Behind the Camera (Love through a Lens, #2)

by Chelsea Curto

“I guess I am. You’re so busy taking care of a tiny human, and it makes me wonder who’s taking care of you.”

“Maybe you should just move in here.”

when she gets old enough to date, I think Maverick might actually deck anyone who tries to break her heart.”

She’d lose her mind if she got to see you in person with all your gear on.”

“Did we just agree that we can eye-fuck each other?” I ask.

“If you ever feel like breaking the rules and need a hand with something, you know where I’ll be.”

“He’s done everything by himself for so long, I thought it was time someone did something nice for him.”

I don’t give a shit if I win or lose, because either way, I get to go home to her. And she’s a fucking prize.

He holds up the M and keeps his eyes on me as he kisses the letter then runs his tongue over the chain.

“I’d do anything with you, Maven,” he says.

“Maybe I wore this outfit for you,”

“Maybe I wanted you to miss me while I’m gone.”

“You could wear a sack, Maven, and I’d still miss you.”

“Fuck,” he says around an exhale before it gets snatched up by the breeze. “I wish you would,”

“Sometimes I can’t remember what my life was like before you were in it,” he whispers. “Everything about you has been unintentional and the biggest surprise. I’d go through eight hundred nannies if it meant finding you again.”

“It would be worth it. You’ve filled all the quiet and lonely parts of my life, Maven.”

“I’m not one to believe in divine intervention, but someone up there saw that I was struggling, and they sent me the best gift I could ever ask for. You.”

Life is short—you have to tell people how you feel about them.”

“You’ve filled the sad parts of my life, Dallas. You’ve taught me how to be happy again.”

What if I want to end up with you?

It hits me, then, as I think about someone else taking Maven’s spot one day down the road. She’s irreplaceable.

I’m totally and completely head over heels for her, and I need to figure out a way to fucking have her once and for all.

“You said it was mine for the rest of the season. It makes me think I could be yours, too.”

“I’ve read your books. I’ve watched you get off. I know exactly what you like.”

Because when I look at you, Maven, I’m alive for the first time in years. I feel like I was made for you, and I feel like you were made for me too. I’m all in on this. On you.”

Dallas is the right person. He’s the right person for me right now, and he’s going to be the right person for me in thirty years.

“I think about how happy you make me. How wonderful you are with my daughter and how you love her like she’s yours. I think about your kindness and patience. Your selflessness and your sense of humor. I think about how forever with you doesn’t sound long enough. I wonder how in the world today is going to be better than yesterday, because yesterday was the best day of my life. And it always is. You are my greatest joy, and there’s not a single thing I’d change about you. You are perfect. You are perfect for me. You are…” he

“You are the sun and you’re the stars, and even on the worst days, when we’re mad at each other or tired or frustrated, it’s still going to be a good day, because you’ll be by my side.”

“We’re going to figure this out, baby,”

“And that’s perfectly fine if you two are in love—as long as we can share custody.”

“Never. Fuck, no, Maven. I told you I’m all in, and that includes right now, when things get hard.