Page 37 of The Hideout

With a heavy heart, Juliet locked her phone and set it down on the desk. The bar was open, and Cara was out there alone. It wasn’t that Juliet expected Cara to be another Paige, but she just didn’t have that flair about her. She didn’t show an interest in the customers or create conversation. That was likely down to the fact she was used to working in busier bars, but Juliet hoped Cara would come into her own at some point in the not-too-distant future. The Hideout was supposed to be friendly, and so far, Juliet hadn’t seen that from Cara.

She left the office and took the tiny corridor to the bar area. A few familiar faces sat dotted about while Cara stood behind the counter on her phone. “Not busy enough for you?”

“Oh, sorry.” Cara shoved her phone into her back pocket, beaming a smile at Juliet. “Is Paige not here tonight?”

“She’s taking the weekend off. Migraine.”

“Ouch. And there was me thinking it had something to do with the scene your…friend caused a few nights ago.”

Juliet stepped closer, lowering her voice. “I’m sorry about that. And for how I spoke to you. It won’t happen again.”

“You could always make it up to me…”

Juliet’s brows rose when Cara’s eyes travelled down her body. “Excuse me?”

“For the other night. You could make it up to me.”

“And how exactly do you propose I do that?” Juliet folded her arms across her chest, standing heavier on one leg.

“You could agree to have a drink with me.” Cara lifted a shoulder.

“Why would we go drinking together?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean a girl’s night out. I meant ‘a drink’, you know?” Was Cara asking Juliet out on a date? Christ, was this how Paige had felt when Juliet had asked her the very same question?

“I’m your boss, Cara. I’m not sure why you think that would be appropriate.”

“It didn’t seem to matter with Paige.”

Ah. Cara had not only walked in at the end of Juliet’s conversation with Rachel, she’d heard the entire thing. Which meant she knew about Paige and Juliet. “Paige and I are different.”

“How so?”

Juliet looked around the bar, satisfied that her clients were occupied, and turned her back on them. She cleared her throat as she stepped closer to Cara and said, “This is my bar. You are my staff. Don’t question why I do what I do. You’re here to work and work only. Got it?”

Cara held up her hands and scoffed. “Jesus. Okay. Anyone else would be happy that someone had asked them out on a date.”

“I’m flattered, but no, thank you. I have a business to run, and if you want to be a part of that, stick to the job description.”

Cara smirked. “Are you going to insist Paige does the same thing? I think it’s only fair since we both work here.”

Juliet rolled her eyes and laughed. “Grow up, Cara. Jealousy is very distasteful.”

Leaving the bar counter, Juliet made herself busy around the clients. It was bad enough that she had Paige on her mind. She didn’t need Cara and her petty behaviour too. It was Saturday night; she had work to do.

Work she could focus on instead of what was really in her heart.

Paige Harrison.

Chapter 12

LOVE IN THE DARK

On unsteady legs, Juliet left her office and walked into the dimly lit bar area. The Hideout had emptied, not a soul in sight, and Cara had left already. It was Monday, a quiet night overall, but Juliet felt far more tired than usual. The likelihood was that it was caused by her lack of sleep over the weekend. Whatever she did, she couldn’t shake Paige from her mind. Right now, she just wanted to see her. To know that she was okay. It had been three weeks since Paige had started working at The Hideout—and she hadn’t shown for her shift. Only this time, she hadn’t called Juliet to tell her she wouldn’t be available. Juliet couldn’t help but feel it was personal.

She slung her satchel over her shoulder, yawning as she moved behind the bar to turn out the rest of the lights. But a figure sat on the couch, familiar perfume reaching Juliet’s nose before she could panic.

It was Paige.

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