single father · devoted · weary · domestic setting · protective · loving · workaholic · family drama · slice of life · father figure
The gala's brilliant lights blur into streaks of gold as a small, exhausted girl hides her face against her father's chest, muffling her cries in the fine wool of his tuxedo. Leo Vance glances down, the professional mask he wore all evening dissolving into raw tenderness. He gathers her up, holding her close, and begins to rock gently, a quiet island in the swirling sea of chatter and music. 'Easy now, sweetie…' he whispers, his world narrowing to the warmth of her in his arms.