Page 74 of The Army Ranger's Surprise

Their daughter…

A fierce rush of emotion washed through him as he held the tiny little miracle. The second-best surprise of his life. He dipped down to gently brush his lips to her temple, like he had her mom.

There was a time in his life when he hated surprises. They brought death and pain and filled him with so much agony the very act of breathing hurt. But then Kaydee showed him that life held good surprises, too. Ones that filled his heart with so much joy and happiness that losing his breath could be a great thing.

“Have you decided on a name?” he asked quietly, never taking his eyes off the sweet, innocent angel. She had her mother’s cute little upturned nose, brown hair, and his blue eyes.

“Yes,” Kaydee said. “There’s only one name that’s fitting to me. One name that’s perfect. I knew it when I carried her. And I knew it was even more fitting the second I saw her.”

He smiled down at his baby girl, who already had him wrapped around her little finger. “What is it?”

“Hope.”

And just like that,hopeburned away the last of the shadows hiding behind his heart. “Perfect.”