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Although, things were different around these men.
Judd’s face filled with worry, then he nodded and lifted her off his lap.
Wow, it worked.
She raced over to Hux, banging her hip into a table as she moved. She winced, but didn’t let it stop her.
“Be careful,” Judd barked.
But by that time she was standing by Hux. What did she do now? Clearly, she hadn’t thought this through. She was used to dealing with Jonathan’s displays of emotions. But that was completely different. Usually that involved making sure that he didn’t hurt himself or others, or it meant listening to him yelling and raging until he wore himself out.
She let out a deep breath and decided to just go for what felt right. Leaning forward, she pressed her front to Hux’s back and wrapped her arms around him.
A shudder ran through him.
“Hux,” Judd said quietly. “Come back to us, man. She needs some care right now.”
Hux spun so quickly that she nearly fell. Then she was in his arms. He lifted her, carrying her over to the chair and holding her in his lap. She attempted to curl up into him. Wanting to disappear in his embrace.
“It’s okay, little darlin’. I’m here. It’s okay now. They won’t hurt you anymore.”
Didn’t he understand that she wasn’t concerned about herself? She was nothing. But he’d been hurt. There were scratches on his arms and she thought she’d caught sight of a bruise on his cheek.
Unacceptable.
“Shh. Shh. I’m sorry if I upset you. Shh.”
She drew back to look up at him. He ran his finger under her eye. She knew he’d find it dry. She didn’t cry.
Ever.
She wasn’t sure she knew how anymore. A genuine smile was few and far between, but he’d gotten several out of her today. But tears . . . they were a whole different ball game.
Because once she started, she wasn’t sure that she would stop.
“You didn’t upset me. I’m f-fine.” Jesus, even a toddler wouldn’t believe her.
Hux raised an eyebrow, but it was Judd that came over to call her out on her lies.
“No lying,” Judd warned, coming to sit next to them. “You’re clearly not fine. And you have every right not to be. What you don’t need to do is pretend to be okay when you’re not.” He shot her a firm look.
Her lips trembled. She didn’t like being told off.
“Hey, he’s not scolding you,” Hux told her.
“Yes, I am,” Judd replied.
“Judd. Jesus, man. She needs some care right now. Some tenderness.”
Judd glared down at them, but she got the feeling he wasn’t mad at her or Hux.
“That’s not my forte. But I’ll try.” He held out his hand and she slipped hers into it, staring at their difference in size in amazement. His hand was large and callused. But so warm. Why was their touch so comforting yet at the same so arousing? “You can tell us how you really feel. No one is going to get upset as long as you tell the truth. Okay, little one?”
Right.
That wasn’t her experience. But she believed him.
“I . . . what h-happened? W-where’s Jonathan?” she asked.
“He was just leaving the office when I got the alert from security that there was a mob downstairs. I was going to stay up there with him, but he was worried you might be down here and in danger. I didn’t realize that he’d called you back.” Judd shot Hux a look.
“Uh, yeah, sorry,” Hux said. “I should have contacted you.”
“Yes, you should have.”
“It was my fault. I was in a rush to get back.” But it sounded like Jonathan hadn’t even finished his meeting. She guessed he’d had more things to talk about. Seemed like he had a lot to talk about with the CEO of this company.
“Anyway, he urged me to go check on you both and Adeel promised that they’d stay safe in the office. That he had a safe room they could go to if things got bad. So I rushed down to check and saw the two of you.” Judd shot his gaze to hers. He looked so concerned . . . about her? But did he even like her? “Little one, can you tell me what hurts? Have you got any injuries?”
The caring in his voice floored her. It made her want to curl up in his arms and have him protect her. But she also wanted to stay with Hux.
And she knew that relying on either of them was foolish.
She shook her head.
“You can’t tell me? Or you’re not injured?” Judd asked.
It was silly, but she had the ridiculous urge to suck on her thumb for comfort. She used to do that as a child. She hadn’t had a lot of toys or friends. Sucking on her thumb had been her only comfort.
But she hadn’t done that in a long time. To stave off the urge, she wrapped her hand in Hux’s shirt. Clinging to him.
