Page 43 of The Hideout

Juliet was talking with customers, Paige was resting until the next person came along, and life was fucking fantastic. It didn’t matter if she still had James to deal with. Tonight, she was truly happy.

A sudden wave—a need—to perform washed over her. She didn’t hesitate; she didn’t consider if she was doing the right thing. If Paige was beginning to realise anything, it was that The Hideout made her far happier than she thought it could. It was just supposed to be another bar in a long line of bar-hopping. But it was Juliet’s support—that look in her eye when she spoke about Paige performing in the past—that had her wanting to do this for her. Here, tonight, Paige needed to enjoy her voice. She took a sip from her glass of water and moved across the bar area to the piano.

She sat down, rolling her head on her shoulders as she silently stroked the black and white keys beneath her fingertips. She felt at home behind the piano. She felt free and uninhibited. She felt…like Paige.

The first press of the keys had the bar falling silent, people shushing their partners and friends. The hairs on the back of Paige’s neck bristled, but it wasn’t fear she felt. It wasn’t James’ voice as he belittled her. No, it was Juliet’s as she encouraged her and reminded her of what she was capable of.

The melody of Charlene Soraia’s version of “Wherever You Will Go” played through the tiniest bar Paige had ever had the pleasure of working at, just the sound of her own heartbeat accompanying it.

And then she started to sing, her lungs not filled with air but euphoria. God, she’d missed this. The freedom to sing, to feel. The freedom to enjoy her voice and her talent without someone, somewhere, telling her she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t make it. She was a failure.

Because Paige wasn’t. She may have failed at being her true self for too long, but tonight? Oh, tonight, she was a winner in every aspect of her life.

Chancing a look up at Juliet, what she found staring back stole her breath. Juliet rested against the wall to the side of the bar, her arms wrapped around herself. She wore the most beautiful smile, her huge brown eyes shining. Glistening.

She barely knew this woman, but she had so much to thank her for. The job, the self-confidence, the heart Juliet was beginning to repair. It hadn’t been James who’d broken it; he didn’t deserve an accolade so important. It was Paige who’d broken her own heart. By not being honest, by not living life on her terms, by running.

She was tired of running, tired of fighting, and tired of hurting. Paige was done with it all. It was time to live for herself.

When her fingers slowed against the keys, the song coming to an end, the bar remained silent. Not a breath could be heard. Okay, that wasn’t the reaction she expected. And then one of the businessmen who spent every night here got to his feet and started to clap, followed by another table of men, then the table where their wives sat. Paige grinned, eyeing Juliet, who was wiping tears from her cheeks. She hated seeing Juliet cry, but if she was crying because of Paige’s talent, then she had to be doing something right.

“Bloody fantastic, Paige!” One of the men patted her on the shoulder as she moved back towards the bar. “We expect more of that. Juliet! Sign this girl up right now!”

Juliet grinned and nodded, her voice trembling. “Oh, I intend to, Rick.”

As Paige approached Juliet, she was suddenly enveloped by the most incredible embrace. Juliet held onto her as though she was about to run away, but Paige only wrapped her arms around her waist and held her in return. “Thank you,” Paige said, nuzzling into Juliet’s neck. “For bringing my voice back. For believing in me.”

“Oh, Paige.” Juliet kissed her temple, her lips lingering. “I’ll believe in you every day.”

“I’m…not running. Ever again.”

Juliet pulled back, that smile spreading further. “No? You’re sure?”

“I’m not sure I’ve ever been so certain before. But yes, I’m sure. If you think I can be a good fit here, then I’m staying.”

“You are a good fit here. You’ve proved that already.”

Paige’s arms hung loosely around Juliet’s waist, both of them aware that they were working. “And you know, it doesn’t even matter if you and I don’t go any further. I’m happy here, regardless of that. But I do want to try. With you.”

“I’m not sure you have to try, beautiful. You know how I feel about you.”

“Can we walk home together tonight?” Paige asked, hoping the rest of the night would entail more than just walking home together.

“It depends if I’m leaving you at your door or you’re following me to mine,” Juliet whispered, slipping her hand into the back pocket of Paige’s jeans.

“I think we both know the answer to that.”

Chapter 14

LAST OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS

Juliet lowered her keys to the kitchen island and kicked off her heels, aware of Paige’s nerves as they’d walked through the door together. While they both wanted to take this further, Juliet knew she had to be patient. She knew that Paige wasn’t as open as she was when it came to letting go. Sure, Paige had let go last night when she’d come to the bar to speak to Juliet, but a lot had changed since then. Emotions were now fully involved. The stakes had well and truly been upped.

“Did you—”

Juliet was cut off when Paige rushed towards her, gripping the blouse she wore beneath her suit jacket. Their lips met with an urgency, and as Juliet stumbled back against the counter, Paige was already undoing the buttons.

“I don’t want to talk anymore. I just want to touch you.” Paige spoke so breathlessly that Juliet wondered if she needed a moment to actually breathe. But then she kicked that from her mind. Knowing this woman wanted her so much was doing unimaginable things to her body. “Last night…” Paige trailed her lips along Juliet’s jaw, moaning as her fingertips reached Juliet’s skin. “Shouldn’t have happened how it did.”

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