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The need to pick her up and just take care of her was riding him hard.
You can’t touch her without permission unless she’s in danger.
A shrug was his only answer. Shit. This was going to be more difficult than anticipated. How did he communicate with her easily?
“A way of communicating with you would really help right now,” he muttered.
She nodded then turned to limp away.
“Shit, don’t walk around with a piece of glass in your foot.”
Freezing, she shot him a look. He expected to see fear in her eyes, but instead, her gaze was filled with irritation. He ran his hand over his face. He needed to calm himself.
The job. You need this job.
Then he noticed blood on the floor. Actual blood this time. Fuck.
“You’re bleeding. That’s it. I’m touching you, so you need to deal.” He didn’t know how deep the cut was, it might not be a matter of life or death, but he was certain that her brother wouldn’t appreciate him standing there while she was hurt and bleeding.
Fuck. His Daddy instincts were screaming at him. But as he reached for her, there was a noise behind him. Her eyes widened. He turned towards the threat, reaching for his gun.
“Whoa, it’s just us.” Elias held up his hands and Sterling shot him a look as they both walked through the door.
Shit. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you coming.” Suddenly, he felt someone press up against his back. Someone small, who was trembling.
“Juliet,” he said in a low voice. Was that soothing? He grimaced, fucked if he knew. The look Elias shot him was filled with surprise, so maybe he’d managed it. “Juliet, it’s okay. These are my friends and work colleagues. This is Elias.” He pointed at the dark-skinned, giant man who waved down at the woman peering around from behind him.
She twisted the back of his T-shirt in her hand and he remembered that being on the list of instructions. What had happened to this girl that she couldn’t cope with meeting strangers? That she had to literally hold onto someone to ease her anxiety? Was that what she was doing? Holding onto him because he made her feel less anxious?
Something like satisfaction filled him.
Ease up, bud. You’re like the lesser of three evils. She doesn’t actually see you as her protector.
He might not have enjoyed being married to Linda, but he did like having someone to watch over, to protect.
“Hi Juliet,” Elias said softly. Despite his large size, he was a big softie.
Brick expected Juliet’s tension to ease, but she just tightened her hold on him. That was odd. Women usually much preferred Elias’ gentle approach or Sterling’s sense of humor. Not his grim personality.
“Hey, Juliet. Did the boss man here tell you some bad stories about us?” Sterling joked. “Promise none of it is true.”
She still didn’t react.
Elias looked to Brick, his eyebrows raised. “Anything we can do in here?”
Do?
“Did you guys spill something?” Sterling added. “There’s glass on the floor, and is that cranberry juice?”
“Fuck. Her foot.” He whirled around and nearly sent her flying. Grabbing her upper arms, he steadied her. “Are you all right? We need to check your foot.”
Her eyes were too wide in her pale face.
“She hurt herself?” Elias asked.
“Yes, but I think more urgent is that you guys step back and give her some breathing space.”
He’d seen several panic attacks before. Most people started to breathe in big gulps, as though they couldn’t get enough air. But he had a feeling that Juliet’s panic attacks were different. And that she was headed towards one right now.
