Page 79 of The Last Saturday In July
‘Fine!’ Jess tried not to snap. It wasn’t Adam’s fault, but this was too close for comfort. No wonder Zoe had made them bride and groom. She’d never talk to her again.
Zoe gave some instructions to the models, put the camera backon its tripod and peered down the viewfinder. ‘Whenever you’re ready.’
Jess’s heart hammered as Adam angled his head and leaned in, his nearness sending heat racing through her.
‘Ready?’ he said quietly. Instead of his lips landing on hers, she felt them just above her mouth. Jess’s eyes closed as she tried not to thinkabout their kiss that day in the church and tried harder to ignore the instinct to move her mouth up to meet his. This felt unnatural and a bit uncomfortable. If she could just shift her weight a bit …
As she moved, she realised her mistake. Now her lips were pressing on the lower part of Adam’s mouth. She felt his hand squeeze her waist slightly, but he didn’t move. Despite the heat of Adam’s body, a shiver ran through her. Had someone suddenly turned up the air conditioning?
‘Move, everyone!’ Gemma suddenly screamed.
Before Jess realised what was happening, Adam was stamping hard on her train, then he was pulling her towards the middle of the room. Lights flickered and flashed around them, as the other models jumped out of the way, seconds before hundreds of fairy lights swung down to where they’d been standing seconds before. As Jess stumbled over her dress, Adam quickly put an arm around her back and another under her knees, picking her up.
‘Adam, put me down.’ Jess struggled to stand.
‘Hang on!’
‘I’m fine, will you just ...’
Adam put her down. and Jess turned to face the end of the room where they’d been. The fairy lights now lay scattered across the ornate panelled floor. Moments later, every last one flickered out.
Zoe turned to Gemma. ‘What happened?’
‘They’re safety lights. If something goes wrong, they’re supposed to turn off like that. They’re just not supposed to fall.’ Gemma looked around. ‘Is everyone all right? Those lights are quite heavy.’
‘That was well spooky,’ one of the models said. ‘Anyone else feel that? Just before the lights fell, it got super cold. And this room was really warm when we came in.’
The noise levels rose again as everyone started to talk at once.
Shit, Jess thought, this was the last thing they needed. She raised her voice over the others. ‘Could I have everyone’s attention, please?’ The room quietened. ‘If it’s okay with Zoe and Gemma, we might take a break. Go get some refreshments in the orangery, while we get this sorted.’
The models left, visibly keen to be in a newer, brighter part of the castle.
Gemma came over to Jess and Adam.
‘I’m really sorry. Nothing like this has ever happened before.’ She turned back to survey the mess. ‘I’m still not sure what happened this time. Those lights were all secure.’
Adam dug a hand back through his hair. ‘I’ll talk to the manager; we’ll have to get the electrics double checked in this part of the hotel. It’s the most likely reason for ...’ he waved a hand in front of him, ‘all this.’
Gemma frowned. ‘Except the lights went out after they fell. I don’t think any of them shorted first. Bloody nuisance.’
‘It could have been worse.’ Adam pointed to the chandelier above their heads.
Gemma grimaced. ‘I’ve messaged my crew to come down. They’ve just finished setting up for the next shoot in the honeymoon suite. They’ll get this lot cleaned up.’
Gemma walked away and Jess turned to Adam.
‘Thanks.’
He shrugged. ‘Any time. Look, I don’t think the others noticed, but the train of your dress got singed when one of the candles fell over.’
Jess looked down at the end of the dress, which was now badly discoloured. ‘Oh God.’ She met Adam’s eyes. ‘That’s why you were stamping on it like that.’ She shivered. ‘I should change.’
‘Will you be okay?’
Adam looked at her closely and, for a moment, Jess couldn’t look away.
His phone rang, breaking the spell. ‘Sorry, I’d better take this, excuse me.’ As he walked away, Jess slipped out of her shoes and hitched up the dress. Right now, she needed some fresh air.
