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Paige lifted her drink again, staring into the bottom of the glass. “Nothing quite as romantic as that.”

Juliet suddenly realised what Paige was saying, her blood running a little colder than she would have liked it to. She took Paige’s drink from her hand, brought their hands together, and dipped her head. The look she witnessed was one she’d seen many times over the years. Usually during a domestic violence case. “You really are in trouble, aren’t you?”

“Possibly. P-probably.”

Juliet saw the fear flash in Paige’s eyes again. The usual intriguing grey was hesitant and wary. “Tell me what you need.”

“I just need him to let me go.”

Juliet felt the pain as Paige spoke those words. She felt the distress and the knowledge that Paige didn’t feel safe. God, she hated all of that. She lowered Paige’s hands to her lap, instead bringing her face into her hands. “You’re safe with me, okay?”

“But I’m not.” Paige sniffled, casting her gaze on the space between them. “I’ve never been safe with him, and I never will be while he’s around. The first time I left, when I went back, he gave me two black eyes.”

Juliet wasn’t prepared for this conversation. Because as she’d left the office tonight, she hadn’t anticipated it. Not this. The severity of why Paige continued to run. “I’m sorry he ever laid a hand on you.”

“He doesn’t know I’m gay…nobody does. I feel like I’m drowning, Juliet. I don’t know what to do.”

“I know people who can castrate him if that’s any help.” That may have achieved a smile from Paige, but… “I’m serious. Never underestimate the people I know. If you need protection, say the word, and I’ll make a call.”

Paige held up a hand. “Can we not talk about him anymore tonight? I already have to leave again, and I don’t have much time with you because of that. And I know, I know I’m here to talk to you, to explain, but that’s all you need to know for now. I’d rather just be with you. Here, in the quiet. Can we do that? It’s just…you do make me feel safe. And I just want to be here, where I do feel protected, and spend what little time I can with you. I’ll never have the chance at something more with you, so this… I’d like this to be what we can have.”

Oh, Juliet’s heart broke at those words. Paige wanted there to be time for them; that meant far more than she could ever know. Even if she still planned to leave.

Paige leaned into Juliet’s touch, her eyes closing for a brief moment when Juliet stroked her thumb across Paige’s cheek. “I just wanted to tell you that Thursday was something extremely special for me. Not only did you kiss me at the end of the night, but you showed up for me. You’ll never know how much that means, okay?” Paige leaned in, touching her forehead to Juliet’s. “Nobody ever shows up for me. They’re all obsessed with James and how perfect he apparently is. When it comes to me and what I want, I’m left to fight for it alone. My family and friends don’t see me as anything unless he’s around. I say family very loosely, though. Since I don’t really have anyone left. Few cousins, the odd long-distance great aunt, but that’s about all. My mum was the only one who ever really supported me. But even that was only based on the side of my life I chose to show her. My singing, though, she always supported that.”

Juliet ghosted a thumb across Paige’s bottom lip. God, she wanted to move in and kiss her, to take away the pain in her voice, but Paige needed a space to talk, and that was what Juliet would provide. “Not anymore. I’ll always show up for you, Paige.”

“I can’t stay.” Paige’s voice broke, bringing tears to Juliet’s eyes. “I want to, you don’t know how desperately I want to be here, but I can’t stay. When he finds me…” Paige looked into Juliet’s eyes, cold and filled with torment. “Because he always does…I don’t know if I can survive it again.”

“I know this must be difficult, but he cannot access this bar unless you or I let him in.”

“He’ll find out where I’m living. He has friends, people who have nothing better to do than whatever he asks. He probably already knows where I live. It’s just a waiting game until he reaches me.”

“You shouldn’t have to live your life that way.” Juliet tucked Paige’s hair behind her ear, smiling as Paige inched closer and their lips brushed. She wanted this just as much as Juliet did. “If you’d like my help, you just let me know what you want, and I’ll do anything I can to make it happen.”

“You. I want you. Wanted…you.” Paige swallowed; clear emotion lodged in her throat. “I never should have even looked at you. Or thought about you. Because I can’t have you, and even though we don’t really know one another, I feel as though it could have been something really good between us.”

Juliet smiled, capturing Paige’s lips. They tasted just as good, if not better, than the last time they’d kissed. “Does it help to know that I want you, too?”

“No. It makes it all worse.”

Juliet kissed Paige again. “Why?”

“Because it doesn’t matter what either of us want. I won’t put you through all this shit too. I can barely look after myself.”

“All I ask is that you trust me. That you believe I’m here for you. If you can do so, I promise you’ll be safe with me.”

Paige’s eyes brightened at those words. Even if they hadn’t found themselves attracted to one another, Juliet still would have done anything she could to make Paige safe. The fact that she did want her only made Juliet more determined to follow through on her promise.

“How?”

Juliet scoffed. “Because I’ve had to deal with pricks like him for most of my career.”

Paige gripped the front of Juliet’s blouse, pulling her impossibly close. “And why the hell would you want to keep dealing with them now that you’re no longer a lawyer?”

“Because some people are important to me.”

“You don’t even know me. How can I possibly be important to you?”