Cam found her lips again as the baby settled to sleep against his mother. As he drew away, he caressed her face with trembling hands.

“I’m going to love you and Maverick every single day, with every single breath I have, for the rest of my life. I’ll glory in every single memory we make.”

Despite her fatigue, Pippa’s smile was so big that her cheeks ached.

“I know you will, Cam. But you know what? I’m going to love you every single minute of every single day of my life and I plan to live a damn long time. When you’re eighty I’m going to be the biggest pain in your ass you ever had and I swear you’re going to love every single minute of it.”

Cam threw back his head and laughed. His eyes twinkled merrily. “I absolutely believe every bit of it. I have no doubt that when I’m old and gray you’ll still be telling me to straighten up and fly right.”

The nurse interrupted to give Pippa instructions and get her ready to move to a regular room.

“Why don’t you take Mav out to see his family?” Pippa suggested. By now the Copelands would be here and all of Cam’s friends had followed them to the hospital and had kept vigil the entire time Pippa was in labor.

Cam rose and once again took Maverick from Pippa’s arms. He stared down at his wife—he’d never grow tired of that word—and thought she’d never looked as beautiful as she did right now.

Tired, beautiful, so very courageous. He leaned down, kissed her brow and then stood to his full height again.

“We’ll be back before you know it.”

She smiled tiredly and gave him a look so full of love that it was like a fist to his stomach. She still did that to him. Every damn time.

He turned and walked to the door, his arms cradling his new son protectively. The knot grew in his throat as he walked down the corridor to where the others waited.

His son. His miracle. His second chance at life and happiness. At being a father.

His eyes burned and he blinked to keep his vision clear.

The others looked up and then surged to their feet when Cam entered the waiting room. Cam stopped and then smiled. Smiled so big that it was like stepping into the sun after living in the dark his entire life.

“I want you all to meet my son.”