Tall, Dark, and Handsome



Selena and Angelina stood in the doorway looking at Rianna get dressed. They watched as she put her earrings in and adjusted her skirt. She saw them behind her in the mirror, so she turned around.

“Were are you going Tia Rianna?” Angelina asked. Selena thinking the same thing.

“I’m going out with a friend.” The two girls looked at each other and giggled.

“Aimee is going to watch you tonight while I’m gone. Don’t give her a hard time either.” Rianna commanded. She picked her purse up and took one last look in the mirror. After giving both the girls goodbye kisses, she left the apartment on her way to the coffee house.

The cab driver pulled over to the curb. Rianna paid him and got out. Martín was waiting outside of the door and walked her in.

“You look great. And hey, it’s great to see you again.” He complimented her, leading her to booth seat.

“Do you like coffee ice cream?” He asked.

“Yeah, I do actually. I ate it almost everyday when I was carrying Selena.” She replied. He looked down a little, Selena reminded him of the marriage she had with Nick.

“I’ll got get us some then.” He got up and went to the counter. Rianna waited patiently, admiring the decor of the place. A man walked in and the moment he saw her sitting in that booth, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He sat down with his friends, making sure he got a good view of her.

“Hey, check her out.” He said to his friends. They looked around and spotted Rianna sitting alone, waiting.

“Nice. You thinking about talking to her?” One of his friends asked. He kind of shrugged, then smiled. Martín returned to the table with the ice cream. However, the man wasn’t phased by Martín’s presence. He didn’t care who she was with, he just wanted to meet her.

Martín, nervous from being with Rianna, dropped a little ice cream on his shirt. She thought he knew, but when he didn’t acknowledge it, she had to point it out to him.

“Uh, Martín, you have a little ice scream on your shirt... yeah, just a little bit, right there.” A look of embarrassment formed on his face as he got up and went to the bathroom. The man knew it was his cue to step in. He hit his friend on the shoulder and got up to approach her.

Rianna felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up and immediately recognized the tall, muscular man behind her.

“Oh my God. You’re Vin Diesel right?” She stood up, not able to believe the popular actor just walked up to her so casually.

“Yes, but you can call me Mark. Mark Vincent.” He took a seat where Martín had been sitting.

“Rianna Carter.” She held out her hand and he shook it gently. “I have all of your movies. Back when Pitch Black came out, I just fell in love with your acting. Then The Fast and The Furious came out and that’s not all I fell in love with, but I won’t get into that.” He knew that she was talking about how his shirt finally came off on film, and he was flattered.

“So, you’re here on a date?” He asked, in his deep, sexy voice.

“Not a date. I’m just here with an old friend.” As if timed, Martín returned to the table, surprised to see the actor sitting there.

“Whoa, Vin Diesel! I just saw you’re new movie a couple of nights ago, man. It was great.” Martín said with a huge smile on his face.

“I’m glad you think so.” Mark replied. He got up, letting Martín sit back down. Then he knelt down in front of Rianna.

“I won’t take up anymore of you’re time. But I’d really appreciate it if I could see you again. Get to know you a little better.” He held her hand. This made her feel a little warm inside, and very nervous.

“Yeah, I’d like that too.” Martín couldn’t believe his ears.

“Give me your number, I’ll call you sometime.” She took a pen out of her bag and wrote it on a napkin. He took the napkin and put it in his pocket. Still kneeling, he kissed her hand. Then he got up and went back to his table with his friends. She could hear them cheer Mark on, and in a way, she was flattered by it.

“Let’s go.” Martín said, agitated that she was more interested in Vin than she was in him. As he led her out, Mark held out his hand and touched hers. He flashed her a smile, and she smiled back.

Martín hailed a taxi but it passed by, rudely. It only added to his anger. Rianna put her hand on his shoulder, but he shied away.

“What’s wrong with you?” He turned and looked at her as if she had to be crazy not to know.

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me? All I wanted to do was take you on a date and show you a good time. But you start flirting with him like I wasn’t even there.” He hailed another taxi, but it just cruised by.

“We’re on a date? Martín, I had no idea. I thought we agreed to remain friends.” She honestly didn’t know he intended for their outing to be a romantic one.

“Great. I’ve been wanting a chance with you since the very first time I met you. When you married Nick, my heart was broken. But when you two separated, I was actually happy. Cause it meant I could try and be with you again. But the second I do that, some other guy steps in the way.” He looked down at the ground. She put her hands on either side of his face.

“Martín. Look at me.” He did. “You are a wonderful man. You’re kind and sweet. You’re handsome too. But Martín, I... I just don’t see us as a couple. We’ve been friends for too long. I hope you can understand that.” She took her hands away slowly and waited for an answer.

“Yeah, I can understand that.” He said sadly. She stepped into the street and waved her hand. A taxi cab pulled over and stopped. Martín held the door open for Rianna. But just as she was going to get in, Mark came out of the coffee house with his friends.

“Hey Rianna...” He called out to her. She looked up and made eye contact with him. “Talk to you later, angel.” He puckered his lips as if blowing a kiss, then winked. She smiled and sat in the car. Martín gave Mark a cold look. Then the cab drove off.

That night, Rianna sat on her bed, letting Selena braid her hair. She braided Angelina’s hair. And Angelina braided Aimee’s hair. Aimee just sat on the floor at the end of the chain, eating Pringles.

“I bet he calls tonight.” Aimee said, looking up at Rianna.

“He probably won’t ever call. I think I read somewhere that he has a girlfriend.” Rianna lied. She read that he was single and had been for a while. Living the wild life of a bachelor with no ties to any one girl. But she did secretly hope he would call.

The phone rang. All four girls screamed in excitement. Rianna held her hand up to shush everyone. She gave the phone to Selena. Selena knew exactly what to do.

“Hello?” Selena said in her sweetest voice.

“Yes, she’s home. May I ask who’s calling?” Selena said, having had it rehearsed.

“Ok, Mark, just a second.” She handed the phone to her mother.

“Hello?” Rianna said.

“Hey, angel. You busy?” He asked. Rianna wanted to faint. His voice sounded even sexier over the phone.

“No, not busy at all.” She replied.

“Good, good. Cause I wanted to talk to you for a while. See, I’m a little lonely tonight and I’m in need of a friend.” He explained.

“You were surrounded by friends in the coffee house.” She said.

“Yeah, but they aren’t the kind of friends I need right now. I need someone to talk to who I can be serious with.” He said.

“Well, I think I can do that. What is it you want to talk about?” She asked.

“I’ve been alone for a long time. A really long time. And I’m having trouble committing to a woman.” Rianna tried to foresee what he was getting at.

“Really? Is there a special woman you want to commit yourself to?” She asked, flirtatiously.

“Yes there is. I just don’t know how to go about this. I only just met her. We haven’t even gone out yet. What do you think I should do?” Mark said, sitting on his bed and waiting for a response.

“Well, you should just say what you feel. Women like honesty. Just tell her that you have interest in her and want to try a serious relationship with her.” She answered.

“Ok. Rianna, I have interest in you and I want to try a serious relationship.” Rianna walked into the hallway and sat on the floor.

“Then there’s something you have to know about me.” She said. Mark got a little worried.

“What is it?” He asked.

“The little girl you spoke to a little while ago... she’s my five-year-old daughter, Selena.” Mark took a deep breath that Rianna could hear over the phone. She knew from previous experience that a lot of men had trouble dating women with children.

“So, you’re a mother.” He confirmed.

“Yes, and I’m in the middle of a divorce. All of this is something you ought to know before you try starting a serious relationship with someone.” She said, hoping he wouldn’t back out of his offer.

“It’s ok. I’m still interested in you.” She heard pecking in the background through he phone.

“What’s that noise?” She asked.

“Oh, I’m typing. Writing a screenplay.”

“You can do that and talk at the same time?”

“You inspired something in me just now. I just came up with the female lead in my next movie. She’s tall, well built, nice curves. She has long, brown, wavy hair. Big pretty eyes. Luscious lips. Sound familiar?” Rianna was all smiles as he described her.

“You are so sweet.” Mark took his hands away from the keyboard.

“I want to take you out tomorrow night. Somewhere where we can be alone. And we can talk, get to know each other.” Rianna thought about it. She looked over at her daughter and her niece standing in the doorway. Aimee behind them. She mouthed that he wanted to go out the next night, and all three girls nodded.

“I’d be glad to go out with you.”

“Alright, good. I’ll pick you up at your place. Where do you live?” He picked up a pen and some paper. She told him her address and he jotted it down quickly.

“Ok, I’ll see you tomorrow around nine?” He said.

“Sounds good to me.” She clicked the phone off and went back into her bedroom.


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