “Last night was better, but no. It’s not great.”
Juliet wanted to offer to stay with Paige, even in the spare room if that was more comfortable for her, but she didn’t want Paige to feel obliged to say yes. “Well, you know where I am if you need someone in the night.”
“I know. I just think we both need some space right now. Please don’t hate me for that. It’s not about you, I promise.”
Juliet couldn’t hate Paige if she tried. This woman, however broken she may be, made Juliet stupidly happy. “Don’t ever think I hate you. Whatever you need right now is fine with me. I just don’t want you to lay awake through the night if it’s as simple as climbing in beside me. We don’t even have to acknowledge that you’re in the room if that’s not what you want.” Juliet reached a hand across the counter. “Consider it. Or remember it, at least.”
Paige leaned forward and kissed Juliet’s hand, a familiar sensation fizzing in her belly for the first time in over a week. “I will. Thank you for being so amazing.”
Juliet scoffed. “Far from it, believe me.”
“Can you…come around to this side of the bar for a few minutes?”
Juliet refrained from frowning, but she did wonder what Paige could possibly need. “Sure. Is everything okay?”
“You said something to me on Thursday night,” Paige said, shedding her jacket to expose her beautiful arms in her short-sleeved T-shirt. She threw her jacket over the back of a chair and rolled her head on her shoulders. “About how I probably think you’re a stoic ex-lawyer without a heart…”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. If that’s how you feel, speak your truth.” Paige took a step closer, surprising Juliet. Her body heat was comforting, but Juliet still itched to reach out and hold Paige. “I know you have a heart.” Paige placed a palm to Juliet’s chest and smiled. “You don’t show it much to the outside world, but with me, you’ve been nothing short of amazing. Even before all of this happened.”
Juliet dipped her head. “Paige.”
“I’m serious. From the moment I met you, I knew you had a heart. It didn’t matter what I’d seen online…the people you’d defended in the past.”
Juliet’s brow did furrow this time. “I don’t understand.”