Page 4 of The Hideout

God. Rachel was too much. But that was exactly why she paid top price for her escort. It didn’t matter what Rachel’s rules said—the fact that sex wasn’t usually a part of her service—Juliet was having some damn good sex lately. So what if it came via a hefty payment. “You’re bad. But I need you to tame those thoughts for a while longer. I’m about to open the doors, and my new mixologist doesn’t need to walk in on us in a compromising position. I’d like to keep her around for a while, not scare her away.”

And Juliet really didn’t want to scare Paige away. She’d watched her mixing drinks for thirty minutes today, and as Juliet had returned to the office once Paige left, it was all she thought about. Paige’s delicate fingers, her wrists, and how she handled the shaker. Why was she suddenly so turned on by a simple cocktail? Because it wasn’t the cocktail, it was the woman behind it.

“Is she hot?” Rachel asked, her eyes narrowed. “Please tell me she’s hot. At least then we have something to look at around here. I’ll be disappointed if it’s full of old businessmen.”

“She’s…yes. She’s gorgeous.” Leave it at that. The less Rachel knows, the better.

Juliet wasn’t stupid. She’d noticed how Rachel was around more often than the other escorts she’d been with in the past. And even though Juliet was careful to remind Rachel of their arrangement, their relationship was beginning to blur the lines.

Rachel winked, taking a step back. “I see. You’ve already been checking her out.”

“Well, not exactly. She was in earlier for an interview. It was hard not to notice how beautiful she is.”

That wasn’t a lie. Juliet had found it hard to look anywhere other than at Paige Harrison. There was something incredibly attractive about her natural beauty. While Rachel spent a small fortune on her false eyelashes and semi-permanent makeup, Paige had walked through the door with a breathtaking presence about her. Confident but quiet. There was nothing there to indicate she knew how gorgeous she was, and sometimes, that only made a woman even more attractive.

“So long as she doesn’t get in my way, I’m not worried.”

Get in her way? Rachel ought to remember that, at the end of the day, this was nothing more than an arrangement. A transaction. If Juliet wanted to dip her toe—amongst other things—into other places, she would do that. And nobody, Rachel included, would stop her.

Juliet lifted a hand, patting Rachel’s cheek lightly. “Just don’t forget why you’re here, honey.”

Rolling her eyes, Rachel turned and moved towards the end of the bar. “I’ll have a large glass of wine.”

Okay, that was something Juliet could do. If it took the emphasis off Rachel and what they could be—had she not come into Juliet’s life as her escort—she would offer her all the wine she could. She lifted a glass, holding it up to the light and giving it a final check. She’d spent the entire morning polishing them to perfection. “This place is membership only, you know.”

“Then you’d better fix me up a membership.”

Juliet considered that for a moment but quickly decided against it. Rachel was great, she really knew what Juliet wanted and needed, but she wasn’t her partner. And Juliet did prefer time to herself now and then. If she handed a membership to Rachel, that would be less likely than usual. “It’s fine. When you want to come in, just let me know.”

“Free entry,” Rachel whispered as she leant over the bar slightly. “Be careful. Anyone would think you were a little bit in love with me.”

Juliet set a glass of wine down on the counter, saved by the bell as it rang at the entrance. “You’re too much.” She eyed the security screen, giving Paige access immediately. “Now, behave yourself. My staff is here.” Juliet straightened her suit jacket, stepping out from behind the bar as Paige walked in. She held out an arm and smiled. Paige looked just as good, if not better, than she had this morning. “The bar is all yours.”

“Thanks.” Paige switched between Juliet and Rachel. “Are you looking forward to your first opening night?”

“I am. And since this one is going to be around now and then, this is Rachel.” Juliet introduced them to one another. “Rachel, meet my new mixologist, Paige.”

Rachel lifted a hand. “Hi, babe. Great to have you here.”

“Yeah, thanks. Nice to meet you.”

“I don’t know how busy opening night will be, but let’s hope for the best. If you need me, I’ll be in the office for a while. But don’t worry, I’ll be out here with you once it picks up a little.”

“Sure. No problem. I’ll get my things laid out and ready.”

Juliet side-eyed Rachel, surprised to find her escort sizing Paige up. She appraised her, her head cocked, and then she offered a sarcastic smile in Paige’s direction as her new bartender turned around.

When Rachel finally drew her eyes away from Paige, Juliet said, “Come on you. You can come with me since you can’t be trusted out here.”

“Charming.” Rachel laughed, slipping off her stool. When she reached Juliet at the side of the bar, she held her waist, and leaned in for a kiss. “It’s a good job I’m fond of you.”

Juliet took Rachel’s hand, guiding her towards the back of the building and through the office door. Once she was safely inside, Rachel pushed her against the door, flicked the lock, and pressed her knee between Juliet’s legs. “Someone…seems jealous.”

Rachel scoffed, dragging her nails up Juliet’s inner thigh. “Not jealous, baby. Just reminding you that you have everything you need in me.”

“Rachel, I don’t have time for this.”

Rachel kissed her way down Juliet’s throat, moaning lightly. “You know I can have you coming all over my tongue in minutes.”

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