Sakura had never liked flying. The very thought itself caused her to break into a cold sweat. If she had the choice, she’d rather not travel by plane. But of course, her hands were tied, as the saying went, in this case, since she had no choice in the matter. Either travel to Hawaii and do the photo shoot, or pay the price for Mr. Tachibana’s one-of-a-kindgown. To be honest, her condition wasn’t that bad. It had been just the anxiety of being high up in the air and the possibilities of certain things that might go wrong that really affected her. Not many people knew about her phobia, except for Daddy James, Mom Brenda, and Mary.
Sakura glanced over to the other side and noted Daddy James watching her. He signaled to her with a nod of his head to join him. Sakura sighed with relief.
“Sorry, Conrad, I need to speak with Daddy James,” she said.
The words Daddy James drew Marissa’s attention. She stopped talking to Logan and glanced at Sakura.
“Huh? Now? Can’t it wait?” Conrad queried, obviously displeased at the idea that she was leaving him.
Both Sebastian and Darcy turned their attention to Sakura, who was very pale all of a sudden, avoiding both Sebastian’s and Darcy’s eyes.
“I’m afraid not,” she said, and quickly got out of her seat.
“Now, now, Sakura darling, no need to rush,” Tristan said, chuckling.
The two air hostesses who were on the other side of the seats overheard Tristan. They glanced at each other in shock. One worded silently to the other, Sakura darling?
They made a sad face as if they had lost all hope of a chance to snatch one of the brothers themselves.
Sakura excused herself and headed straight to Daddy James. She took a seat beside him, facing away from the brothers on the other side. James handed her a drink, and she took it gratefully. Sakura took a deep breath and tried to breathe normally, tried not to let the anxiety get her. James grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.
“You’ll be fine,” he said. “Come here.” He made her rest her head on his shoulder and patted her arm.
James’s soothing voice and warm hand eased the tension within her body, and Sakura relaxed a little.
Everything was going to be okay, she told herself internally. Then, of course, all hell broke loose when Nicolas appeared before them.
“Dad, got a minute?”
Sakura opened her eyes and lifted her head. James looked at her for a moment, as if to ask if she was all right now, and if it was okay with her. She answered by moving away from James and giving him a smile.
James reluctantly got up from his chair and followed Nicolas away.
Alone, Sakura felt the tension building within her body again. She closed her eyes and recited to herself that everything was going to be okay.
No. No. No. It wasn’t going to be okay. Oh, God, why do I have to be so fearful of flying? How stupid. Very stupid. She wasn’t a kid anymore. She was a grown woman now. It was only flying and nothing more. Soon, they’d land safe and sound, and she’d chide herself over what all that stress was about.
The engine hummed. Sakura sucked in her breath and jumped, her heart pounding loudly within her chest. She could feel herself shaking from nervousness, and cold sweat was breaking out along her spine. Suddenly, she felt a large, warm hand touch hers.
Thank God, Daddy James was back. Relief sweeping through her, she turned and threw herself into her adoptive father’s arms. Instantly, warmth embraced her, and slowly, she was at ease. She clutched that hard, masculine body for dear life as the engine hummed louder and louder, ready for takeoff.
Then the plane started moving, and Sakura gritted her teeth. She buried her face deeper into her adoptive father’s chest as she inhaled his pleasant scent.
The plane ascended, and Sakura felt her whole body tense with fear. Her stomach knotted as it climbed higher and higher. She knew she was making small whimpering noises, but she couldn’t help herself. She knew she was a grown woman and, therefore, shouldn’t fear these things, but she couldn’t help herself.
It was then she felt Daddy James’s large, strong arms around her, embracing her, comforting her. She could also feel the warmth of this breath against her forehead; his chin was resting on the top of her head.
Suddenly, the ascending stopped, and a few moments later, Sakura sighed with relief. She stayed in her adoptive father’s arms for a little longer, liking the warmth and coziness within the embrace.
“You look unwell, Sakura.”
The moment Sakura heard that voice, she sucked in her breath. She became fully alert and widened her eyes in shocked surprise.
Sweet Lord! How could I have mistaken this person to be Daddy James?
Slowly, she lifted her head. Still tightly embraced in those wonderfully strong arms, she stared at the handsome face and especially those mauve-gray eyes that never wavered from hers.
“Darcy,” she whispered.
Darcy lifted one hand and gently stroked her cheek. “The plane is stable now. Are you afraid?”
Sakura blinked, confused as to the meaning of his question. Was he asking her if she was afraid of the flying or of him?
“Of flying?” he finished.
She bit her lower lip and slowly nodded. “I…since I was little.”
The plane shook, probably from the force of the wind, and Sakura tensed again.
Darcy tugged the tendrils of her hair behind her ear. “Toby is going to miss you,” he said gently in conversation.
Sakura looked at him and then nodded. “Yes,” she said. “But unfortunately, I can’t bring him along.”
Darcy smiled tenderly. “Well, if I were you, I would have sneaked him on the plane regardless.”
Sakura cocked her head to one side, her tension easing once again. “Really? Maybe I should have done that.” Then she smiled. Suddenly, she was very aware of the intense heat between them. Aware of Darcy, herDarcy, beside her, his arm around her and her face only inches from his. In response to that realization, her heart skipped a beat and continued to jump irregularly. She tried to calm herself down, but honest to God, it was hard.
“Do you want to see my new character design for our new game?” he asked suddenly.
Blinking, Sakura nodded without hesitation. Darcy pulled out his tablet and went into an art application. Then he flicked through a series of digital art he had drawn.
“Oh my, they’re very good,” Sakura said.
Darcy smiled, pleased. “I drew them myself.”
Sakura gazed at him, her eyes sparkling. “You’re amazing.”
Darcy was pleased at the compliment. He tried to hide it, but it was hard. His heart was glowing because of her kind words.
“This is the first of our new characters,” he said, showing her a handsome blond knight in full armor—with glasses.
Sakura chuckled. “Nicolas.”
“Nicolas? No, he’s not Nicolas,” Darcy protested.
Sakura shook her head. “He’s definitely Nicolas,” she said.
“Nicolas?” Conrad said, suddenly appearing as if out of the blue. His head popped between them from behind. He stared long and hard at the digital art. “He’s definitely Nicolas.”
“Conrad, what the hell are you doing here?” Darcy queried in agitation. He was rather pissed that Conrad was interrupting his and Sakura’s time together. It had been a tender moment, and Darcy wanted more—so many more—of those moments with his beloved Sakura.
The moment he had noticed Sakura heading toward his father, he knew something was wrong. Then, when Nicolas had called his father away, he swiftly moved out of his seat and into the empty one next to Sakura. What he hadn’t expected, however, was that she instantly threw herself into his arms and snuggled her face against his chest. Her delicate form shook like a leaf as the plane began to move and then ascend. Darcy knew right there and then that she was afraid of flying. Thus, he hugged her tightly against him, comforting her, to help ease her fear. He supposed it had worked because she’d stopped shaking.
Conrad ignored his brother and said, “I didn’t know they had glasses during the medieval period.”
“It’s fantasy, Conrad,” Darcy explained.
“Fantasy worlds can have glasses,” Hayden said, as he took the seat in front of Sakura.
“I didn’t know that,” Sebastian said, taking the seat next to Hayden, which was facing Darcy. A second later, Tristan and Logan joined them, taking seats in the next row.
“Sakura, darling,” Tristan began, “do you like men in glasses?”
Sakura cocked her head to one side. “Yes, actually. Nicolas looks quite good in them.”
“Really?” Logan leaned in and winked at her. “What would you think of me in glasses?”
Sakura laughed, which pleased all the brothers. They had noticed she had looked more than a little pale when she was changing seats, and had been worried.
“I don’t think glasses would suit you, Logan,” Sakura said. “But it never hurts to give it a go.”
Logan nodded in agreement. “Oi, Nicolas!”
The brothers and Sakura wondered what Logan was up to and waited with interest. On the other side of the plane, Nicolas glanced up to see his brothers watching him.
“What?”
“Come here, please,” Logan said.
Akira chuckled. “I think something is up.”
Nicolas reluctantly got up from his seat and headed to his brothers. Hovering near them, he said in agitation, “What’s up?”
Logan reached his hand out and snatched Nicolas’s glasses.
“Hey!” Nicolas muttered.
Logan said, “Just borrowing these.” Then he placed the things on his face and then proceeded to look as dashing as he could.
Sakura stared at him for a moment and then burst out laughing until her stomach hurt. Tristan and Conrad followed suit and then Hayden. Sebastian smiled, while Darcy shook his head.
“You look horrible, Logan,” Nicolas said and retrieved his glasses. “Now, if you’ll all excuse me, I have work to do.”
“Real work or courting work?” Logan queried playfully. The brothers knew exactly what Logan meant. They all knew Nicolas had the hots for Akira.
Nicolas narrowed his eyes dangerously at his brother. “Real work.” He was about to leave when he turned to his brothers once again and emphasized, “Princeton Group work.”
Tristan shook his head. “Nicolas, bro, chill a little. We’re on holiday.”
Nicolas muttered something under his breath and then headed away.
On the other side of the plane, James smiled as he watched his sons and adopted daughter from afar.
“What are you grinning about?” Brenda asked.
James turned to his wife and said, “It looks like I don’t have to worry, after all.”
Brenda understood the meaning behind his words and nodded in agreement.