Once she stood, Sakura finally looked at them, fully. First, there was Sebastian with the typical Princeton looks that dated back for generations and had caused many hearts to flutter recklessly and perhaps even swoon with longing. He was tall, broad at the shoulders, and too handsome for her liking.
Then there was Nicolas, so much like his father, James, who looked as though he could take on the world and would still come out on top with his leader-like demeanor.
Next was Tristan with his ridiculously handsome smile, the Prince of Flirt in the family. Sakura wondered how many females he had bedded already and how many hearts he had broken along the way.
The same went for Logan with his very charming smile and devil-may-care manner. Sakura wouldn't be surprised if he had bedded at least a dozen women within the past few months.
Hayden, the handsome Prince of Rebel, had that rogue look about him that any good girl found hard to resist. This was enhanced by the fact that he had one golden earring in his left ear. He looked like a pirate—a very handsome one—and Sakura was sure any girl wouldn't mind being captured by him and imprisoned in his bed.
Then there was the handsome, mysterious Darcy. Again, her heart decided to do an unwelcome skip. Indeed, the Prince of Darkness was gazing at her without recognition, as if he found her interesting. He had that aloofness about him that any girl knew to avoid but couldn't resist and ended up falling crazily in love with him anyway.
Then there was nice, sincere Conrad. He had a cute, boyish, friendly smile any female, young or old, couldn't help falling for.
Then it hit her. They'd changed so much that the mere sight of all of them together took her breath away. Not to mention her neck was beginning to hurt because she had to tilt her head back to look at them.
"Toby," she called.
The dog barked back at her.
"So that's his name? Toby?" Nicolas asked.
Toby barked again, as if to confirm that that was indeed his name, which annoyed Sakura. When they got home, she thought she'd teach him a lesson that succumbing to the enemy was not something one should ever do to one's allies.
"Come on," she said, frowning at the dog for being disobedient suddenly. "It's time to go home."
Toby ignored her as Sebastian started scratching his head. The canine's eyes glazed over as he stuck his tongue.
"You like that, don't you?" Sebastian chuckled.
Tristan came forward and said, "We can give you a ride."
Sakura turned to him and said, "I'll be fine, thank you." She stepped forward and took Toby from Sebastian. Then she turned on her heel and began to walk away, working hard on hiding the limp. Her legs were mighty sore from that hit.
"There she goes," Conrad said, disappointment echoing in his voice.
Darcy watched, his eyes intent on her slender form. There was something about her that he couldn't quite place.
Sebastian said, "What a stubborn girl." In an instant, he was behind her and pulled her around gently by the arm. "Look, I know you're adamant that you're all right and that you can get home fine, but I'm not comfortable leaving you alone after I've nearly killed you. At least let me give you a ride. You're literally in the middle of nowhere here. I want to make sure you're safe."
Sakura knew he was right, of course. She was in the middle of nowhere, and with her sore legs, it'll take her ages to walk back to Princeton Manor. Of course, she could give James a call to pick her up.
Knowing Sebastian was never going to leave her alone, since Sebastian was just being Sebastian, she sighed and then said, "Okay." She turned, and before she could take a step, Sebastian scooped her up in his powerful arms. "I… I can walk just fine by myself!" she stammered.
"Really now?" he asked. "So that slight limp was naturally from birth?"
Sakura blushed.
"Why does he have to be the one to carry her?" Conrad asked no one in particular.
"Because he's responsible," Nicolas replied.
"I'm responsible," Tristan put in matter-of-factly. "I made him lose his cool back there so, yes, I'm responsible."
Sakura watched the brothers, who were still surrounding her. She couldn't believe it! She just couldn't believe it! None of them remembered who she was. Not one of them. And here she was this close to them. She couldn't decide if she was disappointed or pleased with that realization.
When Sebastian put her in the back seat, Conrad slid in beside her, followed by Logan. Nicolas got into the front seat followed by Sebastian in the driver's seat.
Outside, Tristan chuckled merrily and slapped Darcy on the shoulder. "Looks like you're riding with us."
Darcy narrowed his eyes dangerously at Logan, who had stolen his seat in the car. Logan, however, didn't see the death ray his younger brother gave him because he was too busy trying to please their new acquaintance.
"So," Nicolas began once Sebastian started the engine, "where do you live?"
Oh, damn, Sakura thought. She couldn't possibly tell them she was living at Princeton Manor where they were heading, could she? She could, but she refused to let them know she was Sakura, their adopted sister that they had entirely forgotten ever existed.
She said, "Just drive straight. It's a long, narrow road. Then when you get to the intersection, turn right and then left and then left again."
Conrad said, "That's pretty close to Princeton Manor, isn't it?"
"Good," Sebastian said and started the engine.
"What's your name?" Logan asked, moving closer to her.
Sakura said, "I don't tell strangers my name."
Logan chuckled, and Conrad said, "We're not strangers. We're your neighbors. We live at Princeton Manor."
"Still strangers," Sakura said. After all, if they couldn't even recognize her after all these years, they were practically strangers now.
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 Manor.
"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 Manor?
"I think we're here," Nicolas said, eyeing the cottage ahead of them.
It was a picture-perfect cottage with an 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 behind her words, however, and they all got out of the car. Conrad took care to aid her even if she didn't want the help.
Tristan and Hayden got out of the car as well while Darcy stayed back, pretending to be busy with his phone, which he wasn't, and stole peeks at the beauty. 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 him.
Outside, Sebastian frowned at Tristan. "Why 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, giving her a dashing smile that would make any young female's heart flutter with delight. "My brothers didn't harass you, did they?"
"No," Sakura said. 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. "Thanks for the ride."
Sebastian was about to stop her, but she was quick and hastily limped away, making her escape.
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.
"Conrad! You like her!" Tristan chuckled.
"She's nice," he said. "Totally my type."
"Okay, boys, time to get going," Nicolas said.