Page 53 of Legacy's Destiny

“Ah, there’s something I need to tell you.” Deacon shifted uncomfortably beside her.

She tensed immediately. “What?”

“Ronan told me that our parents are here in Pleiku.” He glanced at her and licked his lips. “They want to have dinner with us. You don’t have to go if you don’t want.” He hurried to assure her.

“I’d like to meet your parents. But I’m not going to be very presentable in this.” She waved to her puke-pink scrubs.

Deacon seemed to relax at her answer. Had he been worried she wouldn’t want to meet them? He dropped his arm over her shoulders, and the driver glanced back in the rearview mirror and smiled at her. Obviously, public displays of affection were a rare thing in this country. She smiled back as Deacon said, “My mom has taken care of that. I don’t know how she got your size, but Ronan said clothes were being delivered to the hotel.”

CHAPTER 16

Echo took one last look in the mirror. The tan slacks and V-neck white shirt fit her as if they’d been tailored specifically for her. She wore low-heeled shoes made of butter-soft leather and felt like a princess in a fairy tale. Well, almost. She didn’t have any makeup on, but then again, she rarely wore it. A touch of concealer would’ve been nice—there were shadows under her eyes, but that was to be expected after two weeks in the jungle, right? She tilted her head, studying her reflection, and gave herself a firm nod. Yeah, that was acceptable. She flicked her hair back over her shoulders and turned, ready for whatever the evening had in store. Tonight, she was going to meet Deacon’s parents.

Talking to strangers had never been a problem for her. Hopefully, his mom and dad were down-to-earth people. They were ranchers, right? Deacon had mentioned that his dad owned a spread in Colorado. Horses, cattle, rodeo—she could talk about all of it. Growing up in Bozeman, Montana, she’d been immersed in that way of life. And if conversation failed, well, there was always the weather. Lord knew the monsoons had been a hot topic of discussion lately—or they should have been.

She exited her bedroom into the hotel suite's living area that Guardian had prepared for her. The accommodations exuded luxury. Plush carpets muffled her steps as she moved through the spacious suite. The room held a faint scent of lavender and freshly laundered linens, a stark contrast to the jungle's damp, earthy aroma. Guardian didn’t just offer basic; no, they provided premium. Deacon’s team had been settled in what could only be described as a bridal suite, complete with three bedrooms, a kitchenette, and two bathrooms. She’d gotten a glimpse of it when they’d first arrived from the hospital, and the banter about their matching scrubs had been equally hilarious and mortifying.

Echo had been relieved to retreat to her own suite and find a wardrobe waiting for her. Everything from casual jeans and sneakers to silk blouses, tailored slacks, and elegant dresses hung neatly in the walk-in closet. She made a mental note to ask Deacon’s mother about reimbursing her for the clothes—though, judging by the designer name tags she’d glimpsed, that might take a while.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She crossed the room and opened it, her lips curling into a smile. Deacon stood there, looking devastatingly handsome in tailored slacks, a crisp shirt, and what appeared to be a Hermès belt.

“You look really nice,” she said, cocking her head to the side. “Is that a Hermès belt?”

Deacon glanced down at his waist, then back at her with a shrug. “I have no clue. Probably. Is that a bad thing?”

She laughed. “No, it’s a really good thing. It’s a reallyexpensivething.” She emphasized the word with a playful grin. “I have questions. Many questions.”

He shrugged again. “I don’t pay attention to stuff like that and after dinner, I’ll answer what I can.”

She gave him a narrowed look before looping her arm through his. She could wait. Obviously, money was not a foreign thing to him. But how could his parents know where he was? That was the big question of the night and she’d find out, one way or another. But she could wait until after dinner. She changed the subject. “So, how do I look?”

His smile turned wicked as he leaned down and cupped her chin and cheek in his hand. “Completely edible.”

A chill ran down her spine, settling in places that made her knees weak. His lips captured hers, the kiss slow and sensual. By the time he pulled away, she was clinging to his shoulders, breathless and dazed.

“Oh my God,” she panted. “I’m never changing out of this outfit.”

He chuckled, his voice a low rumble. “I think I need you naked.”

She laughed, the sound light and happy. “Okay, maybe I’ll change out of it.”

Just then, another door opened down the hall, and Ronan stepped out of his suite. Dressed similarly to Deacon, the family resemblance was striking, though subtle differences made it easy to tell them apart. Deacon’s chin was squarer, and he was a touch taller. His smile carried a rakish charm, whereas Ronan’s was open and warm. Even their hairstyles differed—Ronan’s was slightly longer, parted in the middle, while Deacon’s was shorter and neatly parted to the side.

“You clean up well, too,” Echo said, smiling at Ronan.

He slipped a hand into his pocket and chuckled. “When having dinner with one’s mother, one must make an effort.”

Deacon rested a hand on the small of her back. “My mother is a wonderful person. She’s very talkative but nice.”

Echo tilted her head up to look at him, a teasing smile on her lips. “Is that a warning in disguise?”

Ronan laughed. “Yes. Yes, it is. Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

Deacon groaned. “You don’t need to be afraid of Mom. She’s amazing. And you stop that unless you want me to start doing the same to Fleur.”

“Who’s Fleur?” she asked.

Deacon looked at Ronan and said, “Yeah, who’s Fleur?”

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