Chapter 39
Falling for Sakura
The music struck loudly, causing the continuous squealing noise to echo across the great hall. Everyone covered their ears in annoyance, and then a moment later, Logan chuckled into the microphone and said, “Sorry, ladies and gentlemen. That was my bad.” Everyone laughed, including the bride and groom, who were standing in the center of the hall, waiting to start their first dance.
After some tweaking, the music started. It was “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers.
The moment Sakura heard the words felt her heart quickening and her pulse racing. Suddenly, Richard had her wrist and led her to the centre of the dance floor. She stiffened, suddenly embarrassed. She glanced to Mary and Peter, who were dancing lovingly in each other’s arms, smiles on their faces. Then she glanced at Katherine, who was laughing and having the time of her life as she winked at Michael standing on the sidelines near his father Jim. The boy was swaying his body back and forth as he watched his mother dance in Jack’s arms.
Richard pulled her into his arms and started moving her around. Sakura wasn’t any good at dancing, but she moved about anyway, trying to be in tune with the slow music. Then they were on the other side of the dance floor, and Sakura felt as though someone was watching her. She lifted her head and saw Sebastian, his blue eyes intense on her face.
Sakura felt her heart thundering within her chest as she continued moving around in Richard’s arms. She tried to move her eyes away from the handsome blond who was staring at her as if she were the only person in the room. The music was making her head dizzy.
Sebastian gazed at Sakura dancing in Richard’s arms as the man swayed her around. How he wished it was him instead who was holding her in his arms. And why not? That was when he imagined him and her together, dancing to this very classic song, just the two of them together in this very room as everyone faded into darkness. Yes, he was twisting her around now, and she was laughing and smiling up at him, her eyes bright with love just for him. Then very slowly he moved his head down and took her lips, kissing her passionately and wildly as they moved about the dance floor. Sakura. His Sakura. Yes, he hungered for her touch, for her love; he hungered for her.
How he ached in his heart as he watched her dance. She too was staring back at him. Yes, he noted there were confusion and pain within her dark eyes, and it caused a knot in the pit of his stomach.
Finally Sakura was able to break away from Sebastian’s gaze when Richard moved her around to another part of the dance floor. Sakura’s heart was still thundering within her chest when she met Darcy, who was also watching her intently.
Oh, God, his eyes… She could see the pain within his eyes as he gazed at her, and her heart ached with him, for him. Why was it so painful? She gripped her hands on Richard’s shoulders as she continued to dance.
Darcy squeezed the stem of his wine glass, nearly causing it to break. His Snow, she was dancing with Richard, and he wanted to be Richard. He wanted to be in Richard’s place, taking her into his arms, twisting her around the dance floor, watching her beautiful face laughing happily up at him, her eyes bright with love just for him. How he ached to be with her, smell her, touch her, and kiss her. He needed her love so badly it hurt. My Snow, he thought, and he imagined them alone on this very dance floor—not dancing, but just standing there kissing passionately and wildly like they had done back in the woods.
How he needed her love, craved her love, wanted her love so much that he was deeply in pain. My Snow. Will I ever get to be with you?
Sakura wanted to take Darcy into her arms and hug him, give her all to him. She wouldn’t because he was already with someone else. He didn’t want her. He’d never wanted to be with her. Her heart cried out in anguish.
Finally, she managed to move her gaze away from his by casting her eyes downward, tears brewing within them.
Richard moved her around again. Then when she managed to control her emotions, she was again looking at Sebastian. She gazed at him, again feeling that dreadful pain within her heart. They continued to gaze at each other as the song continued, her heart racing within her chest, her head dizzy as she leaned more of her weight against Richard, feeling weak all of a sudden.
Suddenly the music came to an end and Richard laughed. “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Sakura slowly looked up, her face pale. “No, I suppose not,” she said quietly. She needed to decide on what to do, what should happen next. Yes, she had come to the realization that she had feelings for both Darcy and Sebastian. But how could a woman have feelings for two guys at the same time? How was that possible? Especially when the two guys were her adopted brothers?
She needed to think. She needed to clear her head. She needed to decide.
Suddenly, the song “Sway” by Michael Bublé erupted in the room and everyone rushed onto the dance floor, swaying their bodies back and forth with enthusiasm.
Behind her Darcy stood still, watching her standing alone in the middle of the dance floor as people happily moved around them. He longed for her but knew he couldn’t have her. In front of her stood Sebastian, also standing still as people moved around him, laughing and singing along to the song. He watched her, wanting her, longing for her.
Sakura closed her eyes, torn. What should she do?
Conrad surprised her by pulling her into his arms and started laughing. “Come on, Sakura. Dance with me.”
Before she knew anything, Tristan got her by the other arm and chuckled. “You’re dancing with me, sweetheart.”
“Oi!” Conrad snapped. “I got the first dance. Isn’t that right, Sakura?”
She managed to give him a small smile, though her head was spinning. “How about we all dance together?” she suggested weakly.
“Yeah, why not?” Logan said, appearing out of the blue and pulling her into his arms. He whisked her away to the other side of the dance floor. Then he twisted her around until she was even dizzier.
“Dance, Sakura, dance.” He chuckled.
Suddenly, Conrad appeared before them again and took her into his arms. “Now you’re dancing with me.”
She needed to get out of here, Sakura thought. By that time, however, the music ended and she quickly escaped. She ran across the corridor, down the stairs, and into the back courtyard of the hotel. Alone, she breathed in the fresh air and closed her eyes. Oh, God, that was intense.
Then her mind traveled back to the brothers. What must she do?
She walked farther toward the swimming pool, deep in thought. It wasn’t long when she noticed a couple on the other side. They were obviously making out, and she decided she didn’t want to disturb them.
She turned and took two steps when she heard, “Darcy, darling.”
A knot formed in the pit of her stomach. She stopped in her spot and slowly turned. Across from her, she witnessed Darcy lifting his head from the woman’s face. Then she realized the woman was Kate Anderson.
Kate was smiling, and before Darcy had the chance to walk away, she wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him again.
Sakura’s whole body shuddered. Her head still spinning and her heart still thundering within her chest, she walked away.
She had made her decision. Yes, no matter what happened from now on, she had made her decision and she wasn’t going to change it.