Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Deacon
I knew Dove Lachlan could handle snakes and lions and crocodiles, but now I knew she could handle the most dangerous animals of all: paparazzi. She was a natural. Now I was convinced there was no situation in the world that she couldn’t deal with—the same of which couldn’t be said for me. And damn if it didn’t make my chest ache watching her easily wade through the treacherous waters, unintimidated, beautiful, confident, everything I always wanted and never thought I would have .
Only the slightest pinch in Dove’s eyes let me know that she didn’t realize she was doing as good of a job navigating the red carpet and mingling through the fundraiser as she was. But truly, she was perfect. I should’ve known she would be. Despite never having any official media training, she’d been born into a family that was running a popular customer-facing business. She’d been handling thousands of people per day from all over the world since she’d been old enough to give a bird talk. Now, she had a million diplomatic retorts and animal fun facts in her back pocket, skilled at bringing the conversation back to the charity at hand and away from reporters drudging up her viral video or questions about my dating life.
I could tell Cody, who stood a few paces behind us, was impressed too. Not once did he have to dive in and rescue her from a rogue question. He even gave me a thumbs-up when Dove managed to turn a question about what diet she was on into a heartfelt discussion about the importance of food abundance for critically endangered wildlife. It was truly masterful.
At the start of the night, I thought I would have to take the lead, but after a few hours, Dove was flying solo, navigating through the crowded ballroom all on her own. Meanwhile, I was downing more and more glasses of liquid courage, wondering if I’d ever have enough to cross the room and ask her to dance with me.
The emerald green complimented the purple in her hair perfectly, her figure on full display, the milky skin of her thigh peeking out of the slit in her dress. That fucking dress. I held my hand to my chest, feeling the familiar shape of the coin against my heart through my heavily starched shirt.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” a soft female voice said, sidling over to me. “You clean up nice, big brother.”
I turned, brows lifting in surprise as I took in my sister, Faith. “Wh-what are you doing here?” I asked, my smile stretching wider as I pulled her into a tight hug.
“Dove invited me,” she informed me, sweeping her long, wavy blonde hair over her shoulder. She wore a long-sleeve, floral-print dress, modern but with nods to her folk music roots.
“She did, did she?”
Faith eyed me. “I thought you knew.”
“You usually say no to these sorts of things,” I replied.
Faith pursed her lips, considering. “You know, I think Rusty Sky has enough of a name for itself now,” she said with a grin. “I’m sorry I had to go it on my own for a while there. I just didn’t want to be known as Lucky Role’s little sister. Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I said with a shake of my head. “You’ve been incredible. You’re a Grammy award winning band. Lucky Role could never,” I added with a chuckle. “Your music is amazing. You know how proud I am of you, right?”
“Thank you.” Her nose wrinkled as if she couldn’t quite take the compliment. “Does it make you want to pick up the guitar again?”
“Yeah,” I hedged. “Maybe one day.”
Faith cocked her head at me. “Maybe one day should be sooner rather than later.”
I hummed. “That would make a great song lyric.”
“Maybe we should cowrite it,” she offered. “An indie pop, folk crossover. People would love it.”
I smiled down at my little sister. She was the first person to give me hell for doing something stupid, but she was also the first one to pick me back up when I fell. Our relationship reminded me a lot of the Lachlan siblings. It didn’t surprise me that Dove had thought to invite her.
“Batman doesn’t write love songs,” I grumbled. “That’s what Cody tells me at least.”
“Cody is a narcissistic psychopath,” Faith replied with a sweet smile.
I guffawed. “Tell me how you really feel.”
She shook her head, taking in the room. “This is really nice, Deacon,” she said. “This charity was a great idea. I think it’ll be good for you. I’m proud of you too, bro.”
That meant a lot to me, especially coming from Faith, who never pulled her punches. My little sister’s gaze fell across the room, and she let out a low whistle. “Wow, she is freaking stunning,” she said as her eyes landed on Dove.
“Easy,” I warned.
“Why? Is she taken?” Faith gave me a smug knowing look.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Don’t look at you like I’ve known you my entire life and can read you like an open book, hm?” She nudged me with her elbow. “All I’m saying is if you don’t go ask her to dance, that horde of hungry looking men will. I’d throw my hat in the ring too, but I’m taking off now, got an early flight back to LA. Plus, Dove is a sweetheart and I like ‘em meaner.”
I chuckled. “Fine, I’ll go ask her.” I turned and hugged my sister. “I’ll see you at Mom and Dad’s for his birthday weekend?”
“See you then,” she replied with a nod. “And congratulations again, Deacon.” I thought she was going to say on the charity, but she added, “Dove is a good one and she’s way out of your league.”
With that, I watched my sister wander off through the crowd. I turned to see the pack of leering men prowling closer around Dove and I rushed across the room to cut in.
“Gentlemen,” I said, and Dove looked up at me with grateful eyes as I extended a hand. “I believe this woman owes me a dance.”
The crowd parted, and I swept Dove out onto the dance floor. “I owe you a dance?”
“It’s romantic, just go with it,” I whispered back, and she laughed. “I was trying to rescue you.”
“I appreciate it,” she replied. “I was about to punch that dude in the nose for staring at my tits during our entire conversation, but that wouldn’t have been very director-ly of me.”
I turned swiftly. “Which one?”
Dove barked out a laugh, practically dragging me back toward the dance floor. “Save the testosterone for someone who needs it,” she said. “I can handle a few creepy men.”
“I’ve seen you stare down a pack of literal hyenas,” I joked. “I know you can handle it, but I still like defending you because—” You’re my person , I thought, but said aloud, “—because you’re my friend.”
“Fine, I’ll let you puff up and drum on your chest to defend my honor next time, okay?” she said lightly, not knowing all of the emotions swirling inside of me.
“Fine,” I relented as I pulled her against me, taking one hand in mine and placing the other on the small of her back. “You know who I just bumped into?”
“Who?” she asked a little more breathlessly as we swayed side to side.
“My sister.”
She couldn’t quite contain her smile. “Oh.”
“Oh?” I asked. “That’s all you’ve got for me? Oh? What were you just saying about me being in cahoots with Wren, hypocrite?”
“Guilty.”
“How did you even have her number?”
Dove’s smile widened. “She and I text every so often. We kept in touch.”
“You kept in touch with my sister but not me? I’m wounded.”
“If you call a couple messages a year in touch ,” she replied. “Your older brother and Hawk still comment on each other’s Instagrams. Apparently, our moms still send each other Christmas cards too.”
“So all the Harrows and Lachlans have been keeping in touch this whole time apart from you and me?” I asked with a shake of my head. “I don’t know who to be more angry at, you, my mother, or my sister. Meddlesome trio you are.” She laughed lightly. “I think Faith only said yes to this because you invited her by the way. She’s never said yes to any of my invites.”
“I’m very convincing,” Dove flaunted as we circled the room. We moved in an easy rhythm, her body feeling so good pressed against mine, her skin so soft. “You’re a good dancer.”
“Only after many drinks,” I admitted.
“You do look a bit glassy-eyed.” She chuckled as she looked between my eyes. “We should grab some painkillers and Gatorade before we go home.”
Before we go home . She didn’t know what that statement did to me. For a moment, I pretended she said that to me all the time, like we always went home together at the end of a big night out, like my home was always hers.
“Don’t worry, I can hold my liquor.” At that inopportune moment, I stood on her foot. “Sorry.”
She laughed. “Forgiven. Honestly, it’s nice when you’re clumsy. It’s a relief to know you’re not perfect.”
“I’m so far from perfect.”
She let out a yawn and leaned her cheek against my lapel. “Not to me.”
I had the terrible urge to lean down and kiss the top of her head. But a million eyes were on the two of us and already the way we held each other was close enough to arch some eyebrows.
“Sleepy?” I asked, and Dove let out a hum, her eyelids drooping to half-mast.
“I’m normally asleep by eight and it’s almost midnight.” She yawned again.
Sleep tugged on me, pulled under by the warmth of the crowded room and the way Dove and I lazily rocked side to side. Luca caught my eye and I nodded, letting him know to ring my driver. Boneless, Dove leaned further into me.
“Tonight has been amazing,” she complimented. “I can’t think of anything that would’ve made it better.”
“I can think of one thing.”
She perked up a little. “What’s that?”
“How does popcorn, TV, and sweatpants sound?”
“Heaven,” she replied with a satisfying groan. “Even though I’m exhausted, I need to decompress a little before I go to bed.”
“I always need to do the same.” As my eyes searched her face, I hoped I wasn’t gazing down at her like a lovesick fool, but when it came to Dove, I couldn’t quite contain it. All of my acting flew straight out the window. She cracked me right open and made everything more real.
“I have the perfect show in mind,” she said, stepping out of my hold.
I couldn’t bear not touching her. Without thinking, I took her hand and threaded it with my own. “Then let’s get out of here.”
She shook her head at me. “What a line.”