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"That's enough talking," Sebastian said, bending to gather her up in his arms.
Darcy frowned because he was going to do that.
Akira just stared at the three people in shocked surprise. She couldn't help herself. It was obviously a love triangle. And then she thought, rather sadly, that her brother Sosuke wouldn't have any chance now. Akira wouldn't mind having Sakura as her sister-in-law though.
Sakura blushed and took a peek at Sebastian. He didn't have to carry her, for God's sake. She was a fully grown woman.
Sebastian grinned at her, noting the pretty red spreading across her cheeks. He carried her out the door, with Darcy and Conrad close behind. Conrad signaled he wanted Toby in his arms. Darcy obliged and handed the pup over.
Sakura wasn't pleased that these brothers were in her room, not for the first time, of course. Sebastian laid her on her bed, and she murmured to him, "Thanks."
"I like your old bedroom better, Sakura," Conrad said, sitting on her bed by her feet, Toby on his lap as he stroked the dog. "You can come live with us, you know. We have a spare room. It's beside mine." He smiled at her cheekily.
"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.
*
CHAPTER 21
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 aahs 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 cho
ose 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.
