Page 94 of The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Mafia Princess

I rose onto my toes and kissed him.

Jonah held me closer, and the kiss stayed soft and unhurried, warm enough to make the snow outside feel farther away. When it ended, I rested my cheek against his chest while he rubbed my back.

My laptop chimed from the table.

The satellite connection held steady while a message from my program loaded.

Jonah stayed close as we crossed the room. “Is it good news?”

I read the first line twice. “My professor approved my revised practicum plan.”

His crooked smile widened. “I knew she would.”

“You had more confidence than I did.”

“I’ve watched you work.”

I caught the front of his henley and kissed him again.

My laptop began ringing.

Daddy’s name filled the screen.

Jonah rested his palm at the small of my back. “Are you ready?”

I leaned into him.

“I’m ready.”

I accepted the call.

Daddy appeared on the screen wearing a white dress shirt with the collar open beneath a dark cardigan. A Christmas tree filled one corner behind him, decorated in gold and red with enough lights to prove my taste had a genetic source.

His expression softened when he saw me.

“Merry Christmas, Princess.”

“Merry Christmas, Daddy.”

His gaze moved past me. “Mr. Bricker.”

Jonah leaned close enough to enter the frame. “Merry Christmas, Mr. Russo.”

“You can call me Domenico.”

Jonah looked at me.

I pressed my lips together.

Daddy frowned. “Why is that surprising?”

“You’ve called him Mr. Bricker for six months,” I said.

“I’ve decided six months is long enough to establish that he knows his own last name.”

Jonah drew me closer.

“Thank you, Domenico.”