* * *
new york city, one year later
spring
Luke Hamilton waited nervously as he stared at the painting of some cherry trees that was placed proudly in the middle of the large gallery. He couldn’t understand why his boss wanted this type of painting so badly. It was just a picture of cherry trees with some green land in the distance and beyond that, the pristine blue ocean and the azure sky above. It wasn’t that interesting, yet Sebastian Princeton had wanted it. Well, not that Luke was complaining about coming here, of course. Even though he had no interest whatsoever in the paintings, he did have an interest in the painter herself. And now he stood waiting for her to materialize.
And materialize she did.
“Mr. Hamilton,” she called out softly, which caused Luke’s heart to flutter within his chest. Speaking of the angel, he thought and eagerly turned.
Oh, God! She really did take his breath away.
She stood before him now like a queen with her very refined figure. Actually, he should be referring to her as my lady because he thought this title suited her rather well. Especially when she was dressed like this, wearing her very elegant long skirt and a white blouse that covered up to her neck, which was of course lovingly and fashionably designed. God, she looked like a Victorian lady, so elegant and, bloody hell, like a very precious ornament that he couldn’t afford to touch.
Today she had her long, ash brown curls loosely braided and resting over one shoulder. As he came closer, he noticed that today her eyes were two different colors again. Her left eye was an azure-blue color, bright and shinning just like the clear blue sky above New York City on this very fine spring day. Her right eye, on the other hand, was the color of the moon on a stormy night, a mauve-gray color that he’d never seen before on any person. No, he was lying there. He had actually seen that very same odd color on one particular person. He was the young, famous game creator Darcy Princeton, who every woman desired and wanted.
“Would you like to have a seat?” she asked, cocking her beautiful head to one side as she looked at him.
“Um,” Luke began, lost because she was smiling at him. Why was she was so beautiful when she smiled? Shit! What was he here for again? Oh yes, the art exhibition. Yes, that’s right, and the paintings.
“Yes, please, Ms. Tanaka,” Luke said, nodding furiously.
She chuckled softly, and Luke wanted to melt with joy. “Please, you can call me Sakura. After all, you’ve been my client for six months now, and calling me Ms. Tanaka just doesn’t seem right.”
Luke swallowed. “Well, I’m working for my boss. But then again, it’s the same thing, isn’t it?”
“Luke?” Sakura asked. “About that Japanese fashion show that is due to take place in a few months?”
“Yes?” Luke asked.
“Your sister is working for the Japanese designer Mr. Tachibana, yes?”
Luke nodded his head.
“I was wondering if I might ask for a favor.”
Luke was only too happy to help. “Of course,” he said, trying very hard to hide his eagerness.
“I was wondering about the fashion industry. Will your sister be able to help me with that?” she asked, her eyes on him, the two different colors fascinating him even more.
“Of course,” he said. “The one that’s taking place at Princeton Hotel here in Manhattan?”
Sakura paused for a moment, for the name Princeton caused her heart to jolt within her chest. “Yes,” she confirmed. “That one.”
Luke chuckled. “Of course. Mind you, many people are going to show up since the famous Princeton brothers are going to be there, or so I’ve heard.” Luke moved forward, curiosity eating at him. “You’re not asking just because you’re interested in them, are you?”
Sakura felt her hands shake. She couldn’t believe it. After almost a year, the brothers were still affecting her, both mentally and emotionally. Slowly she shook her head. “I have my own reasons, Luke.”
It was her mother, Haruka Tanaka, who she wanted to meet. She knew for a fact Haruka would be there, and she couldn’t possibly pass up the chance now, could she? Even if she had to play hide-and-seek with the brothers. Of course, she reasoned with herself, they wouldn’t know I’d be there. Besides, they’d probably all forgotten about her by now, so she had nothing to fear.
Finally Sakura smiled brilliantly. “Thank you,” she said to Luke. “Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
* * * * *
The story of Sakura and the seven Princeton Brothers continues in A Secret Proposal