Page 47 of The Hideout

Juliet smirked. “It’s been a while. I may be a little rusty.”

Paige brought a glass up and placed it down on the counter. She found Juliet’s eyes again, watching her intently. She loved the flirtatious side they had with one another. It only made the sex hotter at the end of the night. “Maybe…you need a hand with it.”

“You and I would be perfectly capable between us, no?”

Paige almost choked on the saliva she’d just swallowed. “Behave yourself!”

Juliet rounded the bar, taking a bottle of red wine from the shelf. She lifted a glass and set it down next to the glass Paige had placed down, then stepped up behind Paige. When Juliet lowered her lips to Paige’s ear, her body pressing Paige to the counter, her legs almost gave out. “I prefer the real thing over the drink. So, unless that was what you were offering, I’ll take the wine.” Juliet remained behind Paige, smiling against her ear, her breath hot. “If you change your mind, don’t hesitate to come find me.”

Paige gripped the counter, her lips parted and her eyes closed. Fuck.

And then Juliet was back on the other side of the bar, looking at Paige as though she’d just imagined the entire thing. “I, uh…small or large wine?”

“Make it a large. And pour yourself one. You’re ever so tense tonight, Paige.”

The way in which Juliet said Paige’s name sent a shiver down her spine. It was practically a moan as it slid from her gorgeous lips. “I’m fine. Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Mm. Maybe you need that sex on the bar. Take your own advice.”

Oh, Juliet was bold. But if she thought Paige wouldn’t bite back, she was sadly mistaken. God, she’d never turn down banter. “I’m a little like you in that I prefer the real thing, too.” And then Paige turned her back and moved to the other end of the bar. She rearranged her whiskey selection as she slotted the bottle of Macallan back in place, feeling that burn of Juliet’s stare once again. She may have been throwing it back at Juliet, but as she stood here—wet just from the sensation of Juliet’s lips on her ear—she meant it.

Oh, she meant it…and then some.

* * *

Juliet should have been closing up for the night, yet here she was, sitting in the barely lit bar on the couch. Paige had shocked her with her response earlier. She wasn’t usually so open around The Hideout, but Juliet couldn’t help herself. Walking into the bar tonight, Paige had stolen her breath. She wore her usual fitted pants and white shirt, only this time, the shirt was a little tighter—her cleavage exposed—with a black bra visible through the fabric. Juliet had always been weak for a woman who knew how to dress, and Paige was absolutely one of those women.

She squeezed her thighs together, trying desperately to push the image as far from her mind as she possibly could. She had no idea if Paige was available to come back to her place tonight, and if Juliet was being brutally honest with herself, she didn’t want Paige to feel suffocated. This was a huge adjustment for her; Juliet had to remember that before her own libido.

Still, she had no idea where they stood with one another. While it was frowned upon to get into any sort of relationship with Paige—she was her employee—Juliet had never been one for that particular rule. If she found herself attracted to a woman, regardless of the situation, she always made sure they were aware of it.

Because all it took was that one person to feel the same way. And the rest could be history.

Juliet didn’t have time to hang around, waiting for something to drop in her lap. She didn’t have the weeks and months to ponder what her ideal woman was. If that connection was there…it pulled Juliet in. And with Paige, that connection was electrifying. She’d felt it as she’d pressed herself to Paige. She knew it when her entire body tingled as she sloped off into the office. And she was certain of it when she’d almost slid her hands down the front of her pants thinking about Paige just an hour ago.

She was entirely captivated by Paige Harrison.

“Okay, I’m done out the back. Need a hand with anything before I leave?”

Juliet allowed her gaze to sweep up Paige’s body, her eyes landing exactly where she wanted them to. “I…don’t know. Do I need a hand with anything?”

Paige blushed, lowering her eyes. “You have to stop that. You’re going to get me into trouble one of these days.”

“Trouble?” Juliet quirked a brow, her arm resting along the back of the couch. God, Paige was unexpectedly hot. She’d seemed quiet at first, but now in her sixth week at the bar, she’d only come out of her shell more. And if the outfits—along with the intense sex—were anything to go by, Juliet would be a very happy woman for the foreseeable future. “Why don’t you pour yourself a drink and tell me all about this trouble…”

“Oh, I’d love to. Trust me, I would. But it’s almost one in the morning.”

“Okay, but tell me one thing before you head off.”

Paige lifted a shoulder. “Sure. What’s up?”

“Am I way off the mark, or did you dress for me tonight?”

Paige laughed, a pure delight to Juliet’s ears. “You’re right on the mark.”

“That’s all I need to know.” Juliet nodded slowly as she reached forward for what was left of her wine. “Thank you for another stellar performance behind the bar.”

Paige dragged a hand through her hair, one hand in her jeans pocket. “I think we can both agree that your performance was far better than mine.”

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