Page 105 of Her Summer Hope

“No banilla,” he said. “Banilla is for old people.”

“What if we put chocolate syrup on it, and cherries, and sprinkles?” John asked.

James sighed. “What about snakes?”

Murdock smiled, the first real one she’d ever seen, and picked him up under one arm. “Kid’s after my own heart.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kyle

Kyle stood in the kitchen, cradling little Emmie in his arms as he watched Maddy and the guys sharing ice cream with Ellie, Jack, and James. He held Emmie close, breathing in the sweet scent of her skin and fine, baby-soft hair. His heart squeezed as he watched Maddy laughing with the guys, her eyes bright and cheeks flushed.

She was stunning.

As they dug in, the room was filled with laughter and jokes, the boys hanging on every word as the soldiers regaled them with tales of their SERE training and daring missions.

"Did you really jump out of a plane at night?" Jack asked wide-eyed, his spoonful of ice cream momentarily forgotten.

"More times than I can count," replied Aiden with a proud grin. “Sometimes into the water too.”

“Is that when something happened to your legs?” James asked, frowning. “Did a shark get them?”

“James!” Maddy snapped, horrified.

“It’s okay,” Aiden said, holding up a hand. “No, I got hurt another time.”

“Oh,” James said, now more interested in his ice cream than what had happened to Aiden’s legs.

Meanwhile, Ellie engaged Neil in a surprisingly mature conversation about her favorite book. Kyle couldn't help but be impressed by Neil's hidden depths as he discussed the novel with genuine interest.

Kyle wouldn’t have taken him for a reader.

As he observed them all, he couldn't help but slip into the past. His mind drifted back to the pain he'd experienced when Regina had left him, breaking his heart and leading to that last nearly-fatal deployment and the heartbreaking time after.

It was so different from the happiness surrounding him now. Back then, he never would have imagined he’d be where he was today.

Maddy noticed Kyle's distant expression and moved toward him, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She held out a large bowl of ice cream, loaded with all his favorite toppings. The sight of it melted away his somber thoughts like hot fudge on vanilla ice cream.

"Made this just for you," she teased, nudging him playfully.

"Trying to fatten me up, Lane?"

She snorted, scooping a bite of her own sundae. "Please. Like a little ice cream would make a difference."

He winced theatrically, balancing Emmie against his chest to dig into the ice cream.

"Thank you," he murmured, his eyes flickering from the bowl to Emmie, who grinned up at him with a joy that made his heart ache.

Reluctantly, he handed the baby back to her mother so Maddy could breastfeed while he enjoyed his ice cream treat.

"Alright, everyone," John announced, "let's move this party to the living room and watch a movie!"

“No war movies, please!” Maddy shouted. “The boys have enough dangerous ideas as it is.”

Kyle grinned.

The group dispersed, leaving Kyle alone in the kitchen with Maddy and Emmie. He savored each spoonful of ice cream, watching as Maddy fished out the cover and expertly nursed the child who bore such a striking resemblance to her.