Page 64 of Legacy's Destiny

Echo reached over and patted Fleur’s leg, offering a small, reassuring smile. "You need to make up your own mind. Nobody can do that for you. I’m just sharing how I feel and how I view life. I’ve gone from college to the Army to working for the CIA, and I can tell you this—acting on your own convictions will always lead you down the right path."

Fleur glanced at Echo, her eyes softening as the weight of her thoughts settled. The two women sat there, sharing a quiet understanding, bonded by their love for extraordinary men in extraordinary circumstances.

CHAPTER 19

Deacon and his brother had flown nonstop from their mission, determined to get back home as soon as possible. The mission had dragged on far too long, but finally, they were free. Did they stink? Oh, hell yes. But stopping for a shower wasn’t an option when home was within reach.

His mom had gotten word to him she’d planned a celebration for Echo, marking her last day at the CIA, and was going to introduce her to his sisters and Fleur. He’d passed that information to Ronan, and once they were cleared, they’d wasted no time. Wraith and Ranger had agreed to handle the transition of the team and equipment back to the States. With their team’s assurance that everything was under control, Deacon and Ronan had jumped on the first flight out—a logistic nightmare involving a series of bounces from plane to tarmac and back again. After nearly twenty-seven grueling hours, they’d landed in Virginia. A Guardian vehicle had picked them up from the airport and drove them straight home.

Now, Deacon turned off the shower after washing himself twice—because, yeah, he’d needed it—and quickly dried off. He threw on jeans, a T-shirt, socks, and grabbed a small box from his uniform bag. Opening it, he smiled.

He’d purchased the ring thirty-two days ago while in San Francisco. During a rare “hurry-up-and-wait” situation, he and Ronan had visited a jeweler. Deacon had chosen a four-carat, square-cut diamond surrounded by channel-set diamonds. Guessing Echo’s ring size had been a challenge. The store clerk, overly enthusiastic to help, had let him hold her hand for comparison. Weird as hell, but it worked. Ronan, of course, had laughed hysterically since he already knew Fleur’s ring size.

Deacon walked out of his room and ran into Ronan, who was exiting his own. He held up the red velvet box, and Ronan tapped his front pocket in acknowledgment.

“Let’s do this,” Ronan said, and they descended the stairs together.

Anna met them at the bottom. “The girls are in my study. Charley, Gabby, and their husbands are in the kitchen, helping me clean up. You’ve got the house. Love you both.” She kissed each of them before walking away.

Deacon turned to Ronan. “Did you tell her?”

Ronan shook his head. “No, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know. Her and Dad, I swear, they have eyes everywhere.”

Deacon nodded. “Indeed they do.”

Ronan grinned. “Let’s go.”

They crossed the main living area and headed toward the small study Anna had claimed as her own years ago. Inside, Echo and Fleur sat on the couch, their conversation somber. Deacon’s heart softened at the sight of Echo, and he couldn’t help but smile when her face lit up. She practically bounced off the couch to greet him.

“Hey,” he said, his voice soft as he took her hand. “Come with me.”

He led her through the study and onto the enclosed porch, shutting the door behind them.

“Oh, I like privacy,” Echo teased, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“So do I,” Deacon replied, lowering his head to kiss her. The connection between them was as electric and intense as the first time their lips had met.

He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze. “I have a question for you.”

Echo’s smile widened. “Oh, yeah? What kind of question?”

Deacon dropped to one knee, the red velvet box in hand. He opened it, revealing the sparkling diamond ring. “Echo Lashay, will you marry me?”

She stared at the ring, then at him, then back at the ring. Slowly, she shook her head. “I don’t need this.”

Deacon frowned, momentarily confused. “Excuse me?”

Echo smiled, her eyes brimming with emotion. “I don’t need a ring like this. All I need is you beside me. I love you, Deacon. I love you with every fiber of my being. Of course, I’ll marry you.”

She dropped to her knees in front of him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Kneeling together in the middle of the porch, they kissed. It wasn’t rushed or frantic. It was a kiss that promised forever.

It wasn’t a time to go too far, but Deacon let the kiss deepen, pouring every ounce of emotion from the last thirty-two days into it. He didn’t care that his family was just inside the house. He held her tightly, their connection banishing the weight he’d been carrying—the loneliness, the insecurity of not telling her he loved her, the worry that she might have second-guessed everything while he was gone. Every question, every fear, was chased away by her touch, by her kiss.

When he finally broke the kiss, he smiled down at her. “I love you. I know this is fast, but I don’t want another day to go by without telling you or showing you how much I love you.”

Sitting back on his heels, he pulled the diamond ring from the red velvet box. He gently took her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger. She shook her head, staring at the sparkling diamond in disbelief.

“Deacon, this is too much. The diamond—how can you afford something like this?”

---