Page 208 of Save You

“We all have to get a photo taken together later on,” Lydia says.

“Didn’t I say it would be worth coming?”I ask before I start automatically looking around for Lin.I need to ask her if she’s spoken to the caterer and checked the buffet.But before I can go to look for her, James lays his hand gently on my back.

I look inquiringly up at him.

“I know exactly what you want to do right now.But your shift doesn’t start for”—he glances at his watch—“another hour.”

“Did you check?”I ask in amusement.

He nods.“So now you belong to me and not to the canapés, Ruby Bell.”

The next moment, he pulls me away from Lydia and Ember.I just about manage to glance back at them before I have to face the way I’m going to avoid stepping on my dress.At first I think James is leading me to the bar, but then he does a detour in the direction of the swing.Another couple has just struck a pose, and we wait a few paces behind the photographer.

I grin up at James.“Seriously?I remember the days when you were bored to death by our parties,” I remark.“And now you want a couple-y photo as a souvenir?”

“You know why they bored me,” I hear James say, right into my ear.I get goose bumps.

“You weren’t bored, really,” I say.“Admit it.It was all a façade and you were actually seriously impressed by the DJ at the Back-to-School party and just jealous that you hadn’t booked him for one of your own house parties.”

James snorts.“Exactly.”

Suddenly, he leans in and runs his lips down my cheek and jaw.I shiver as he presses a kiss on the spot behind my ear.

“You really do look beautiful,” he murmurs, and I feel his warm breath on my skin.The goose bumps spread over my whole body, and I’m about to open my mouth to return the compliment when the photographer’s voice makes me jump.

“Next,” he calls out, sounding bored.When he sees me in the queue, he raises an eyebrow.“Oh, hello, Ruby.”

Mr.Foster and I have known each other as long as I’ve been doing events stuff at Maxton Hall.He does all the official event photography for the school website and blog, and the newsletter that Lexington sends out once a month.He’s a pro, and I’m all the more impressed that he’s prepared to spend the evening taking these Polaroid swing photos.

“Evening, Mr.Foster,” I say.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had the opportunity to photograph you before,” he muses aloud, pointing to the swing.“Have a seat.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, sitting down as James comes to stand behind me, one hand on the rope and the other on my back.Even through my dress, I can feel his warmth.My body tingles again, and I wonder if this feeling of excitement at being close to him will ever fade.I hope not.

“Smile!”says the photographer, but there’s no need—I can’t help myself.

We’re given the Polaroid snap and James shakes it dry before we look at it.

“That’s so cheesy!”

I’m sitting on this flowery swing with James behind me, and I bet every couple here will have the exact same photo taken by the end of the evening.

And I already know that I’ll grin every time I see this photo for the rest of my life.

“I like it,” says James.

He smiles and slips it into his jacket pocket.Then he lifts his hand to stroke my cheek with his fingertips.I get the impression he’s not even really aware that he’s doing it.As he pulls his hand away, I’d love to hold it there and snuggle my cheek into his palm.

“Shall we dance?”I ask instead.I have to do something to get the heat that his gentle, matter-of-fact touch has fanned in my body under control.

James’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise.“You want to dance of your own free will?”

I nod and take his hand.Before I can change my mind, I pullhim onto the dance floor, among the other couples who are already moving slowly to the music.

I lay one hand on James’s shoulder and start to move with him.This time I’ve come prepared, and I watched some videos with Ember, but I soon realize that there’s no need to worry about where to put my feet.James and I are just swaying to and fro.

“At the start of the year, I’d never have dreamed I’d be here.With you,” James murmurs close to my ear.“I’m so grateful.”