Page 16 of The Hideout

“No. I won’t keep you long.”

Juliet studied Rachel, aware that her escort seemed moody, perhaps upset. Rachel rarely brought her emotions through the door with her; it was one of the reasons she was such a good escort. Her sole focus was her client. Still, Juliet understood that she was only human and may need someone to talk to from time to time. “Is everything okay? You don’t seem yourself.”

“I could say the same about you,” Rachel said, a weak smile on her lips as she tapped her fingernails against Juliet’s marble counter. “You’ve been very distant lately.”

“That’ll be the new bar. I’m sorry.” That wasn’t entirely the truth, but Juliet didn’t know how to let Rachel down gently. They’d spent a lot of time together over the last six months. “And I hate demanding your time so much. You have other clients, Rachel.”

“You think I care about my other clients? You’re the one I enjoy being with.”

Juliet nodded slowly, sitting up on a stool. She motioned for Rachel to do the same, her hands wrapped around her coffee cup. “Rachel, you know I think a lot of you, but this is just an arrangement. If it’s becoming a problem for you, maybe we need to see less of each other.”

Rachel’s bottom lip quivered as she said, “Am I not offering the service you want? Am I slacking?”

“Oh, no. Far from it. You’ve gone above and beyond for me. You really have.” Juliet reached a hand across the island, settling it over Rachel’s. “Don’t think this is about you. You know I love having you over. I just think it needs to be less.”

“I don’t understand why…”

“Rachel, are you in trouble? Do you need the money? Because I can help you out.” It was the only conclusion she could come to as to why Rachel would be so intent on needing to see Juliet so often.

“No. I’m more than stable financially.”

Juliet cocked her head, unable to understand why Rachel was so desperate to be here. “Then what’s the issue?”

“I…it’s just, I really love being with you, Juliet. I know I’m not supposed to cross the line, but I think I have. I’m sorry. I know what this is, what it’s supposed to be, but I thought it had the potential to be something more. And I thought maybe you felt the same…”

Oh, no. This wasn’t how she wanted things to be with Rachel. And while she may have had some concerns about this potentially happening, Juliet never imagined for one second it would come to this. “I…don’t. You’re my escort.”

“And that’s really all I am to you?” Rachel looked up at Juliet with tears in her eyes. “Purely business.”

Juliet hated this. Why couldn’t Rachel be just another escort here? She sighed, knowing how much she could be considered a bitch right here and now. “Yes.”

Rachel slid her hand out from under Juliet’s, taking her bag from the island as she got down from the stool. “Okay. That’s all I wanted to know.”

“Rachel, I’m sorry.” Juliet reached out and held Rachel by the wrist. When she turned to Juliet, the sadness in Rachel’s eyes hurt her heart. “I thought that’s all this was. Us…with payment.”

“You’re right. It was. It…is. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here this morning.”

Juliet got to her feet, taking Rachel in her arms. “I should have been clearer, so I’m sorry. But I didn’t think this was an issue for us. If it is, if we have to stop seeing one another, I understand.”

“You want to stop seeing me.” Rachel pulled back, sniffling as she lowered her eyes. “Maybe that would be for the best. So, I’ll just go. And I don’t know, if you do want to see me again, call me. You know I’ll drop everything to be here for you.” Rachel leaned in and kissed Juliet slowly, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Bye, Juliet. Take care of yourself.”

Shocked but a little relieved, Juliet squeezed Rachel’s hand as she took it, regarding her with a sincere smile. “I’m sure we’ll bump into one another again. It’s just…I need to get out of the habit of being with you rather than alone.”

“It felt good being here with you. I thought you felt it too.” Rachel turned and walked away, stopping when she heard a knock on Juliet’s door. “Expecting company?”

“No.” Juliet frowned. Why was she in such high demand this morning?

“Clearly, you are. See you.”

* * *

Paige puffed her cheeks out as she curled her hand into a fist again. It was only nine in the morning; why the hell was she knocking on Juliet’s door? Actually, regardless of the time, why was she knocking on Juliet’s door? Yes, they’d had lunch yesterday, but that didn’t give her a free pass to pop over whenever she felt like it.

You’re here now. May as well knock again.

She lifted her hand, but the door opened suddenly, and Rachel walked out of Juliet’s apartment.

Fuck. Paige had been interrupting. “Hi.”

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