Sakura, Sebastian, and Michael returned to the holiday house some ten minutes later, and by then the sun had already set. In the foyer, the trio was greeted by Tristan and Logan, who had been waiting for them.
“What makes you so damned arrogant as to steal Sakura away for such a long time, Seb?” Tristan demanded the moment the trio stepped over the threshold of the holiday house. “It’s not like Sakura has already chosen you over us.” He turned to Sakura and asked, “Isn’t that right, darling?”
Logan shook his head as he tsked in disapproval. “And to be out until dark, too. Who knows what naughty things you did to Sakura behind our backs, just so you can have an advantage over us? You certainly need to be disciplined by your elder, Seb.”
Sebastian ignored his brothers’ teasing and asked instead, “I’m starving. When’s dinner?”
Sakura said, “Just so you know, your brother didn’t do anything naughty, Logan. You need to have some trust in Sebastian.” She cocked her head to one side and smiled with narrowed eyes. “I personally think it’d be you and Tristan who’d be doing questionable things behind your brothers’ backs, right?”
Sebastian laughed, as Sakura was spot on in that regard. Meanwhile, both Logan and Tristan managed to look guilty at the allegation.
With a look of confusion, Michael asked, “What’s so naughty about Sebastian kissing Sakura? She’s his girlfriend, isn’t she?”
Sakura blushed bright red at the boy’s innocent comment, while both Tristan and Logan turned to glare at Sebastian.
“Care to explain, Seb?” Logan asked.
Tristan nodded in agreement. “You even spout such nonsense that you’re Sakura’s boyfriend to Michael. This is beyond redemption, Seb.”
Sebastian cleared his throat and said, “Well, we were at the beach and the sun was setting. It felt right.”
With a sour face, Tristan said, “You don’t even bother to lie? You bastard, Sebastian! Shit! My heart. My poor heart.”
Michael said, “Tristan, are you okay? You don’t look like you’re about to have a heart attack, though.”
Tristan decided to teach young Michael a little bit about love. “See here, Michael. What I mean is…I like Sakura, and that bastard Sebastian is stealing her away from me in front of my eyes, and that hurts me deep inside.”
Sakura said teasingly, “That’s profound, Tristan.”
Logan pulled Michael to one side and asked, “They didn’t do anything more than kissing, did they?”
Michael thought about it for a moment and said, “Actually, they did.”
Tristan looked as though he were about to come down on Sebastian and strangle him, while Logan gave him a death glare.
“They were holding hands,” Michael said in explanation.
That drew the brothers’ attention, and Tristan said, “Oh, is that all?”
Michael nodded. “Sakura took loads of photos of me, too.” He grinned from ear to ear, obviously pleased. “It was so much fun.”
“Did she now?” Tristan asked, eyeing Sakura’s digital camera in her hands with a twinkle in his eyes. He moved closer toward her and said suggestively, “How about you and I go out to the beach tomorrow evening, and you take loads of photos of me, too? And then while the sun is setting, we do a little dance and kiss?”
Logan decided to chime in. “And me.”
Sakura couldn’t help herself and chuckled with amusement. “I’m sorry I have to spoil your romantic plans, Tristan. Remember, there are already arrangements made for tomorrow by Mr. Tachibana and Ms. Ruka?”
“True,” Tristan said. “Ah, I do wonder what sort of fun games we’re going to be having. If we must pair up, I’m claiming you first, Sakura.” He leaned in and asked, “Will you be my partner?”
Sebastian said, “Are you actually proposing to her?”
Tristan said cheekily, “What if I am?”
“Over my dead body,” Logan said.
“I can join in, too, right?” Michael asked. “I like games.”
Ignoring Tristan’s expectation of her answer to his proposal, Sakura said to Michael, “Of course. I’m sure there’d be no problem. The more the merrier.”
“If we have to pair up, then I’m going to pick Nicolas ’cause he’s smart and strong,” Michael said brightly. “He’s totally awesome. I’m going to find him now and ask him if he wants to be my partner.” With that, he rushed off in excitement.
Sebastian said, “I guess the only Princetons he looks up to are Dad and Nicolas.”
Tristan nodded in agreement.
Sakura said, “Well, Daddy James is a wonderful person, and Nicolas is the perfect Princeton, after all. He is smart and strong, as Michael said, a perfect partner in any sort of game, if you want to win. Also, he’s a gentleman.”
Sebastian eyed her with interest. “And I’m not a gentleman?” he asked curiously.
“Only slightly,” she said, smiling. Then she turned to Tristan and Logan, who looked at her expectantly for compliments. She suspected they wanted her to tell them they were the perfect Princetons, too, and gentlemen to boot, which made her want to laugh because they were certainly not.
She shook her head in the negative and said, “Sorry, you both are far from it. But then again, I’m not particularly into the perfect gentleman.” With that, she turned on her heel and started heading away.
Tristan placed his palm on his chest and made a lovey-dovey expression, while Logan grinned from ear to ear. Sebastian couldn’t help himself, smiling at her suggestive comment.
As she climbed the stairs, Tristan said loudly, “Wear something nice for dinner, darling.”
Sebastian snapped at Tristan. “Don’t call Sakura darling. She’s not your girlfriend.”
Sakura secretly smiled at Sebastian’s show of jealousy, which she found rather amusing.
A few moments later, she came into the bedroom and found both Akira and Jane already freshened up and dressed in summer wear. Akira had on her short sundress, while Jane wore a lovely blouse and shorts.
“How was the walk?” Akira asked, as Sakura headed over to the drawers.
“It was good. It’s actually pretty nice and cool along the beach,” she said, as she put her camera away. Then she went about searching for underwear and something light to wear.
“I hope it won’t be too hot when we start work the day after tomorrow,” Jane said. “Otherwise, it’s going to be hell for everyone.”
Sakura nodded in agreement.
“Have to make sure there’ll be plenty of water for everyone, too,” Jane added. “It’s very easy to get dehydrated here.”
Akira said, “At least the first day is inside the hotel, right?”
Jane nodded in confirmation. “Mostly. One is outside by the pool, though. That slot was arranged for you, Sakura, and Conrad, Hayden, and Akira. But it’s not until late in the afternoon. By then, it won’t be too hot, like midday.”
“And day two?” Sakura asked from the other side of the room, as she was gathering her toiletries.
“Day two is all outside on the beach and in the water. Lots of swimwear,” Jane said. “And I cannot wait because everyone is going to look so hot.”
Akira chuckled. “Lots of testosterone and muscles, eh?” Then she imagined Nicolas with nothing on but a pair of swim shorts, his tall, muscular frame towering over her, and his tanned, smooth skin glistening wet, just like that time she accidentally encountered him back in New York City. Her stomach fluttered deliciously and her heart raced at the image that conjured in her mind.
“Are you going to freshen up now?” Jane asked Sakura, drawing Akira’s attention from her fantasy about Nicolas.
Sakura nodded in the positive. Then she asked, “Are you guys going down now?”
The two girls answered with a yes. Then Akira said, “Because there are a lot of us to feed, there’s so much food preparation that needs to be done, and Beth wants some kitchen hands. We volunteered.”
Sakura nodded in understanding. Of course, it wasn’t like they were staying at the hotel where there were countless professional staff members on hand to serve their every whim, especially where food was concerned. Hence, everyone would have to help with the preparation and cooking. Besides, it’d be fun working and eating together.
She said, “I’ll come down and help, too, once I’m done.”
After the two girls left, Sakura headed into the bathroom and started her shower. Even though she had the dial on cold, the water still felt warm on her skin. When she finished shampooing and conditioning her hair, and had thoroughly washed her body and face, she donned a cute summer dress, and then put on a little makeup. Once that was done, she gazed at herself in the mirror, feeling quite pleased with the outcome. The light makeup really brought out her dark-brown eyes and rosy lips.
It was then she noticed something. She hadn’t been wearing her different color contacts for a while now, had she? Why is that? She didn’t know and certainly didn’t want to dwell on it right now because she had more important things to worry about, such as the photo shoot.
Dismissing the thoughts from her mind, she cleaned up her mess and then headed out the door.