Featured Author: Becca Kinzer
Staring. Gawking. Ogling. Lina was guilty on all three accounts. But who could blame her? Noah Parker was here. At a small-town Illinois restaurant. Eating nachos next to the bathroom.
She frowned. Surely a famous baseball pitcher warranted a better seat than that.
Latin pop music played overhead as Lina let her gaze travel from Noah Parker’s face long enough to scan the hole-in-the-wall dive known for its nachos, not necessarily its cafeteria-style ambiance.
So maybe he did have the best seat.
And maybe she needed to get back to her seat before Noah Parker asked management to kick her out for staring, gawking, and ogling. Not exactly the impression a girl wants to make on a first date. Especially with a guy like Ryan. Lina didn’t know him well, but something already told her he was a keeper.
Lina spun, first dodging a server with steaming plates, then helping another server steady a tray full of drinks before she slid into the chair next to Ryan. “You’re never going to believe this.”
“You stole somebody’s drink.”
“No.” She looked at her left hand now bearing a frozen margarita. “Possibly.”
“I thought you were going to the bathroom.”
“I saw Noah Parker.” She handed off the drink to the server who must’ve realized he was one margarita short.
“In the bathroom?”
“Practically. Don’t look, but he’s seated at twelve o’clock.”
“I see a bald man in a sweater vest at twelve o’clock.”
“The other twelve o’clock.”
“You do know how a clock works, right?”
Lina giggled. A common occurrence since meeting Ryan at the animal shelter a couple months ago before Thanksgiving. Didn’t take long before Lina enjoyed Ryan’s handsome face, calm demeanor, and lopsided smiles as much as she enjoyed volunteering with the animals whenever she needed a break from writing.
“Did you even go to the bathroom? Thank you,” Ryan added when a young woman delivered a basket full of nachos. He motioned for Lina to dig in.
“Are you kidding?” Lina took a small bite so she could continue talking as soon as she swallowed. “With Noah Parker right outside the door? What if he’d heard me tinkling? My bashful bladder can’t perform under that sort of pressure.”
The dimple in Ryan’s left cheek deepened as he appeared to chew on her answer as much as the nachos covered in pico de gallo. “So is it baseball players in general that give your bladder stage fright or pitchers specifically?”
“Neither. I don’t follow baseball. But years ago when I was in high school, I got to visit my uncle in Seattle. He took me to a Mariners game and offered to buy me a souvenir. So when we walked by this kiosk that was selling baseball cards, I picked Noah’s.”
“Because he was pitching?”
“Because he was the cutest.”
Ryan’s lips quirked with amusement. “Do you still have the card?”
“I do. My uncle passed away unexpectedly not long after that trip, so the card has always been extra special to me. Probably why Noah Parker is too. Anyway. Enough about me. I want to hear about you.” And get that adorable smile back on his lips. “You mentioned that you do seasonal work?”
Ryan set his napkin down and slid his hand into hers. “Come on. Let’s go say hi.”
“Are you crazy?” He was crazy. He was trying to tug her up. She pulled him back down. “We can’t bother Noah Parker.”
“He won’t be bothered. He’s a super nice guy.”
“But . . .” Actually, Lina had always heard that about Noah. So maybe he wouldn’t mind. And how cool would it be to say that she’d met Noah Parker? Her uncle would’ve loved that. “Okay, but just a quick hello. Do I have anything on my face?”
Ryan’s thumb grazed her chin. “Not now.”
“What about my teeth?” She smiled.
“Just the green chunk that’s been there all evening.”
After a short laugh, Lina leaned over and kissed Ryan’s cheek. “Thanks for asking me out.”
“Because you’re getting to meet Noah Parker?”
“Because I like getting to meet you outside of the animal shelter.”
Ryan’s smile turned tender. He draped his arm around the back of her chair and hit her with the sort of gaze that suggested he’d like to return her cheek kiss with a dead-center one of his own.
“Sorry to interrupt. I was on my way out and just wanted to say hi.”
Someone was talking. Who was talking? Lina twisted to look up. Noah Parker was talking.
Lina stared, possibly gawked and ogled, as Ryan reached around her to shake Noah’s hand. “Hey, Noah. Good seeing you again. This is Lina DuPont. She happens to be a big fan of yours.”
Noah shook her hand. “The same Lina DuPont who writes mystery novels?”
Lina nodded, ignoring Ryan’s “What?”
“Well, then,” said Noah. “I’m a big fan of yours. Heard they’re making your latest book into a movie. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
Ryan poked her ribs. “Hey, Miss I-Work-From-Home-Doing-Computer-Stuff-Mostly, why didn’t you tell me you were a hotshot writer?”
She elbowed him back. “Really, Mr. I-Do-Seasonal-Work?”
Noah snorted. “I’d say being the catcher for the American League’s All-Star Team was some pretty great seasonal work, Ryan.” Noah shook his head. “I’ll let you two get back to your date. Nice meeting you, Lina.”
As soon as Noah left, Ryan gave her hair a playful tug. “Is that grin about Noah?”
“More like about the next baseball card I’ll be adding to my collection. Don’t tell Noah, but this player’s even cuter.”
“Oh, you better believe I’m telling him,” Ryan murmured before dropping a kiss on her lips. “And you better believe I’m hoping to do a lot more of that while I learn what other secrets you’ve been keeping.”
Smiling. Sighing. Glowing. Lina was guilty on all three accounts. But who could blame her? Ryan was here. At a small-town Illinois restaurant. Eating nachos. With her.
She is the author of multiple titles including Dear Henry, Love Edith, which won the 2024 Carol Award for debut novel, and Love in Tandem. Her latest novel, First Love, Second Draft, will release in April 2025.
Enjoy two free novellas when you connect with her at beccakinzer.com.
Spark Flash Fiction 