Free Falling For Sakura (Falling For Sakura Trilogy, #1) by Alexia Praks

mention the fact that one of them had kissed her. She thought it must have been Sebastian. Or was it Darcy? Conrad?
    Th at is totally stupid, she told herself firmly. It didn’t matter, however, because it was only a dream, and she was determined not to think about it any further.
    She closed her eyes and tried to get back to sleep when she heard Tara and Alaina giggling across the hallway and singing loudly before finally getting into their own rooms. Sakura was pretty sure the two women must be pretty drunk since they both loved to drink. Once the house was quiet again, she was able to slip back to sleep. This time there was no dream, and she was glad.
    About two hours later, Sakura found herself lying there in her double bed, staring up at the chandelier, her stomach flipping and her heart racing uncomfort ably. Soon, she’d have to actually face the brothers, since Daddy James had made sure of that. He’d found her in the library at just before midnight last night, once everyone had retired. He scolded her that she should have been out there having dinner with her grandparents and brothers, not feigning sickness. Damn him, she thought. He had known all along.
    Ah! Brothers? Brothers, her backside! Brothers who didn’t remember her. Brothers who didn’t recognize her when they were that close to her?
    Her stomach flipped again at the thought of what happened yesterday afternoon. She couldn’t believe she had to meet them that way. T hen she remembered how Darcy had looked at her, remembered his eyes boring into hers. She shivered at the image and shook her head.
    She sat up, and Toby jumped onto her lap. “What will happen today, Toby? What am I going to do?”
    The dog barked at her excitedly. Then the door flung open, and Mary marched right in.
    “Hear d you weren’t well,” she said, almost in a sheer panic. “I didn’t want to bother you last night, but it’s morning now so I thought it should be fine. Oh shit! You’re going to be all right for Laura’s birthday party, right? Mark will be there so you have to come. You have to look pretty.”
    “Mary,” Sakura said, “just because he’s your brother’s frien d and he had a crush on you years ago and now you’re getting married to another man, you don’t have to feel that you need to match him with me.”
    “No. No , he really likes you,” Mary said adamantly. “He really does. Now get up and shower because I’m going to make you look pretty.”
    “I’ll be fine. You should make yourself look pretty since you’re going to be the center of attention soon.”
    “Jesus, woman, it’s not my wedding yet. It’s Laura’s birthday party, Mr . Mayor’s daughter, who’s turning the ripe old age of eighteen. Besides, you don’t want to embarrass the Princeton family. A lot of important people are coming.”
    “Oh crap! Important people, eh?” Sakura asked cheekily.
    “Of course,” Mary said. “Now shower!”
    “All right. All right. ” Sakura chuckled. “I’m going to shower. Be back in a minute.”
    “Don’t worry . Take your time,” Mary said.
    Ten minutes later, Sakura was back and Mary began blow-drying her long hair and then curled it.
    “You know it’s only a lunch thing,” Sakura said. “And besides, we don’t want to look prettier than the birthday girl, do we?”
    “Of course not,” Mary replied. “Just want you to look good for Mark.” Then she silently added with a smile on her face, Good enough to eat .
    Sakura chuckled. “It’s a good thing I’m going.” Of course she didn’t hear the last bit.
    “Right you are,” Mary said, tossing back Sakura’s long curls.
    What Sakura really meant was that she didn’t have to see the brothers again today after all, since the birthday party would probably last until late evening , and then after that, she’d make some excuses to go and stay in town for a few nights with Katherine. Her friend’s husband, after all, was away to New York on his business trip and