Julia's POV
The important person Gavin's secretary mentioned was my father? All morning I had been wondering if maybe he was with Belle, and my heart had been racing with thoughts I didn't want to face.
"Dad?" I called out the moment I walked through the door, my legs moving faster until I reached him. He rose from his chair and wrapped me in his strong embrace, that familiar cologne making me feel like a child again.
"There's my little girl," Dad's voice was warm against my ear, the kind of tenderness he rarely showed anyone else. His arms held me tight before he pulled back, studying my face as if searching for changes. "Look at you," he said with a slight smile, tucking my hair behind my ear. "How have you been? Are you taking care of yourself? Getting enough sleep? You're not staying up too late, are you?"
I nodded quickly, putting on a bright smile even though my thoughts kept drifting to Gavin. "I'm good."
