Page 19

CHAPTER 19

D eacon 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?”

Deacon laughed, his deep voice warm and reassuring. “There’s a little more I need to tell you, but rest assured, I can afford it.”

She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. “Does Guardian pay you that well?”

He chuckled. “They pay well enough.” He bent down and kissed her again. Just as the kiss began to deepen, a loud cheer erupted from inside the house.

Echo broke away, looking toward the noise. “Do you think we should get off our knees and go find out what the applause was for? Maybe a proposal?”

Deacon grinned. “How did you know Ronan was going to ask Fleur?”

Echo smiled coyly. “Maybe I’m a pretty smart cookie. Plus, your mom gave me serious vibes earlier.”

Deacon rolled his eyes. “My mother. Please tell me she didn’t spill the beans about what I was planning.”

Echo shook her head. “She didn’t. But she did tell Fleur and me to pull our heads out of our butts and be present in our lives.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, that sounds like Mom. Let’s go.”

He stood, offering her a hand before pulling her close as they walked back into the house. When they entered, all heads turned toward them.

Echo beamed and said, “Congratulations, Ronan and Fleur! We’re so happy for you.”

Fleur lifted her hand, showing off the dazzling ring Ronan had given her, the light catching the diamonds and making them sparkle. “Thank you,” she said, leaning into Ronan’s chest with a blissful smile. “I’m just following my convictions.”

Echo lifted her own hand, showing her new ring. “So am I.”

The cheer that rose from the room was loud and heartfelt. Champagne bottles appeared as if by magic, and toasts were made. The evening turned into a joyous celebration, filled with laughter and camaraderie.

By late evening, Deacon had had enough of the nonstop congratulations and chatter. He stood, taking Echo’s hand. “I’m going to take Echo home now.”

Ronan snorted, his grin wicked. “Right, that’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to take her home .”

Anna gave Ronan a pointed look. “I swear, son, I will find a switch. It’s easier here than it was in Vietnam.”

The room erupted in laughter as the girls giggled, and their husbands suddenly found other things to pay attention to. Ronan held up his hands in mock surrender. “Yes, Mother. I promise I’ll behave.” He mouthed, No, I won’t , to Deacon

Gabriel chuckled and tossed Deacon his keys. “I had Henry put Echo’s box in the backseat.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Deacon caught the keys midair and guided Echo out of the house. Congratulations rained down on them as they walked through the door and into the night.

Deacon unlocked the sleek black Mercedes coupe, opening the passenger door for Echo. She slid in, glancing at him as he walked around to the driver’s side. Settling into the seat, he set the GPS to her address.

“So, you did find out where I live,” she teased, threading her fingers through his as he started the car.

He turned to her, his smile tender and a playful glint in his eyes. “Of course, I did.”

She laughed softly, and he winked at her. Deacon knew everything there was to know about Echo now. And once she signed the nondisclosure agreement his father was preparing, she would know everything about him, too.

Until then, he was going to love her with everything he had. He’d grown up watching his father love his mother deeply, selflessly, and unwaveringly for over thirty years. Now, with this remarkable woman beside him, Deacon intended to follow that same example. Tonight, he would show Echo, without question, how much she meant to him and how much he loved her.

They arrived at the small apartment complex where Echo lived. Deacon parked the sleek Mercedes, grabbed the box from the backseat, and followed her to the door. She unlocked it, pushing it open, and stepped inside.

Deacon paused in the entryway, taking in the warm, inviting space. The decor was unmistakably her . Layers of earthy tones blended with vibrant pops of color. Shelves filled with potted plants lined the walls, their greenery spilling over the edges. A patchwork quilt draped across the sofa and its matching footstool, adding a cozy, homemade touch. Small trinkets and framed photos dotted the surfaces, giving the space a sense of personality and history. It felt intimate, lived-in—a stark contrast to the sterile hotel rooms and bunkhouses he was used to.

“This is nice,” he said, setting the box down on a small table near the door. “It’s … you.”

Echo smiled as she locked the door behind him, sliding the bolt into place with a soft click . “It’s home,” she replied, taking his hand.

Her touch was soft but purposeful, and she led him down the narrow hallway toward the bedroom. The warmth of her apartment followed them, the air tinged with the faint scent of lavender and something that reminded him of freshly baked bread. It was comforting—like her.

As they stepped into her bedroom, Echo shut the door behind them. The room was just as personal as the rest of her apartment, with warm lighting casting a soft glow over a quilted bedspread and pillows stacked invitingly against the headboard. A small bedside table held a lamp, a worn paperback, and a glass of water. Everything about it spoke of her—practical, welcoming, and effortlessly beautiful.

She turned to him, her expression a mix of anticipation and vulnerability. Taking a step closer, Echo placed her hands on his chest, and her eyes told him everything he needed to know.

“Sex. Now.”

Echo’s voice was low and demanding as she pushed his T-shirt up, her eyes burning with intensity. Who was he to argue? Deacon tugged the shirt over his head and kicked off his tennis shoes while she angrily attacked his belt.

“Condoms,” he said, his voice a mix of practicality and urgency as he reached for his wallet.

She stilled his hand and smirked. “Got us covered. Birth control. Strip. Now.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He barely got the words out before her shirt joined the growing pile of clothes. She paused, wrestling with the fabric when her hand got caught in the sleeve. She growled in frustration, yanking it free with a victorious huff, and Deacon couldn’t help the grin that split his face.

She shoved him backward before wriggling out of her slacks, revealing a utilitarian white bra and panties set that, for some reason, made his blood run hotter than anything lacy or elaborate ever could. As she stepped free of her clothes, he fumbled with his jeans, hopping on one foot toward the bed in his haste to strip.

“Careful!” She laughed, reaching out to steady him just as he lost his balance and toppled backward onto the bed. A loud CRACK followed the impact as the bed frame gave way, dropping them unceremoniously to the floor. The headboard teetered and fell forward, narrowly missing his head.

For a moment, neither of them moved, wide-eyed and stunned. Then Echo’s gaze met his, and their laughter erupted, echoing off the walls. She collapsed onto the mattress beside him, clutching her sides as the sound of pounding from below made them laugh even harder.

“Oh my God, Mrs. Johansen is going to murder us,” she wheezed, slapping her hand over her mouth in a futile attempt to muffle the sound.

Deacon glanced at the clock. “It’s almost midnight. She better find some earplugs because she’s going to get more disturbances.”

He rolled over, pinning her beneath him with a playful growl as he nuzzled her neck. Her laughter melted into a sigh, soft and breathy.

“I missed you so much,” she murmured, her hands tracing the lines of his shoulders.

“I missed you more.” Deacon’s lips brushed hers, the kiss slow and consuming, pulling all the air from the room.

Her legs cradled him as their bodies found a rhythm born of longing and love. The way she moved against him, kissed him with abandon, and looked at him as though he was her entire world—it was enough to make his heart stutter.

The first time was fast and desperate, a month of fantasies and frustrations exploding into reality. When he entered her, his breath caught, his chest tightening at the overwhelming sensation of being so close to her. He closed his eyes, needing a moment to rein in the storm inside him.

When he opened them again, it was to find her gazing up at him, her expression soft, filled with trust and love. This woman —his woman—was going to be his wife. The thought filled him with a sense of awe and purpose.

As her body tensed beneath him, the flush of her skin and the way her lips parted in a soft gasp burned into his memory. She was breathtaking, and when she shattered, the sight of her, the feel of her, pushed him over the edge.

When it was over, he rested his forehead against hers, both of them catching their breath.

“You’re going to marry me,” he whispered, his voice rough but certain.

Echo smiled, her fingers brushing against the stubble on his jaw. “I am.” She lifted her left hand, the engagement ring catching the dim light. “But honestly, this ring is way too flashy.”

“That ring is flashy for a reason.” He kissed her knuckles, his lips lingering. “It tells the world you’re taken. Period.”

She tilted her head, pretending to study it. “So, this is my ‘Sorry, boys, I’m off the market’ ring?”

“Exactly.”

She laughed softly, though her brows furrowed. “Well, since no one’s ever hit on me before, I think we could probably downsize.”

“Nope.” Deacon turned her face toward his, his gaze firm. “No downsizing, no trade-ins, no smaller stones. I can afford it, and I want you to have it.”

Her eyes misted, and she stared at the ring for a moment before looking back at him. “We’re really doing this. We’re getting married.”

“We are,” he said, leaning in to kiss her. “And you’ve got a wedding to plan.”

Her eyes widened as realization struck. She shot upright. “Oh my God, I do! You have to meet my mom and dad. Where are we going to get married? I need a dress. What all goes into a wedding? I’ve never planned one before. I’ve been to a couple, but I didn’t pay attention. I need to look this up. Shit, I need my laptop?—”

Deacon laughed, pulling her back down onto the mattress. “The only thing we’re doing tonight is fixing this headboard, making love again, and getting some sleep. Wedding planning can wait.”

She relaxed against him, though her eyes were still wide with excitement. “And meeting my mom and dad?”

“We’ll get on a plane tomorrow.”

“Really?”

He nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “For you? Anything.”

In that moment, Deacon realized the truth in his words. They weren’t empty or placating—they came from the very fabric of his soul. He’d do anything for her. Anything.

Echo’s smile softened, and she leaned up to kiss him, her lips lingering as if savoring the moment. “I love you,” she whispered against his mouth, her voice barely audible but filled with conviction.

Deacon kissed her again, his arms tightening around her. “I love you more.”

And as they laid tangled together on the broken bed, laughter fading into contented silence, he knew without a doubt that whatever challenges lay ahead—whether it was meeting her parents, planning a wedding, or navigating the uncertainty of their future—they would face them together. Because she wasn’t just his fiancée, she was his everything.