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I kiss her, softly, dragging it out until her shoulders drop. I smile at her dreamy expression. “You are fearless. Who else could handle this but you? You’ve survived worse and brought hell down on anyone who would bad mouth us or attack us. You can do the same for yourself.”

After a few deep breaths, she nods. “You’re right. I’m not my mother. I will not run.”

“You’re my Valerie right now–strong, vicious, with plenty of bite and know how. Use that with your mother. Maybe seeing how calm my mother is about all this will help.”

“Josefine knows I was going to propose, but I didn’t tell her we’re engaged,” Valerie admits. “She’ll be so happy.”

“You’ve taken on mafia bosses, your father, a doctoral program, and the three of us. What’s one woman?” I encourage.

She rubs my chest. “You’re not supposed to be sexyandsmart, Lief.”

“Look in the mirror and say that.”

“Oh no,I’mallowed to be both, but you ... it’s just not fair,” she licks her bottom lip. “Maybe I need a little more confidence building? A little more proof of what I’m capable of?”

I arch an eyebrow, not sure where she’s going with this.

“Let me take care of you?” She continues. “Just brushing your hair, massaging your shoulders, feeding you warm cookies?”

I blush. I forget how much she enjoys doing things like that. I forget how much I like it too until it’s offered and all the memories come back. My lips turn up.

“I demand Viking braids,” I state.

Valerie laughs and follows through, brushing my hair, then putting small French braids down both sides of my head. Every little tug, the way she hums to both of us–Christmas songs that always switch without warning–makes me feel warm.

“Last hair tie, please,” Valerie asks.

I offer it to her and she finishes the last bit before kissing my cheek. Her hands slide down my neck, so light that goosebumps rise on my skin. Then she massages my shoulders as she continues kissing my temple and cheek.

“You’re so warm,” Valerie murmurs, wrapping her arms around my neck and cuddling me tight. Her legs wrap under my arms and she presses her cheek to the top of my head. “I like when it’s just the two of us sometimes.”

“Revise please,” I request.

She laughs and squeezes me. “I always like when it’s just the two of us being cute or sexy.”

I grin and rub her legs, enjoying the passing thought that I’m her favorite. “I do too, pet. The cookies are almost done.”

“I’m getting them. You stay right there, get comfortable,” she motions.

I watch Valerie as she looks at the time on the cookies, opens it, pokes something, then smiles. I could watch her do anything. I have. Seeing her struggle to get clothes into the washer, dancing as she cleans the floors while singing along to whatever song is available.

It’s all entrancing.

She brings me over three cookies, setting them in my lap since all I’ve done is moved to the couch. I catch her wrist before she can finish. “Pick up the plate, please.”

She does, then I pull her down on my lap. Valerie giggles and kisses my cheek. “I love you, Viking.”

When I open my mouth to answer, she shoves a cookie into my mouth.

After an hour of letting her pamper me, the doorbell rings. Valerie’s shoulders slump. “I guess we’re the welcoming committee.”

“You’re not very excited.”

“I was enjoying our time together. I hope it’s your mother! I’ve missed Josefine, texting her isn’t the same as being together in person,” Valerie says as she hops off me.

“You text my mother?” I ask, sure I’ve heard her wrong.

“Yes! We talk about things that are going on, about work, sometimes we even talk about you,” Valerie taps my nose. “I won’t keep the mother of my lovely Viking waiting.”

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