Falling For Sakura: A Secret Proposal (Part 1) (26 page)

“Do you?” she asked, moving herself to get underneath the duvet. Darcy helped her and then tugged the thing over her so she was comfortable.
 

She smiled at him, which pleased Darcy.
 

“Come on. Let Sakura sleep,” Sebastian said, moving to the door.
 

The brothers nodded and walked out of the room.
 

“Have a nice dream,” Conrad said. “Oh, and I’m taking Toby up to the apartment, just so you know.”
 

Sakura nodded and then turned on her side, closing her eyes as Conrad shut the door with a click.
 

Alone, Sakura felt tears in her eyes as her heart raced.
Please, calm down, Sakura,
the voice in her head urged. When it did, she smiled. She’d been waiting for
this all along, hadn’t she? In her gut, she’d known she wanted to accept them back into her life. She’d just been lying to herself, of course, that she didn’t want them. But deep down, she knew she did. It was just easier to lie to herself, to prolong the inevitable, the decision as to which brother she would choose, between the two men she loved dearly—Sebastian and Darcy.
 

Finally, she took a deep breath and shut her mind completely, letting the darkness take her, at least for a couple hours.
 

* * * * *

A Family Reunion

When Sakura woke up three hours later, she heard Toby barking excitedly, along with human voices. Feeling better and very curious as to the unusual noises, she got out of bed and headed to the door. With her long hair in a wild tangle, her dress haphazardly on her slim form, and her skin flushed with renewed energy, she came along the corridor and toward the living area.
 

Her steps faltered at the threshold, and she came to a sudden halt. The sight she beheld before her overwhelmed her with emotion. Her heart gave a little tug, bursting with an unrecognized sense of warmth and belonging that threatened to make her cry. Her throat tightened as she willed her tears not to show.
 

She’d thought the brothers had returned to their apartment, but apparently, she’d been wrong about that.
 

Nicolas and Sosuke were sitting in the corner, playing chess of all things. So far, it looked like Nicolas was winning. Tristan and Logan were with Akira. She was showing them her portfolio. The two men looked very interested and kept nodding their heads and doing their
oohs
and
aah
s and
I like this pose
and
I like that,
etc. Darcy and Sebastian were in deep conversation about something, and Sakura was rather curious to know what the topic was. She hoped it wasn’t her. Conrad was lying on the floor, flat on his stomach, playing with Toby, tickling and stroking the pup who kept barking and
jumping around him. And Hayden was playing a video game of some sort on his smartphone.
 

Her family.
They were her family, and despite her will to keep the tears at bay, they still managed to brew in her eyes.
 

Darcy glanced up and saw her there at the door. He said softly, “Sakura, you’re up?”
 

Sebastian flicked his gaze to her. “Feeling better?” he asked. He also wanted to add,
Sorry it was partially my fault for keeping you up late most nights,
but refrained himself from saying so out loud.
 

Sakura nodded, confirming she was feeling much better. Of course, she didn’t notice that every one of the men was gazing at her, with rather too much interest, forgetting what they’d been doing a moment ago. Nicolas had a bishop in his hand and hadn’t a clue why. Sosuke forgot he was actually playing chess and nudged his glasses up the bridge of his fine nose, his eyes glued on Sakura. Tristan and Logan were more interested in their sister, who was posing quite naturally in her dress that didn’t sit right on her person. Both Sebastian and Darcy just stared at her, quite enchanted by the presence of the young woman they loved. Conrad sat up, grinning from ear to ear, Toby in his arms. And Hayden forgot he was supposed to try and beat the crap out of the Prince of Flirt in the video game to win over Snow White.
 

Akira cleared her throat to get the men’s attention, but it didn’t work. She sighed in indignation and then rushed up to Sakura. There she stood in such a way as to block Sakura from the men’s view and whispered, “Your dress isn’t done up properly.”
 

Sakura glanced down and found the two front buttons had come off. She blushed and said, “Thanks.”
 

Akira giggled. “You look awful, Sakura-chan. Let me help you get ready for your family reunion.”
 

“Oh?” She raised her brows, wondering if the brothers had already told Akira and her family of her relationship to them.
 

“Don’t worry,” Akira said, pulling her by the hand and leading her away from the living area—away from the men. “We won’t intrude. Oba-chan is currently with your parents at the moment, up at the penthouse.”
 

“Daddy James and Mom Brenda are here already?” Sakura voiced, incredulous.
 

Conrad heard them from the living area and shouted, “They were here ages ago. You were sleeping.”
 

Sakura clamped her lips shut and thought what a terrible daughter she was.
 

“I better hurry,” she said, rushing back to her room.
 

Akira followed her. “Don’t worry. They won’t be going anywhere.”
 

Some ten minutes later, Sakura came out of the bathroom, and Akira cocked her head to one side. Dressed in a short floral day dress, Akira admitted Sakura was a beauty all right. She further thought either Sebastian or Darcy would be a perfect partner for her. If she were in Sakura’s shoes, she wouldn’t know who to choose though. Both men were wonderful, totally hot, and loved Sakura to bits. Akira was sure of that the moment she’d seen the three together.
 

Sakura gathered her long tresses and started patting the strands dry with a towel.
 

“You do know it’s Sosuke’s birthday tomorrow, right?” Akira asked, leaning back on the bed.
 

Sakura nodded. “I promised to help prepare dinner for the celebration.”
 

Akira laughed as she rested her head on her arm, her eyes on Sakura. “Are you sure you still want to do that?”
 

At Akira’s smirk, Sakura was suspicious and turned her gaze to her friend. “What is that supposed to mean?”
 

“It’s just that,” Akira began, shrugging her shoulders, “there will be nine more people now.”
 

Sakura widened her eyes in shocked surprise. “Come again?”
 

Akira laughed. “Sosuke has invited your adoptive family as well. The Princeton brothers.”
 

“Oh.”
 

“It’s traditional in our family, Sakura-chan,” Akira said. “It has to be a formal dinner. Of course, the housekeeper and I will be helping you out.”
 

“How about if I ask Jane to come and help as well?” Sakura suggested. She actually wanted Jane to attend Sosuke’s birthday party, seeing how smitten the woman was with him.
 

“Oh, Jane.” Akira nodded, remembering the blond woman who Sakura had brought along that day a couple weeks ago. “Yes, she’s nice. Ask her.”
 

“I’ll do that,” Sakura said. She was just finishing patting her hair when a knock came at the door.
 

“Come in,” Sakura called.
 

And the intruders did come in—all seven of them. Their tall, handsome forms blocking the door and crowding the bedroom.
 

“Come on, Sakura. Mom and Dad are waiting for you,” Hayden said.
 

“Gosh!” Akira chuckled, her eyes scanning from one to the other. “You guys couldn’t leave her alone, could you?”
 

It was meant to be a jest, but Nicolas scolded her. “And let her run off again?”
 

Akira blushed and wanted to poke out her tongue at him. She was tempted to do that, but knowing she was a grown woman, she resigned to simply glare at him instead. She promised herself she’d make the man kneel before her somehow, someway.
 

Sebastian took Sakura by the wrist and led her out the door, Darcy close behind them. The others followed suit, leaving Nicolas behind.
 

Akira hissed. “You’re a mean baka! I feel sorry for Sakura that she has to put up with you.” With that, she held her head high and marched toward the door.
 

She didn’t get very far though. Nicolas caught her by the wrist and pulled her back to him.
 

Tristan and Logan, who were at the corridor, heard Akira’s accusation. Curious, they both turned just in time to see Nicolas pulling Akira into his arms and slamming the door shut. The brothers looked at each other and then chuckled.
 

Tristan tucked his hands into the pocket of his jeans and said, “About time that old fart got himself a girlfriend.”
 

Logan agreed with a chuckle and a nod of his head.
 

At the elevator, Sakura found herself surrounded by six gorgeous Princeton brothers in a very confined space. Now she wondered if it had been a better idea to climb
the stairs instead. But of course, she hadn’t been thinking properly. Sebastian, who had been walking ahead of her, had been holding on to her hand tightly. It hadn’t helped either with Darcy beside her with his grasp around her other wrist, his hand firm yet gentle. It was as though they were afraid she’d run off again.
 

Hayden was facing her now, his back to the elevator door, when he said, “You look like you’re going to faint again, Sakura.”
 

At this comment, the brothers turned their attention to her. She blushed. “It’s a bit tight in here, and I don’t like small spaces very much.”
 

“We should have taken the stairs,” Darcy said, touching the back of his hand against her forehead. “You’re a bit feverish.”
 

“I’m fine,” Sakura said. She glanced at the brothers one by one to convince them. “Really. Just tired. That’s all.”
 

“A friend of mine is a doctor,” Sebastian said. “I’ll give him a call and see if you can see him on Monday.”
 

“That sounds good, Seb,” Logan said. “Ah, it’s too bad I can’t accompany you, Sakura.”
 

Sebastian said quickly, “Like I said, I’m taking her.”
 

The brothers nodded. They all knew Sebastian would take good care of Sakura.
 

Sakura glanced up at Sebastian, her eyes large as she gazed at him. She didn’t like the fact that he actually had to accompany her to see a doctor. She wasn’t that helpless. After all, she’d been able to look after herself for the past years without their help.
 

“I can go by myself. Just give me the address of the clinic and the name of the doctor.”
 

Tristan was quick to intervene. “If you don’t want Sebastian to take you, Sakura darling,” he said sweetly, “I’ll only be happy to.” He gave her a dashing smile and a wink.
 

Sebastian gave him a good glare. Darcy scowled at him. Hayden looked heavenward, and Logan laughed. Conrad was too busy mucking about with Toby to notice what his brothers were talking about.
 

Tristan said under his breath, “Or not. Touché!”
 

At the penthouse, the moment Sakura saw her adoptive parents at the threshold of the door, her knees weakened with emotion. Daddy James rushed up and grabbed her into his arms, squeezing her so tight she became breathless and laughed, begging him to let her go. Mom Brenda joined in as well, pulling her daughter into her arms and kissing her cheeks and forehead until Sakura, again, begged her to stop.
 

Though Brenda did stop kissing Sakura, she wouldn’t let the girl go, however. She clutched Sakura in her embrace as if she were afraid she’d lose her again. She laughed and said, “Oh, Sakura, we’ve missed you.” Which was of course an understatement.
 

After a lot more of the hugging and a few tears from Brenda and Beth, Sakura was made to sit between James and Brenda as they continued their reunion session. Haruka, who’d been with both James and Brenda for the past few hours, excused herself and left them to it. The woman didn’t allow her tears to flow until she was completely alone in her own room. She was glad indeed that Sakura had been adopted into such a kind and lovely family. She thanked her gods for that. She was so grateful to both James and Brenda for filling her shoes,
taking on a role Haruka herself had been unfit to perform.  
 

Brenda couldn’t help herself and kept pulling Sakura into her arms while James kept patting her head. Conrad decided to join his parents in interrogating Sakura about her life for the past year, of course with Toby in his arms. This went on for a couple hours, and meanwhile, Nicolas, Tristan, Logan, Sebastian, Hayden, and Darcy were hovering in and out of the living room. Sakura got distracted by their appearance and disappearance now and again, curious, and wondered what the heck they were up to. Of course, the occupants in the living area would hear loud swear words such as
son of bitch
and
oh, for fuck’s sake, shit
and
oh, for the love of God,
for Christ’s sake,
and
I’m bleeding,
and a whole lot more. Most were from Tristan and Logan and a few from Hayden.
 

It was a few hours later when the family settled down for dinner around the table.