Page 57 of The Mistletoe Bluff
Maya’s eyes brightened, her whole face lighting up. “Are you sure?”
The look on her face alone made it more than worth it.
“Positive, Maya. For two hours, you can boss me around to your heart’s content.”
She cocked her head, a devious smile spreading across her face. “Careful what you wish for, Oliver.”
I smiled back. “Do your worst, princess. Do you worst.”
Maya was brilliant.
That was the only way to describe her as she photographed the couple. From the moment we stepped out of the car, introduced ourselves to Garrett and Trina, the soon-to-be Lofsons, a switch flipped, and a new side of Maya came out that I hadn’t seen before.
It was more than confidence that filled each of Maya’s movements or the way she instructed the couple. It was pure joy. There wasn’t an ounce of hesitation in her body language, in the way she spoke to Garrett and Trina, or in the chorus of clicking coming from her camera.
Maya was a natural when it came to photography, that much was clear. Just when I thought she’d run out of poses or needed a helpful hint of what to do next, she surprised me and remained a step ahead the entire time, even joking with them from time to time.
The couple caught on to her vivacious energy, completely at ease as they held each other in their arms, even when Maya made them spread out in the snow and make snow angels side by side.
For a moment, I worried that the Lofsons would hate getting down into the cold, wet snow, but to my utter shock, not only did they love it, they ended up laughing and having a snowball fight, Maya’s camera going the entire time.
EvenIcouldn’t help snapping a few pictures myself. Not that Maya would need them. Maya knew what she was doing with a camera, that much was clear. Even though she talked a big game about bossing me around, Maya had barely told me to do anything. Not that I was complaining. It allowed me to watch her work, to see the way she lit up behind the camera, all her insecurities disappearing. It was beautiful.
Maya had her spark back and it took my breath away.
It had been a little over an hour and my feet were numb in my boots, but the cold didn’t seem to bother Maya at all.
“Okay, let’s have you two stand over there in front of those trees,” Maya instructed, pulling me from my thoughts. “Mr. Lofson, I want you to dip your bride backward as if you were dancing and hold her there.” The couple eagerly complied, and as they held the pose, the love they felt for one another gleamed in their eyes.
Maya’s camera continued clicking as she looked over her shoulder at me and gave me a smile that had my heart stuttering in my chest. It was a look that told me she was having the time of her life.
I’d do anything to bring that smile to her face every single day.
A hopeful vision of the future flashed through my mind—one of us running a photography business together. I wasn’t sure Maya would ever entertain such a notion, but the desire to make it happen was like a slow burning fire, consuming me from the inside out.
I gave her a reassuring nod and she returned her attention to the couple, giving a few last poses to try before we wrapped up for the day. Unable to help myself, I peeked over Maya’s shoulder to get a glimpse of the photos she was taking, and a swell of warmth filled my entire body. They werebeautiful, well worth what the couple had paid.
“Thank you again for doing this so last minute,” Garrett remarked as Maya finished packing up her camera.
“Yes, this has been a dream!” Trina said, her eyes bright with excitement.
“Anytime,” Maya and I said in unison which caused us all to chuckle.
Trina gave us a knowing look. “How long have you two been together?”
Maya tripped over the flat snow at the question, fidgeting with the strap of her bag. “Oh, um—”
“It’s still new,” I supplied, putting an arm around Maya’s shoulders, and Trina smiled in understanding. Maya’s body was stiff, her eyes fixed on the ground in front of her. I wished I could read her mind to know what she was thinking.
“We’ll get the photos to you as soon as possible,” I said, trying to change the subject so that Maya would loosen up again.
Garrett and Trina hugged both of us, much to my surprise, and thanked us once more before leaving the park.
Silence settled between me and Maya, the cold biting at my numb fingers and toes, but I ignored it. We stood outside the Jeep, watching as the couple drove away. When they were out of sight, I turned to her with a grin on my face.
“That was incredible, princess. You have a gift.”
Maya’s ears reddened. “It’s been so long…I forgot how much I love this.” Her eyes met mine. “Thank you for letting me do this, Oliver.”
