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Chapter 36
A Passionate Kiss
Sakura spent the next day with Ned at his cottage, painting. She’d been lucky since everyone had left the house early to meet up with Mary and Peter’s parents, who were arriving early that morning. Then of course they’d go to the Princeton Hotel and Resort on the other side of the island, finalizing every details for the wedding reception that would soon take place in the coming week.
“You could never stay put, could you?” Ned asked, watching her from his side of the room.
“No, I can’t,” she replied, cocking her head to one side as she eyed her canvas critically. “And stop lecturing me. Be nice since I’ve brought you carrot cake.”
“Did you make it?”
“Of course not.” She chuckled. “Your dear sister did. She told me to tell you to stop telling everyone that she’s neglecting you.”
“She’s a good girl,” Ned said, referring to Beth. Then he changed the subject. “I’m going to make lunch. What do you want in your sandwich?”
“Ham,” she said, doing a little dot of pink to make the cherry flower on the canvas.
“Okay, be back in a minute,” Ned said and then disappeared out the door.
They had lunch in quietness and afterward continued with their paintings. It was late by the time Sakura decided she had enough and headed back to the house.
“I’m driving you there,” Ned said in a no nonsense tone and made her get in the car.
Sakura shook her head. Just because she had sprained her ankle didn’t mean she couldn’t walk. Ned was being a worrywart, as always. But because she didn’t want to argue with him since she knew it’d be to no avail, she obliged and did what he told her to do.
Once they got to the mansion some ten minutes later, Sakura cursed loudly.
Ned chuckled. “I thought I taught you better than that,” he said. “Next time use a better swear word.”
“Aye, aye, captain,” Sakura said, eyeing Sebastian getting out of his Mercedes-Benz. He was of course followed by Conrad, Hayden, and Nicolas. Tristan, Logan, and Darcy came out of the other car. She wondered why she had to arrive home at the same time they did.
The brothers stood watching her as she and Ned got out of the car.
Sakura turned to Ned and said, “Why don’t you come and say thank you to your sister for the cake?”
Ned chuckled. “Scaredy cat.”
Sakura bit her lip and muttered, “I’m not a scaredy cat.”
Of course, he gladly came to her side and escorted her toward the house.
“Ned Fabre?” Nicolas asked.
Ned chuckled. “Master Nicolas, how are you? And Master Tristan, Logan, Sebastian, Hayden, Darcy, Conrad?”
The brothers nodded at him, surprised he still remembered them even though they had only met once or twice in the last couple of years.
“Why is Sakura with you?” Conrad asked.
“She’s my student. Such a slow learner, she is.”
Sakura folded her arms across her chest. “Excuse me, but I am not a slow learner.”
“What are you teaching her?” Hayden asked.
“Painting. She loves to paint the sakura tree,” Ned said.
“Sakura tree?” Logan asked. “That’s her name.”
“Cherry tree,” Sebastian said, and the brothers nodded in understanding.
Sakura said, “Ned dear?”
“Yes, Sakura dear?” Ned turned to her.
“Beth? Cake? Thank you?” She gave him a fake smile.
“Ah, of course.” He turned to the brothers and said, “Must thank my dear sister for the cake she gave me.” With that, he nodded at the brothers and headed into the house. Sakura quickly followed him, still limping a little. The brothers headed into the house as well.
After saying good-bye to Ned, Sakura lied to Beth that she was hungry and thus had her dinner in the kitchen before everyone else.
“Tell Mom Brenda and Daddy James I’ve already had mine,” she said, heading out the door. “I’m going straight to bed now.”
“But it’s only six o’clock,” Beth argued.
“Yes, I know, but I’m tired,” she said, hiding a smile. “Good night, Beth.”
“I swear to you, Sakura, you’re very odd these days. Eating and sleeping at the oddest hours,” Beth mumbled to herself.
Sakura rushed to her room, trying very hard to hide her amusement. After browsing the Internet and doing a bit of research on apartments in New York, she did feel rather tired and went to lie down on her bed. She patted Toby as she closed her eyes, slowly falling asleep.
When she woke up next, it was past midnight. The house was so quiet she could hear her own heartbeat in her ears. No longer tired, she felt rather restless and wondered what she should do. Then she thought of something. She’d go down and practice her floating. Then the thought of Sebastian and Tara flashed into her mind. She cursed under her breath.
Stop thinking about him, Sakura. You’ve got to stop. He’s a stupid man anyway.
She couldn’t find her swimsuit anywhere and cursed fluently this time as Ned had taught her to. Fifteen minutes later, she gave up and headed out the door anyway. She came down to the indoor pool area and found it was very quiet. The whole place, however, wasn’t at all dark, and she decided she wouldn’t switch on the light.
Decision made, she headed straight to the pool, took off her clothes and left only her bra and panties on. Slowly, she lowered herself into the water. It was warm. She sighed in relief. When she realized she didn’t drown, she giggled. Yes! She was floating.
Happily, she floated her way around the pool. Now and again, she’d open her eyes and stare up at the high ceiling. She marveled at the beautiful prism of white and blue the water made on the wall. On the other side, the moon was bright and high above, shinning in through the skylight. It was beautiful. She couldn’t believe she’d never done this before.
She was back at the edge of the pool now, her eyes closed as she was floating there, not thinking about anything at all. That was when she heard footsteps coming in. She flashed her eyes open and held her breath.
The footsteps were quite heavy. Could it be one of the brothers? What? At this time of night?
The footsteps were getting closer. Then she heard the person climbing up the ladder. Darcy? She looked up at the figure at the top of the high diving platform but only saw a dark shadow. Then she heard the board squeaking and then she saw the figure of a man jumping off and then—
Splash!
Sakura searched around as the person disappeared underwater. Perhaps she should take the chance and run off. After all, it wasn’t like whoever it was knew she was here anyway.
Nodding at that decision, she was about to turn but felt somebody in the water in front of her. Then an enormous body popped up, his massive chest pressing against her so she was imprisoned against the wall of the pool.
Sakura gasped, and her heart thumped hard in her chest as she stared at the huge silhouette before her. The strong face was above her, water dripping, caressing it.
“Darcy?” she whispered softly.
The body stiffened. Sakura watched in awe at the muscular arms that came up and trapped her on both sides. She licked her lips in nervousness.
