A Secret Kiss

by Alexia Praks

  Chapter 28

  Silk & Sakura

  Beth didn’t look very pleased when Sakura showed her the ruined bridesmaid’s gown. It was beyond fixable. Of course she knew what had happened yesterday, along with James and Brenda, who had a serious meeting with Alaina and Tara early this morning. Though Beth hadn’t a clue as to what had been said, from the look on the two women’s faces she surmised it wasn’t good. They had looked as though James had given them a sentence worse than death itself. Serves them right, she thought secretly, for behaving in such a distasteful manner and bullying Sakura, even at this age. Had they forgotten how James and Brenda loved Sakura?

  What Beth couldn’t believe also was the fact that Sakura didn’t tell her friends, Mary and Katherine, who naturally had already found out. Sakura just told them she’d had an accident and now the dress was ruined.

  “We have to fix it,” Mary said. “It’s too late to find you another one that will actually fit you.”

  Katherine said, “I’m sure between the four of us, we could figure something out. Maybe cut something out. I mean, Sakura’s dress and mine don’t have to be in the same design, right?”

  “Yes, it doesn’t have to be in the same design. The color alone is enough,” Mary said, nodding her head.

  Sakura sighed with relief that her friends, especially Mary, the bride-to-be, weren’t pissed with her. After all, most brides would have flipped by now when their wedding was a mere week away and the bridesmaid’s dress was completely and utterly ruined.

  Then Sakura realized something. After this particular wedding, everything would go back to normal. The brothers would all return to their own lives and she to hers. Her heart skipped a beat at that thought, and she wasn’t sure what that meant.

  At this time, outside on the terrace, the brothers and their parents were just finishing their afternoon tea. It was lovely, and they enjoyed the meal tremendously, especially since there was coffee made by Sakura.

  “So I heard you had a race,” James said. “Should’ve told me.”

  “It was an urgent matter,” Nicolas put in.

  “I can hardly imagine that choosing a swimming instructor for Sakura is an urgent matter. Don’t you think, Brenda?” James asked his wife.

  Brenda nodded and said, “I don’t understand why Sakura didn’t come to you if she wanted to learn how to swim. You could have easily taught her.”

  Sebastian said, “She asked me.”

  James chuckled. “And you being the noble one decided to put up a race instead?”

  “Hayden said it wasn’t fair,” Sebastian put in.

  “Ah,” James said. “A race sounds fair enough in this case.”

  “Oh well,” Conrad said easily as he got up. “Seb won so he’s still her teacher.” He headed toward the French doors leading into the house. “I’m off.”

  Tristan eyed Conrad suspiciously. He knew the youngest had something up his sleeves. He couldn’t help himself and got up as well. “I’m off, too,” he said, going after Conrad.

  James hid a smile. “Ah, such a lovely day.” He reached for his cup of coffee and observed as one by one his sons left them.

  “Where do you think they’re going?” Brenda asked as she watched them disappearing into the house.

  “Do you know, Brenda, that our sons never agreed on anything before?”

  “What do you mean? Of course I know that.”

  “They’ve changed,” he said. “They never go anywhere together unless we make them. But recently they hang out a lot. Not that I’m complaining.”

  “What brings them together?” Brenda asked.

  “Something they’re all interested in,” James said, smiling.

  In the house, Tristan caught up with Conrad and yelled out, “What are you up to, Conrad?”

  Conrad jumped and cursed under his breath. “Nothing!”

  Tristan hooked his arm over his younger brother’s neck and eyed him closely. “Come on, brat. Tell me what’s going on here. You’re hiding something.”

  Conrad went red as a beetroot.

  “Stop pestering him,” Sebastian said, coming toward them.

  “Yes, stop pestering me,” Conrad muttered darkly. “And leave me alone. I have important things to do.”

  “Like what?” Logan asked.

  Conrad clamped his lips together and marched past them.

  “He’s going to see Sakura,” Nicolas said easily.

  “Now,” Hayden said, “we can’t let that happen.”

  Up on the second floor, Conrad sighed in relief once he realized none of his brothers were following him. Well, at least he thought so. Thus he rushed across the corridor and headed straight to Sakura’s bedroom. He was about to open the door when Tristan coughed loudly, intentionally.

  Conrad turned and glared at them. “What the hell?”

  Tristan chuckled and said, “What?” and opened Sakura’s door and walked in.

  “What are you guys doing?” Conrad shouted, which of course drew the attention of the occupants from inside.

  “Helping Sakura fix her dress,” Darcy said and walked in as well.

  Conrad sighed, his face still flaming red as he watched his brothers filing into Sakura’s room. He gritted his teeth and entered as well.

  Sakura wasn’t pleased when her room was filled with men. Young. Hot. Princeton. Men.

  “What are you guys doing here?” she asked none too gently.

  “Helping you,” Tristan said. “Fixing that horrid dress.”

  Sakura looked heavenward. “I have enough help here,” she announced. “Now please leave my room. And there isn’t enough space for all of you here.”

  It was true. Her room wasn’t that large, and with all of them there, there was absolutely no space to move.

  “Then let’s move to mine,” Mary offered. “Mine is bigger.” Of course, since she was the bride-to-be, James had given her one of the biggest bedrooms in the mansion, which pleased Mary.

  “Let’s go, then,” Tristan said, pulling Sakura by the hand and leading her out the door.

  “Isn’t that nice?” Beth said to Katherine. “The brothers are here to help their sister out.”

  Sebastian and Darcy didn’t like the sound of that and didn’t bother to hide their scowling.

  A few minutes later, Sakura found herself standing before the full-length mirror and everyone inspecting her.

  “I think it should be shorter,” Tristan said.

  “How short?” Beth asked.

  “Short short,” Tristan said.

  “Not that short,” Sebastian put in.

  “I like it short,” Logan said. “Just above the knees.”

  “No,” Tristan put in. “Shorter.”

  “I don’t want it short,” Sakura said. “Mary?” She turned to her friends for help. She thought the bride-to-be should put in a few words. Otherwise, the brothers would go out of control designing her new dress to their hearts’ content. When Mary just cocked her head to one side, Sakura said, “I thought the bridesmaid’s dress was supposed to be long.”

  “Well—” Mary started, but Tristan cut her off.

  “Of course not,” he said sharply. “It suits you better short.” And he grabbed a bunch of the material on her and ripped off the bottom bit.

  Sakura sucked in her breath. “Tristan!” she screamed. But he wasn’t paying her any attention. When she turned to look at the other brothers, they too weren’t shocked to see the material being ripped off from her person. Now she stood before them, her long legs bare.

  “Honestly,” she said. “That’s it. I’m not in this anymore.” She took one step toward the door before Darcy caught her wrist and pulled her back.

  “Be patient,” he said. “We’re fixing your dress.”

  She blinked and wanted to laugh. First, they’d forgotten she ever existed. Second, they had a swimming competition to see who got to be her instructor, and now they were fixing her dress. She wanted to laugh at that.
After all, they were men and how could—

  Stop! Pause right there, Sakura! she told herself. Most great fashion designers were men, so maybe these Princeton men could just be onto something.

  She allowed herself to be roped back into the center spot. Then the inspection proceeded.

  “I think it should be strapless,” Hayden said. All the brothers noticed Sakura had very nice shoulders and thought they were better bare.

  “I want straps, thank you very much,” Sakura said. “And it’s my dress, so I do have a say in it.” She eyed Hayden, telling him she meant what she’d said.

  He chuckled. “Of course.”

  It was two hours later when the final design was done, mostly by Tristan, and by then it was nearly dinnertime.

  The brothers went off down to the dining room with Mary and Katherine while Sakura went to change. The brothers were expecting her to join them, but she never turned up.

  “Where is she?” Conrad muttered under his breath.

  “Who?” Mary asked.

  “Sakura,” he said, agitated.

  “If you’re waiting for her, she’s not coming,” Mary said. “She said she’s been slacking around for a couple of days now, and she needed to get back on with it.”

  The brothers weren’t happy with the sound of that and wondered what she was doing.