Page 44 of The Impact (Parachutes #3)

“I know.” Bianca smiled softy, gazing down the busy New York street. Early March was tricky—bright but chilly. Like Bianca’s attire, a sweater but coatless. Still, the sun hit her peanut butter skin just right.

“How’s Tahli?”

“She’s good. She’s still in the hospital, but she’s probably coming home sometime this week.”

“That’s good.”

Bianca cleared her throat, eyes on her shoes.

“I should head inside–”

“I want to make it up to you. Maybe take you to lunch one day this week.”

Her head lifted in a delayed, uncomfortable laugh. “I don’t know,” Bianca smoothed her ponytail. “The last time I saw you, Dalvin, I put myself all the way on the line. What are your expectations here?”

“For us to go sit down somewhere. For you to order food. For me to pay for it.”

She smirked. “You sure I won’t end up stranded in a restaurant again?”

Vin smiled, turning up the eye contact she batted lashes away from.

“Shit. You are trouble.”

“Why you say that?” He played coy.

“You know why.” She chewed her lip. “Yeah, sure. I’m sure I’ll be hungry one day this week. When I get hungry, I’ll let you know. Deal?”

Vin’s head jerked to the wit, impressed.

“Deal.”

Women were incredible in their individuality.

Vin wished some knew how appealing that individuality was to real men, ditching the attempts to assembly line their looks.

The women who rebelled against that, who stood in their confidence.

Women like Tahli who’d declare in a second, I dress for myself, not a man or other woman.

Women like Bianca, who Vin could tell didn’t chase trends but instead wore what accentuated what she chose to draw attention to–and it worked for her.

Her purse and shoes, both understated. But her dress fit superbly.

Hemmed above her knee and when she walked, those small curves swished in the material, offering anyone looking a beautiful sight.

“What?” Bianca turned around blushing, fully aware.

“Nothing. Just…appreciation,” he gave warm eyes, holding out her chair.

“You are too good.”

“That’s me. Fucking poster boy for good.”

“If I look up ‘good’ in the dictionary it’ll have your face?” She giggled.

He chuckled, taking his seat.

“How’d you know?” After they were greeted with water and menus, Bianca opened hers, leaning in. She was comfortable with him. He made her comfortable. That was a plus. At least he could still do that for someone.

“Okay. So, humor me. I said it before…you were a bad boy, I know it. I see the tattoos. The whole…I don’t know,” she laughed. Vin scrunched his face as if he didn’t comprehend.

“The whole what? I’m lost, darling.”

“You’re not lost. You got on the slacks and the nice shoes, but you walk and move like you own this place and the air outside of it.”

That made him snort.

“People…notice you. Men move out of your way. Women smile at you. I don’t know. You just have this like…don’t mess with me energy, you know? It only comes from experience.”

Vin chewed his lip, cracking his knuckles.

Wondered if that was it. No matter how straight he tried to live–wife, kids, dog–darkness still found him and swallowed his ass.

Still spilled blood and escaped prison by the skin of his teeth at forty.

Still couldn’t shake his past no matter how much he tried to bury it.

“What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done? Anything illegal?”

Vin sipped his water before shrugging a broad shoulder.

“I’m sure everyone has, right?”

If she knew how to spot it, she’d see the imprint of the 9-millimeter on his hip. But she didn’t know how to spot it. Tahli knew how to spot it. Suburban girl and all. After fifteen years with him, Tahli could tell him when they left the house,

“Leave the gun in the car, Dalvin. I don’t want no shit at security messing up my Jhene Aiko experience. Babe, you know she don’t like coming to the East Coast like that.”

“Well, what’s the worst?” she pushed, folding her hands under her chin–a little annoying but fine enough to avoid it. Vin had patience.

He could see how over time a weaker man could become irritated with Bianca’s persistence. Like a puppy. Wagging its tail, waiting to be taught its next trick.

Once, Vin had cut a boy’s fingers off and made him swallow them for stealing from him. The index and the middle. He could tell that story and send her running.

“I can’t think of anything specific.”

She smirked like she didn’t believe him.

“Well. Yesterday…I stole a case of water from ShopRite.”

Vin’ brows boosted.

“Aw, shit. I ain’t know I was wit’ a gangsta.”

Bianca was all giggles. “I didn’t know it was there.”

“You knew,” Vin snickered. “Knock it off.”

She laughed some more.

“Nah, that’s outrageous. I gotta watch my wallet around you, huh?”

She covered her mouth, skin reddening as she hooted. Vin could fuck her on this table if he wanted to. He cursed his perception. Didn’t want to. But knew he could.

Just like he could make Drew disappear if he truly wanted. No game playing. No competing. Just stop his heart and take the breath from his body. Vin could do it in a finger snap.

Sometimes, there was a power in just knowing–even if you didn’t follow through.

Vin ordered two glasses of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon for her to try, since she opted for filet mignon-topped salad.

He insisted she try the short rib truffle bucatini from his plate, which she dramatically swooned over, so Vin let her have the rest, along with an effortless wink.

She bit her lip to it. If he wanted to bag that pussy up for dessert, he could.

“Listen.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin before they ventured back to the territory they were heading toward that night. Before Tahli’s accident.

“I want to be transparent with you,” Vin leaned in.

“Mainly because I’ve gotten myself into trouble not being transparent with the people that deserved it.” He watched her visibly brace.

“I like you.”

She blushed against his intention.

“I do. I think you’re beautiful, intelligent, sexy. You’ve got a sense of humor. You’re cute…”

“You called me beautiful, then sexy, and then you called me cute. Why do I feel like it’s a demotion twice over?”

“They’re not the same thing,” Vin smiled with his eyes. “Most people are only one. You manage them all.”

Her teeth grazed her berry-stained lip.

“I say that. Because while all of that could be true…I’m very much still in love with my wife.”

“Ex-wife,” Bianca smirked, and Vin shut his eyes to the slip…and the sting.

“Yeah,” he rubbed his brow. “Point is. If Tahli would have me back, I’d be there in a heartbeat. I’d fucking…” He swiped his palms, signaling a takeoff, making Bianca snicker.

“For real. Hightail right to her ass, no questions. But…the likelihood of that is damn near nonexistent. Nothing’s impossible but…I don’t know.” Vin shrugged, not wanting to overshare. He knew odds as a gambling man. His weren’t good.

“Anyway. I don’t know how long that’s going to linger.

My therapist says, eventually, it’ll sink in.

I’m still waiting for that shit. I’m sick of biting my nails, obsessing over her life with this nigga.

But…if you can accept that–me being a serious-ass work in progress–I would like to get to know you.

As a friend. But if that’s too sticky, I can understand that as well. I’m not sure what you’re looking for.”

Bianca let out an audible sigh.

“That’s an earful. But I get it. If Rick was here, I’d be with him still. I know that much. He was an asshole, but he was my asshole.”

Vin didn’t reply because he didn’t comprehend that level of commitment.

If Bianca’s husband had hurt her to the degree that Vin imagined, he couldn’t understand that loyalty.

He’d hurt Tahli, but in his mind, not to that extent.

He’d cut his fucking hands off before he laid one on her.

And Tahli could make someone want to wring her fucking neck.

But maybe hurt was personal. Only measured by the receiver, not the disperser.

Vin had been raised to never hit a woman.

His father would’ve cracked his jaw if he found out Vin was weak enough to beat on someone weaker than him.

But he’d watched Milo cheat on his mother his whole childhood.

So maybe Bianca saw her mother get slapped around too, and it fucked up her love map.

Love maps. Larry spoke on those last session.

“You spent a long time married to Tahli, and you guys built a family together. I think I would wonder about you if you didn’t want to make that work if possible.

So, if you want to get to know me…and keep making me laugh and smile and feel sexy the way you do…

and if you want to take me to more fancy restaurants that you pay for…

you’re paying, right?” She added. Vin snorted.

“Of course.”

“Good.” She chuckled, eyes dipping fleetingly. “I’d like to get to know you, too. I’ve been alone a while. I only meet men interested in one thing and they don’t want to put in any effort for it. Why would they? It’s practically given away nowadays.”

Sex, Vin assumed. He’d been disconnected. It’d been Tahli at the center of his world.

“Anyway. I like being around you. You’re charming and laidback. I feel secure with you, Dalvin. I look in your eyes, and I recognize something. Past the mysterious darkness and flirtation and all of that, I see sadness. I can tell you’re lonely too.”

Vin rolled his tongue along his jaw.

“Now I don’t know the details of what happened with you and Tahli.

I know you’ve alluded to messing up. And that was your consequence.

You lost your wife…your family was broken.

But it doesn’t mean you have to be broken too.

I think if you’re lonely…and I’m lonely… maybe we help each other with that.”

Vin toiled it over. Bianca. Smarter than she looked. She spoke really soothing, too, like she was reading a book to children.