A Secret Kiss (Falling for Sakura 1)

Conrad cocked his head to one side. “That’s pretty close to Princeton Mansion, isn’t it?”

“Good,” Sebastian said with double meaning and started the engine.

“So what’s your name?” Logan asked, moving closer to her.

Sakura glared at him. “I don’t tell strangers my name.”

Logan laughed and Conrad said, “We’re not strangers. We’re your neighbors. We live at Princeton Mansion.”

Sakura wanted to shout at him that she knew that. But of course she didn’t, and she refused to pay them any more attention.

Toby looked up at her, sensing her unsettled emotions. He started whimpering at her and licking her hand.

“It’s all right, Toby,” she said, patting his head. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine,” Sebastian countered. “You’re in shock.”

“I’m not in shock!” she retorted. “I’m afraid. How do you think I feel when all seven of you refuse to leave me alone and are now taking me for a drive?”

The moment she had said those words, realization dawned on them.

“Shit!” Sebastian muttered under his breath.

Nicolas, always the calm and levelheaded one, turned to her and said, “As the eldest Princeton b

rother, I take full responsibility for our unthinkable actions. I’m very sorry that we’ve frightened you. However, I guarantee you none of us meant you any harm. We want to see you home safe and sound.”

Both Logan and Conrad nodded furiously.

Sakura went quiet once she saw the sincerity in Nicolas’s eyes. He reminded her so much of Daddy James, and she couldn’t help but relax. The brothers smiled when they saw she had accepted Nicolas’s apology and promise. Toby stuck out his tongue then, pleased.

A few minutes later, the car turned at the intersection as Sakura had told them, but it also surprised them when the black car behind them turned as well, instead of going straight to Princeton Mansion.

“What are they doing?” Sebastian said under his breath.

Logan laughed. “Tristan!”

Nicolas sighed. “He’s interested.”

Sakura didn’t have a clue as to what they were talking about and pretty much didn’t care. All she cared about now was whether Ned was home or not. If he was, then she hoped he wouldn’t call out her name or, worse still, greet the brothers and tell them all about her.

“Is it just me or are there more cherry trees around here?” Conrad commented.

“It’s nice,” Nicolas said. “Though I don’t remember ever seeing that many on the island before.”

Sakura gazed out the window, watching the beautiful clouds of pink flowers in the air.

“It’s spring,” she murmured.

“Cherry blossoms are beautiful,” Sebastian remarked. “Too bad we don’t have them up at the house.”

Sakura wanted to laugh. Really? Not one cherry tree up at Princeton Mansion?

“I think we’re here,” Nicolas said, eyeing the small cottage ahead of them.

It was a picture-perfect cottage with a pretty English garden full of roses, lavender, and honeysuckle.

“That’s your house?” Conrad asked in awe. “It’s pretty nice.”

“No,” Sakura said, meaning it wasn’t her house. “Not really.”

None of them paid any attention to the meaning of her words, however, and they all got out of the car. Conrad took care to aid her even if she didn’t need help.

Tristan and Hayden got out of the car as well since they didn’t want to miss the chance to talk to Sakura again.

Darcy stayed back, pretending to be busy with his phone, which he wasn’t, and stole peeks at the beauty. Who is she? Why did she look at me so intensely back on the road? Her chocolate-brown eyes stirred something deep within his soul, awakening him from his slumber. She seemed oddly familiar to him, yet her identity eluded him, and this frustrated Darcy greatly.

Outside, Sebastian frowned at Tristan. “Why the hell did you follow us?”

“You might get into an accident again,” Tristan responded. “Seeing as though you’re pretty reckless and irresponsible at driving.” He turned to Sakura then, giving her a dashing smile that would make any young female’s heart flutter with happiness. “My brothers didn’t harass you, did they?”

Sakura cocked her head to one side. “No,” she said. Then before they insisted on coming with her into Ned’s house and perhaps even opting to stay for afternoon tea, because she knew they’d want to, she went on. “And thanks for the ride. Bye now.”

Sebastian was about to stop her, but she was quick and walked briskly away.

Sakura hoped they’d disappear before she got to the door because she didn’t know whether Ned was home or not and whether the door was locked or not.

Logan whistled. “That’s one hot chick.”

“Wonder what her name is,” Conrad said, smiling pleasantly.

“Conrad! You like her!” Tristan chuckled.

“She’s nice,” he said. “Totally my type.”

Sebastian didn’t like the sound of that and frowned at his brother. “You haven’t got your career sorted out yet, young pup,” he warned. “No time for girls.”

“Plenty of time for girls,” Conrad retorted. “I’m on my break, after all. Anyway, she’s way too young for you guys.”

“I like younger girls,” Tristan said as they all headed back to the car.

“Wonder if she has a boyfriend,” Hayden murmured. “Hope not.”

“Okay, boys, time to get going,” Nicolas said, opening the door.

The brothers took their leave without ever seeing Sakura enter the house. In fact, she had disappeared around the corner while they’d been busy negotiating who got to ask her out on a date.