Chapter 7

Paige stood at the sink in the kitchen, humming along to the radio. Juliet was still sleeping, the coffee was almost ready, and Paige felt truly rested this morning. Nothing beat sleeping in your own bed with the woman you love. No hotel room could ever compare to being here…safely at home. Paige was hugely grateful for the opportunity Soraya had given her and for believing in Paige's talent, but she stood by her word. She couldn't wait until this was all over and life returned to normal.

She lifted her phone from the worktop and sent off a quick message to Hannah.

Thanks so much for last night. It's great to be home. I don't think I'll have much of a chance to catch up with you, Caz and Edie. Just a few weeks and I'll be here full-time again. Love ya! x

Paige took her coffee from the machine, resting back against the edge of the counter. The silence this morning was bliss. No hum of the hotel air conditioning. No whoosh of the nearby lift. No voices out in the corridor as people came and went from their own room.

Just silence.

And love.

She checked the time, deciding to give Juliet a while longer to sleep. Her girlfriend had seemed tired last night; Paige didn't want to wake her if she needed a little extra this morning. They didn't exactly have any plans to leave the apartment. If Juliet had wanted to, then Paige would be right behind her, but in an ideal world, today would have been spent at home. Where they could relax and talk about the bar. Where they could take things at their pace…or do nothing at all.

Paige's phone buzzed.

You're welcome. Don't worry about finding time to see us. Juliet has missed you x

She grinned. Paige had missed Juliet, too. Today, she planned to make up for those moments when they'd longed for one another. FaceTime calls didn't quite work for either of them.

Everything will be back to normal soon x

She sipped her coffee, moaning lightly at the familiar taste. Juliet was very particular about her coffee blend, and it seemed Paige was now, too.

You know, if you want to keep doing what you love with your music, I know Juliet will be okay. She has us to keep her company on the days you're gone. And the bar. Do what makes you happy, Paige. It could all be gone in the blink of an eye.

Huh. Paige was going to do what made her happy, and that meant being here with Juliet. Not hundreds of miles away. Not in another country. Not loving her from afar. No. Paige needed to be here. It was the only place she felt she belonged. It was the only life that mattered to her.

I am. That means being in Liverpool. It's where I'm happiest.

Paige locked her phone, hoping Hannah would accept what she'd said. Hadn't she told people repeatedly that she had no plans to continue on any tour Soraya may or may not announce? Hadn't she explained her reasons for being here…for not wanting to live the life of a musician?

She shook her head and turned back to the coffee machine. Seemed she would need extra caffeine before she even thought about beginning her day.

"You don't know how good it is to see you home, Paige."

Juliet's tired voice floated through the air. It sent the hairs on the back of Paige's neck upright. Nothing would ever feel as good. She turned, smiling at Juliet. "Feels really good to be home, babe."

"I didn't realise how much sleep I needed." Juliet strode barefoot across the apartment, taking a cup of coffee as Paige handed it over. "Thank you."

"I'm here now. And I want you to take care of yourself. That includes sleeping properly when I'm not here." Paige pulled Juliet to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You have to take care of yourself for me. I hate knowing you're not sleeping."

"I'll be okay. I'm just not used to being here alone anymore." Juliet rested her head on Paige's shoulder, reaching around her and lowering her cup to the counter. "I'm not thinking about it while you're back. I just want to enjoy any moments I can have with you."

"Me too, babe." Paige lowered her head and kissed Juliet's hair. She lingered, inhaling that scent, and smiled. "I can't believe you thought I didn't want to see you."

"I know. I was just being dramatic. It doesn't happen often, and it won't happen again."

"If that's how you felt, I'm sorry. I just wanted to surprise you. I should have thought about it and been mindful of the fact you were feeling a little down." Paige never wanted Juliet to have those thoughts. All she ever wanted was to be at home, loving this woman in her arms. "If we have another break in the schedule, and it's possible, I'll tell you I'm coming home beforehand."

Juliet drew back, that look of love shining in her eyes. "It was a lovely surprise."

"Really?" Paige wrinkled her nose. "It didn't feel that way when you walked through the door crying."

"It was. I wouldn't lie to you." Juliet unravelled herself from Paige and took her coffee towards her reading seat in the window. "It's a shame you couldn't be at dinner with us last night. Hannah and Caz would have loved to see you."

"I know. But the earliest train I could get meant I wouldn't have made it. There are a few rail replacements on at the minute, so I had to take the bus for part of the journey."

Juliet looked over at Paige from her seat. "You should have said. I would have picked you up from wherever you were travelling from."

"Nah. We weren't too far outside of London. It made sense to get the train instead of expecting you to travel to get me." Paige finished her second coffee of the morning and crossed the apartment. She sat down on the window seat facing Juliet, her elbows perched on her knees. "I'm here, I made it, and that's that."

A lazy smile spread on Juliet's lips as she lowered her reading glasses over her eyes. "Anything you want to do today?"

"Nothing in particular. I thought I'd go out and get some groceries in, then cook dinner for us." Paige took the book Juliet was about to open from her hands. When Juliet looked up at her, frowning, Paige lifted a brow. "Are we okay?"

"Of course." Juliet sat forward, taking Paige's hands. "Why wouldn't we be?"

"I don't know. Something just feels off. But if you're sure, I'll leave it at that."

Juliet dragged a hand through her hair. "I think I'm just surprised that you're home. That's all. But you and I are more than okay. I promise you."

That was good enough for Paige. Perhaps she was just having her own doubts about being away. Still…not long to go. "Okay. I'm going to get dressed and go out for those ingredients. Then I'm locking us in here for the rest of the day."

Juliet beckoned Paige closer with a curl of the finger. She smiled into a kiss, a hand wrapped around the back of Paige's neck. "It sounds like the perfect day to me. Don't be too long."

Juliet dried her hands on a towel, folding it and placing it to the side of the empty worktop space. Paige was putting the condiments away, their place was tidy after dinner, and Juliet was full in every way possible. Mostly full of love, though. She hadn't realised how much she needed this time with Paige, but from the moment she had stepped through the door last night, she didn't want to let her go again. She would have to, she understood that, but it didn't mean she had to like it.

"How's the bar coming along?" Paige turned away from the cupboard and pulled herself up onto the counter. "I can't even remember the plans now. I'm dying to see the progress."

Juliet shook her head and approached Paige, standing between her legs. "You know I'm not going to show you the progress. I want it to be a surprise."

"I know. But I can still try to get my own way. It's not illegal."

Juliet stroked her palms up and down Paige's thighs. She looked so good being at home, just a T-shirt and shorts getting in the way of everything Juliet craved. "Thank you for dinner. It was great."

Paige narrowed her eyes. "That was one hell of a pivot."

"It's the lawyer in me," Juliet said, lifting a shoulder as she beckoned Paige closer and stole a kiss. "And just because I'm not going to change my mind."

"Fair enough." Paige wrapped her legs around Juliet, trapping her in place. "I have a question for you." Paige sat back on her hands, chewing her lip. "Once the bar is finished, what's next?"

"What's next?" Juliet narrowed her eyes, unsure of where Paige was going with this conversation. "You mean like a holiday or something?"

"I am not opposed to a holiday, but no, that's not what I was talking about." Paige's silver eyes shone back at Juliet. "What is our next project?"

"I…don't have another project." Juliet would need a break from anything of the kind after dealing with the bar. But if Paige had something in mind, she was all ears. "Do you?"

"I was thinking," Paige said as she sat up and rested her arms over Juliet's shoulders. "We should look at…a house."

Of all the things Paige could have said, buying a house was not on that list. Juliet hadn't thought much about upsizing. While she loved the idea of something bigger and with a garden, she also loved her apartment. "I…should we?"

"Yeah. Why not? We can't stay here forever." Paige looked around. "It's a gorgeous place, but don't you want something bigger? Somewhere we can make a life together?"

"It's not something I've thought about. Is that what you want?"

Paige nodded. "I think it wouldn't hurt to throw some ideas around."

"You don't like being here?" This was the first time Paige had said anything like this. As far as Juliet was aware, Paige was happy here.

"I like being wherever you are."

Juliet searched Paige's face, thrown by the unexpectedness of this conversation. "R-right." She frowned, the only thing keeping her grounded being the arms draped over her shoulders. "If that's something you want, I guess it's something for me to think about."

"Babe, it's just a suggestion. It could be exciting."

And then Juliet realised exactly why Paige wanted to live in something bigger. Really, she had downgraded when she'd left James and met Juliet. "I should have known. I'm sorry."

"What are you apologising for?" Now Paige was the confused one in this conversation.

"Before you left Kent, you had a home. Something far bigger than this. It never occurred to me that you wouldn't be happy here."

"No, no. You've misunderstood. I am happy here. I don't care where we live so long as I wake up with you every morning. I really don't. I guess it was just something that crossed my mind. Very briefly, might I add…"

"You're right. We may have been together now for what…fifteen months, but I'm still coming to terms with the fact that this is even my life now."

Paige sat further forward, lowering her arms. "I'm sorry?"

"When I left law, I had no idea where my life was going. I'd spent so many years coming home alone, eating dinner alone, or unfortunately…paying an escort so I didn't look or feel so alone. Then I bought the bar and figured it was something for me to focus on." Juliet smiled, tucking Paige's hair behind her ear. "And then you walked into the bar…into my life. I hadn't for one moment expected anything to come of how I felt about you, it didn't seem possible, but here we are. In love and happy."

Paige brushed her nose against Juliet's, those grey eyes soft. "We are. We're exactly here."

"And so, yes. We should look at what's next." Juliet would give Paige the world if she asked for it. "Moving from here wasn't something I'd ever thought about. It wasn't anything I thought I needed to do. But we should make new plans. You've changed my life, Paige. You've given me a reason to enjoy my days. A beautiful home with a garden is surely what we need."

"Yeah?" Paige grinned as she drew back. "You're sure it's what you want, and you're not just saying it to make me happy?"

"I'd do anything to make you happy, Paige." Juliet reached out and touched Paige's cheek lightly. "But no. I'm saying it because I want us to have something we've created together."

"That sounds perfect, babe. Even if I know you'll make it something special all on your own, knowing I'd be a part of it really does sound perfect."

"We're equal in this. In anything we do." At times, it was hard for Juliet to remember the Paige she had initially met. The wariness in her eyes, the fear of being found, they never had to worry about those things anymore. "You'll always matter. Anything you want will always matter."

"All I want is you. Here, somewhere else, I don't care. Just you."

Juliet pressed her hands to the counter on either side of Paige. "The moment your tour is over, we should start looking."

"The moment my tour is over, I'm coming back here and making love to you until the end of time."

Juliet's body came to life as Paige said that. They'd already spent last night and most of today naked, but Paige had a way of intensifying everything within a split second. "I cannot wait."