Page 63 of Baby Daddy
My breath caught in my throat. “Jen, are you kidding?”
“No, Drake. I totally see the series. And that little Tyson is pure magic. I’m thinking CGI, but I really want Tyson to voice the character. She’s got true talent and her raspy voice is infectious. I think this can be our next breakout hit.”
“Seriously?” My heart was racing.
“Seriously. I think you can talk her mom into it.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because she’s totally into you and you’re totally into her.”
“It’s that obvious?”
Jen rolled her eyes. “Duh.”
Feeling my cock strain against my fly, I heaved a sigh. “I’ve never had a relationship.”
“You should talk to Blake. He could give you some pointers.”
Her husband, Blake Burns, the head of Conquest Broadcasting, Peanuts’ parent company, had been a notorious Hollywood player until he met Jen. They were now one of Tinseltown’s most respected power couples. I forced a small smile.
“Things are more complicated than they appear.”
“Because she has a child?”
“That’s the fun part.” I took another steeling breath. “Because she’s married.”
“Oof. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“I wasn’t either.” When I stopped to think about it, everything about Dee had caught me off guard. Even her very first appearance in my office. And something told me there were more surprises ahead. Maybe I should get off this bumpy ride while I still had a chance. Before I hurt both her and her little Mighty Girl. Before they hurt me.
“And, it gets more complicated.”
Jen’s brows lifted and then she glanced down at her watch. “It’s going to have to wait. I’ve got a fundraiser to attend at my son’s pre-school and am meeting Blake there in a half hour. Call me, Drake, and we’ll do lunch. In the meantime, I want to put Mighty Girl on the fast track and try to get a toy deal at the licensing show. The merchandising upside, in my opinion, could be phenomenal.”
The word “merchandising” was like the sound of a slot machine landing on the three cherries. Sirens and…Cha-ching! Cha-ching! Cha-ching! The kids’ biz wasn’t really about cartoons. It was about all the ancillary merchandise—the toys, the apparel, the electronics, and much more. The animated series, Danger Rangers, hadn’t made my father rich. It was all the action figures, vehicles, and video games that retailers couldn’t keep on the shelves that had netted him a fortune. Mega-hits like Danger Rangers were few and far between. Maybe Mighty Girl was the next one? Was my red cape really magic?
I hugged Jen goodbye before she headed to the parking lot where her car was parked. With my laptop bag slung over my shoulder, I hurried to the reception area where Dee and Tyson were waiting for me.
“Do you have dinner plans?” I asked Dee.
“I was just going to drive through an In-N-Out Burger and then head home.”
“The one near Highland?”
“Yes, that one.”
“Meet me there and I’ll buy dinner. I have something really exciting to tell you.”
“Yay!” shouted Ty. “Can I have a vanilla milkshake?”
I smiled at her. “Mighty Girl, you can have anything you want.”
One quick stop for gas, and I got caught in the LA rush hour traffic. It was fucking insane, making me wish there really was an Exterminator who could wipe out every douchebag on the road. To make matters worse, the parking lot of the mega-popular hamburger joint was totally full so I had to circle around the congested area three times until I finally found a spot a few blocks away. Rattled, I sprinted across the pavement, hoping Dee and Ty were still there. I’d tried to call Dee on my cell several times, but kept getting some stupid message: “We are unable to complete your call at this time. Please try your call later.” This happened a lot in LA. There were just too many people in this goddamn city.
I flew into the In-N-Out, and to my relief, I spotted Dee and Ty seated at a booth. They had eaten, the remains of their orders still on the table. Just seeing them—my two girls—made me feel better, and I could feel the tension oozing out of my system. I darted up to them, taking the empty seat next to Ty who was facing Dee.
“I’m sorry I’m so late. The traffic was horrendous.”