“You know I can get to the clinic myself,” Sakura said, staring at Sebastian beside her.
“Yes, I know,” he replied, a grin on his face. “But I want to accompany you.” He changed the topic. “How are you feeling today?” He placed the back of his hand over her forehead as he looked at her closely. The intensity of his blue eyes made her blush, and Sebastian chuckled. “Not too bad?”
She pushed his hand away in annoyance. “Stop that.”
“Stop what?” he asked, teasing her, his face so close to her he made her feel a little weak in the knees.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she muttered. She sighed with vexation and turned her attention to the elevator door instead. It dinged in that instant and opened. Sebastian moved to the side, allowing her to exit the elevator first.
They came into a posh clinic, and after Sakura informed the receptionist she was here for her appointment, she and Sebastian took their seats in the waiting area. Sebastian was holding Sakura’s hand and kept teasing her, leaving no doubt in everyone there they were a couple.
“Miss Sakura Tanaka?” a male voice said.
Sakura stood and came to face a pleasant man a little older than Sebastian.
“Sebastian,” the doctor said. “It’s been a while.”
“Dave, how’s Claire?” Sebastian asked.
“She’s good,” Dave said, “and busy with the kids.” Then he laughed.
“You’re keeping her busy.” Sebastian chuckled.
Dave returned his gaze to Sakura and smiled knowingly. “Sakura, please follow me,” he said.
Sakura nodded.
“Ah, Sebastian, do you want to come as well?” Dave asked.
Sakura quickly said, “No. No. That’s fine. I don’t need him. That is…I mean, he doesn’t need to come in.”
Dave looked a little confused. “It’s fine if Sebastian wants to come in. I see women all the time with their boyfriends, especially if it’s to do with contraception and birth control and trying to get pregnant or whatnot.”
Sakura glanced at Sebastian, who didn’t even try to hide his amusement.
“Sakura darling, do you want me to come in with you?” he teased.
Sakura glared at him, her face red. “No, I’m fine, Sebastian. Please stay here.” She turned to the doctor and said quickly, “Let’s go.”
Dave nodded and led her into his office. Once inside, he indicated for her to take a seat, which she did.
“What can I do for you, then?” Dave began.
Some fifteen minutes later, Sakura emerged from the office, and Sebastian stood impatiently as she came toward him.
“How was it?” he asked, a little concerned.
“I just needed to get some medication from the drugstore,” she said. “Iron deficiency. I thought as much. Always so tired.”
“It’s very common,” Dave said behind her. “Young ladies tend to get iron deficiency, what with not eating well and all.”
Sebastian glanced at Sakura. “You’re still not eating right,” he said. “We’ll have to take better care of you, sweetheart.” He caressed her cheek, his eyes soft on her.
Dave noticed the sentimental action and pretended a cough to get his friend’s attention. When Sebastian reluctantly turned to him, Dave said, “More red meat more often. And of course, more sleep.” He turned to Sakura. “You’re not sleeping very well, are you?”
Sakura shook her head. She’d never been able to sleep well since she’d been little. Now and again, the nightmares would come. Though she had to admit she hadn’t had one for a while now, since she’d met the brothers again at the hotel, in fact.
“Well,” Dave said to Sebastian. “You take good care of your girlfriend.” Then he added quietly so only Sebastian could hear him. “She’s a keeper.”
Sebastian laughed. “I know that.”
After the friends said good-bye, Sebastian took Sakura to the drugstore for her prescribed medication.
“Where are you taking me?” Sakura asked some moments later, seeing that the car wasn’t heading through the familiar streets toward the apartment.
“Lunch,” Sebastian said, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m taking you to lunch.”
“You’re taking advantage of the situation, aren’t you?” she asked, a glint in her eyes.
“Why, yes,” he admitted. “Sakura, sweetheart, you do want to have lunch with me, don’t you?”
She refused to tell him of course she did. She didn’t want his ego to grow any bigger. The darn man.
Sebastian, however, could guess from the look on her face and laughed. “Where would you like to go?”
“I don’t know. You choose,” she replied,
“All right,” he said. “How about Italian? We have a great Italian restaurant at Princeton Hotel.”
“Sure, why not? That way we can stop by and say hi to Daddy James and Mom Brenda. Maybe if they aren’t busy, they can join us. And Nicolas and Conrad, too.”
Some five minutes later, they parked the car and got out. He rushed over to her side before Sakura could open the door. She laughed and said, “Sebastian, I’m not an invalid, you know.”
“Yes, I know that,” he said. “But I did say I’d take good care of you.”
She pulled a face. “What? Are you going to cook me amazing food full of nutrients, especially iron, every day?”
She was just joking, of course, but Sebastian looked like he was serious about it.
“I think I will,” he said, “Once you’ve moved in with us. Hmm, I’ll have to start learning from Beth.”
She laughed. “Bearing in mind she considered you the best house husband, I’m sure Beth would be only too happy to have you under her command.”
Sebastian pulled her in his arms and said, “Yes, she would, wouldn’t she?”
Sakura blinked and looked up at him. “Why are you hugging me in the parking lot? People are looking.”
Sebastian cocked his head to one side, mirth in his bright-blue eyes. “Oh? I don’t see anything wrong with a couple hugging and kissing in the parking lot. It’s normal for a guy to show his feelings to his girlfriend, I’m sure.”
Sakura snorted at his statement. “Kissing? We’re not—”
She didn’t get to finish. Sebastian planted his lips on hers and kissed her hard, his tongue licking and caressing her flesh. The action made Sakura a little light-headed.
When he pulled back, he was grinning. “There,” he said. “I’ve wanted to do that to you since you landed on me this morning.”
Sakura blushed and moved to get out of his arms. Sebastian wouldn’t let her and tightened his grip. He was about to kiss her again when she said, “Sebastian, I’m hungry.”
He laughed. “Of course you are, and I’m not about to make you miss your very important meal.”
He moved back and, with his hand on her wrist, led her away from the car toward the elevator.
Some moments later, they were just heading toward the lobby of the hotel when Sakura said, “Wait, I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Sure.” He nodded. “I’ll wait here.”
“Thanks,” she said and rushed off in the direction of the female restroom sign.
Once inside, Sakura quickly did her business, hoping Sebastian hadn’t been waiting too long. After washing her hands, she headed back out the door, her feet hurrying across the corridor. She was opening another door that would lead her back into the foyer when she bumped into someone. She was about to apologize when she looked up. The moment her eyes met the elegant woman with perfectly styled blond hair, perfectly made-up face, and a powerful business suit, Sakura froze in place and her eyes rounded in terror.
The other woman stared at Sakura, a cold, shocked look plastered on her face—a face that was very similar to Tara’s. Only this one was older and had more wrinkles. Quickly, she regained her senses and shoved Sakura to the side, throwing the girl off balance. Then she rushed away, her steps quick and the noise of her heels clip-clopping on the marble floor echoing in Sakura’s head.
Sakura felt as though she couldn’t breathe. Her chest felt tight as she stood there, frozen in her spot, her mind reeling with shock, confusion, and terror.
A voice called out her name, but she didn’t hear it. Warm hands cupped her face as her mind continued to be drawn into the pool of darkness.
“Sakura! Look at me. Sweetheart. Please look at me. Sakura.”
Sakura blinked, and slowly, the haze of darkness lifted from her mind as Sebastian’s voice became clearer in her ears.
“Sakura, sweetheart. What’s wrong?” Sebastian asked, concerned.
Sakura threw herself into his arms and snuggled her face against his massive warm chest. She said, her voice shaking, “I’m not feeling very well. Please take me home.”
Sebastian wrapped his arm around her, his eyes dark with worry. He knew something wasn’t right. She was acting very strangely all of a sudden. What made her change her demeanor so suddenly? Worried, he nodded and led her to the door. He noted she was tense and her body was shaking like a leaf in a storm.
On their way back home, he didn’t ask her any questions because she didn’t look like she could manage that. His hands, however, held on to her tight, a gesture to remind her he was here beside her.
“Thanks for taking me to see the doctor,” she said quietly at the apartment. Then before he could say anything further, she shut the door, leaving Sebastian frowning darkly with concern.
In her bedroom, Sakura locked the door as if she were afraid someone would break in and then threw herself on her bed. She lay there, her body shaking uncontrollably, as she stared into space. In her mind’s eye, she was that child once again, living in Queen Mary Orphanage, being tortured and bullied by none other than Mrs. Byrd, the head mistress.
Sakura fisted her hands tight. No. No. Surely, she must have been hallucinating. Mrs. Byrd had died in the fire that night eighteen years ago. She couldn’t have been alive. The woman she’d bumped into, the woman who looked so much like Tara, couldn’t be Mrs. Byrd. Her mind, however, was adamant that who she’d just seen wasMrs. Byrd. After all, how could she forget the woman who had tortured her day in and day out? The woman who made her suffer when she was a little girl? Even though eighteen years had passed…
“No,” Sakura whispered. “I won’t believe it. You died that night. I know you died.”
But as Sakura tried to convince herself, she knew the woman she’d bumped into was Mrs. Byrd. She knew also that what she’d seen that night eighteen years ago was true—Mrs. Byrd had intentionally burned down the orphanage and escaped into the darkness. Mrs. Byrd was still alive and living a very happy and rich life.