She gasped, her head turning to where the blinking red light reminded her everything she was doing was caught on film. Somehow in the midst of their back and forth, she’d managed to forget that. And sheneverforgot about the cameras.
What was this guy doing to her?
“Well, you’re a jerk,” she managed to say as she attempted to school her features.
“Good one.”
Silence descended between them. She looked over at him and was struck by the quiet beauty of the scene before her: his sharp jawline lit by the firelight, the trees swaying in the background, and the blue sky streaked with violet as the sun began to set. If Bruce had any sense, he’d make this the opening shot to every episode, and the viewers would be glued to their screens.
The crackling of the fire was barely audible over the sounds of Wade and Eli fighting about chocolate placement and Harper’s never-ending lecture on the ingredients she used for the homemade graham crackers that were available at her bakery.
Sienna cleared her throat. “Are you a musician?”
Fox gave her a sharp look. “Why would you ask that?”
“Just trying to make conversation.”
He continued to stare.
“Earlier, when Bruce asked if you were an expert on music, you said yes without hesitation. Plus, you were so happy to win the music challenge.” Sienna shrugged. “Then, when I walked up, you were humming, so I just thought maybe you were a musician or something.”
Fox glanced at the camera before jerking his head ever so slightly.
Sienna leaned in and the cool night breeze at her back—not the sudden proximity to Fox—made her shiver a little.
“I used to be, but I don’t like to talk about it. It was a long time ago.”
She smirked. “Back when I was in diapers?”
The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Before that even.”
Sienna’s heart skipped a beat, and she knew it had to be from a lack of food. Lunch had been hours ago. She dropped her hand into the bag of marshmallows at Fox’s feet and popped one into her mouth. A growling stomach on camera was not appropriate. “So, what’s the great music you’re going to play at the wedding?”
Fox leaned back a bit, and Sienna breathed a sigh that was a weird mix of relief and disappointment before she reached for another marshmallow.
“Stop touching our stuff,” Fox said with a scowl and snatched the bag up.
Sienna relaxed. The cantankerous Fox she knew was back, and she could handle him much better than the Fox who had just smiled at her. “Harper won’t let me touch anything. I’m kind of a disaster in the kitchen.”
His eyes went wide. “You’re actually admitting you’re bad at something?”
Sienna waved a hand. “Lots of people aren’t good cooks. Especially in New York where you can’t go three feet without hitting a Michelin-Starred restaurant.”
“And those are the kinds of places you’re used to eating at?”
Sienna shifted on the log. There was no way she was going to admit she’d been living on Ramen and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the last month. She wasn’t going to admit to anyone—on camera or off—all the dirty details of her life as a struggling actor. Especially not to Fox.
“What’s with the twenty questions?”
“Just trying to make conversation,” he said. And she couldn’t be sure if the fire was playing tricks on her, but she swore there was a twinkle in his eye when he said it.
“Then why don’t you tell me about this awesome music you have planned for the reception.”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” Fox grinned. “Patience is something grownups are good at. Practice will do you good.”
Sienna was tempted to stick her tongue out again but remembered just in time about the camera.
“I look forward to it,” she said instead, a wide smile of her own plastered on her face. “It looks like Harper is nearly done with her masterpiece. I hope you enjoy the menu the girls pick out.”
