Page 50 of The Hideout

“An eye,” Paige said, leaving the bedroom and slumping down on the couch. “And what or who are they keeping an eye on?”

“You.”

Paige wasn’t doing this. She didn’t want the woman she was with to have to protect her. She didn’t want Juliet getting caught up in any of this. That wasn’t the relationship she desired. Not at all.

She looked up at Juliet with tears in her eyes. “I think I’m just going to head back to my place.” Paige stood, taking a step closer to Juliet and placing a kiss on her cheek. “I know you mean well, but this isn’t how I want things to be.”

“Paige, wait.” Juliet held Paige in place with an arm around her waist. “It’s just for your own peace of mind. Please, don’t leave.”

“That may have been the initial reason for it, but James is here, isn’t he? I heard you on the call. He’s in Liverpool.”

Juliet lowered her eyes. “Yes.”

“Then I need to go.”

“How does he keep finding you, Paige? Liverpool is a big enough place for it to take him a while. You don’t just work at some generic bar in the city.”

“I don’t know. The only person who knew I was here was my best friend.” Paige allowed that to sink in. Harriet had told him. “And now I realise what I’ve just said.”

“Do you think maybe you could call your best friend and tell her it didn’t work out here? That you’ve moved on again?” Juliet guided Paige back to the couch, sinking down into the leather with her. “It’s worth a shot.”

“I can try. She’ll believe me if I tell her I’ve left Liverpool.”

“He…tried to access this building tonight while we were at the bar. He doesn’t know who I am or that you know anyone in this building, so I really need you to stay here with me until we know he’s left the city.”

Paige sighed. “I’m so tired of this. I just want to live my life.”

Juliet pulled Paige to her, holding her close. “I know. And soon, you’ll do exactly that. Hopefully in this city. With me.”

“One day at a time, okay?”

Juliet squeezed Paige’s thigh lightly. “Oh, of course. Yes. I’m getting ahead of myself.”

“I say one day at a time because you may not even like me in a few weeks. I certainly expect that. There’s nothing exciting about me, Juliet. Unless you’re into women who like to run.”

“No, I’m not. But I am into you.” Juliet shifted on the couch, cupping Paige’s cheek. “And I know I’m only going to like what I see more and more as I get to know you.”

“I hope so.” Paige smiled weakly. It would be a dream come true to fall in love with someone like Juliet. Someone strong and confident in their abilities. Someone who had a firm knowledge of who she was, what she wanted, and how she proceeded with that. But Paige had a long way to go in terms of figuring herself out. “I’ll just get some things from my apartment, okay?”

“I’ll…come with you.”

Chapter 16

IN MY OWN TIME

With her phone in one hand and coffee in the other, Paige stood at the window and looked out over the river. Juliet had suggested last night that the blinds remain closed until they could get rid of James, but Paige wasn’t willing to allow Juliet to be a prisoner in her own home. She’d avoided the area of the living room that looked out over the city, so there was nothing to worry about.

Juliet had been great last night, but Paige wished their night hadn’t ended how it did. She would have much preferred to be waiting on Juliet’s bed—naked—not discussing the fact that her husband was in Liverpool. And as she stood here this morning, she wished Juliet was pressed against her. Kissing her. Touching her.

But she wasn’t, and Paige had things to take care of.

She unlocked her phone, sipping her coffee as she brought up Harriet’s number. Juliet had put the idea in her head last night, so here Paige was, hoping she could kick James off her trail.

“Hello?”

Paige smiled. She had to consider whether Harriet was the ‘mole,’ but if she was, Harriet wouldn’t have told James about her location if she knew about their home life. “Hey! How the hell are you?”

“I’m good. Tired and ready for the weekend, but good. How’s the job going in Liverpool?”

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