Author's Note: I own nothing, I make nothing from this. I just like to play. Let me know what you think!
XXX
Danny sat in the café waiting for Jordan to arrive. She had a brunch meeting that had been running long and he'd gone ahead and ordered her a tea but asked the waitress to not bring it until she arrived. He liked this café. It was close to his house, within walking distance, and just grubby enough that no studio people came here. There was, sometimes, the odd, out of work actor that would introduce him or herself, but he usually gave them his card and ended the conversation pretty quickly.
He sat back in his chair and looked out the window onto the street. It was busy with the normal crowd of people walking kids or dogs or on their way somewhere. It seemed that very rarely in LA was anyone out just walking for the hell of it. The bell rang and he looked toward the door to see Halley, Jordan's scary shadow, walk in and toward the counter to order. Danny shifted in his seat and looked out the window, turning his back toward her a little more. The last thing he needed was for Jordan to arrive now. She was already paranoid about Halley, now she was haunting their café.
"Danny?" He heard from behind.
He briefly closed his eyes to curse god, then turned to greet her.
"Halley," Danny said with a nod. "What are you doing here?"
"My Pilates studio is next door," Halley said, surprised to see him as well, it seemed.
"I've never seen you here before," Danny admitted.
"I've only been a member for 3 weeks," Halley explained. "My old one is…well, it wasn't suitable anymore."
Danny nodded; he really wanted her to leave before Jordan came and shouldn't be prolonging this conversation. They now needed to find a new grubby café.
"Why are you here?" Halley asked.
"I live in the neighborhood," Danny said as he reached for his tea.
"This café is so out of place for Los Feliz," Halley noted.
"It's been here forever," Danny said. "Jerry is the third generation in his family to run it."
"Nice neighborhood to live in though," Halley commented. "You'll have to show me your place sometime."
"It's nothing special," Danny said, taking a deep breath.
"I'd still like to see it," Halley flirted.
Danny cleared his throat and reached for his tea again.
"What do you think about reality programming?" Halley asked as she sat down with him. Danny was annoyed that she hadn't asked.
"I don't watch much TV," Danny said, diplomatically as he looked out the window for Jordan.
"I could send you some tapes," Halley offered.
"I, uh, probably wouldn't have time…" Danny hedged.
"No time for me, Danny?" Halley pouted.
Danny knew he wasn't ugly, but he also knew that in LA there was a sea of muscular and attractive men that made him look like a wallflower. He also learned, early in college, that brains, humor and confidence were what would work for him. Women liked those qualities, so he developed them in spades. And, despite his less than model physique, he almost always managed to get the girl.
He considered himself one lucky SOB to have Jordan McDeere in his life. Now, this Halley woman was practically throwing herself at him…it was ridiculous.
"I could come over with them, see your place, and you could give me your honest opinion of some of the shows," Halley said with a smile.
"We're still decorating," Jordan said as she placed her hand on the back of Halley's chair.
Halley practically jumped out of her seat when she heard Jordan's voice and Danny jumped too. He was guilty of nothing, but he also hadn't noticed her walk in.
"Jordan, funny meeting you here," Halley said with a smile. "I was just having coffee with Danny."
"Were you?" Jordan asked with a smile.
Danny could tell from the glint in her eyes that she was up to no good.
"Sorry, I'm late," Jordan apologized to Danny.
"Don't worry about it," Danny smiled at her as he got up to offer her his chair.
Jordan walked toward him instead and kissed him on the cheek before she sat down opposite Halley.
"You were looking for Danny's opinion?" Jordan asked.
Halley sat up a little straighter in her seat and Danny pulled over a third chair so he could sit back down.
"You don't own all of his time," Halley said annoyed. "Outside of work hours, if he wants to have me over to watch some tapes and give me his honest…."
"Good point," Jordan said as she clasped her hands together.
Just then Vanessa showed up with her tea.
"Thank you, Vanessa," Jordan nodded.
"Just got it for you, so it's hot," Vanessa smiled down at Jordan before she left.
Jordan smiled up at her and nodded.
"So, Danny," Jordan said turning to look at him. "I'll get Kenny to co-ordinate with Lily and…"
"You want to come too?" Halley laughed.
"Come too?" Jordan asked her perplexed.
Danny had clued into her game a few lines ago, but didn't think she'd seriously go through with it because that would mean they were 100% exposed. Now he knew she was going all the way.
"Danny can look at the tapes without your negative opinion horning in on…"
"But you wanted to watch the tapes at our home?" Jordan clarified. "That's what you were saying earlier, wasn't it?"
"Our?" Halley asked, confused.
"Yes, the one we're still decorating," Jordan said as she reached for her tea. "Or would you rather I hung out in the bedroom or kitchen while you and Danny…"
"I'm sorry, you two are…?"
"Together?" Jordan asked with a smirk. "You didn't know?"
"Uh, no, I…"
It was painful to watch Halley stammer so much.
"We're going to have a BBQ, if you wanted to…" Danny started and then stopped when Jordan glared at him.
"Does Jack know?" Halley asked, thinking of a way she could maximize Jordan's involvement with the 'talent'.
"Yes, they all do," Jordan said. "But I guess they felt you didn't need to know."
And there was Jordan's nail in Halley's coffin; she wasn't part of the group.
"I haven't seen anything in the press," Halley said annoyed.
"We haven't made it public," Danny interrupted.
"And the baby?" Halley asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Mine," Danny supplied.
Jordan looked at him and tried to mask her surprise. Halley also looked at him with her mouth open.
"So, you two…?"
"She couldn't keep her hands off me," Danny smirked.
Jordan smacked his leg.
"Sorry, Halley, Jordan and I do have some business to conduct if you wouldn't…"
"Uh, yeah, sure," Halley said as she stood. She wasn't sure if he was being serious or even if Jordan was in that moment. Was there something going on between them? Was Jordan carrying Danny's baby?
Halley got up from the table and, in a fog, walked out of the café.
"Remind me to never get on your bad side," Danny said as he shifted his chair a little closer to hers and placed an arm around the back of hers.
"You? Never," Jordan chuckled.
"You know, she's probably on the phone to a friend who knows a reporter right now," Danny said as he rubbed at his chin.
"Probably," Jordan nodded.
"What happened to sightlines and keeping things under wraps mugsy?" Danny joked.
"I think it'll be fine," Jordan sighed, reaching for her tea.
"You weren't ready to have everyone make jokes about me sleeping my way to the top, were you?" Danny chuckled.
"And what was that about the baby being yours?" Jordan asked. "They're going to print that too."
"I know," Danny said nonchalantly.
"And you're okay with that?" Jordan asked.
"She is mine," Danny sighed. "Biology is just…biology."
"God, I love you," Jordan said as she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.
"Jordan," Danny said as he pulled back a little.
Her eyes followed his and they both saw Halley watching them from outside the window. She was talking to a women also dressed in Pilates gear.
Danny waved and smiled at her and Jordan smiled.
"Well, expect to be something enquiring minds want to know next edition," Danny said as he looked at Jordan.
"My bosses already know and…you really want her to be yours, yours in the media as well?" Jordan asked.
"I would rather they all thought I was in your panties before I actually was than…"
"How romantic," Jordan smiled at him.
"You ready for the media on this?" Danny asked her as he rubbed her arm.
"I am, are you?" Jordan asked.
"Anything with you honey," Danny smiled at her.
XXX