Page 34 of Third Strike Smitten

A groan comes from somewhere behind me, but from the front of the plane, Coach Daniels, my pitching coach, turns around. “Haynes. What do you need?”

I hitch my thumb behind me. “Oh, sorry. I was talking to Miss Fallon back here. I call her Coach since she so shamelessly razzes me when I’m on the mound.”

Coach Daniels laughs and calls back, “Good. Someone needs to put you in your place from time to time.” He turns back around in his seat and I look back toward the galley where Isla is staring at me.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Haynes?" she calls.

"What's your favorite candy?"

There's a pause as some of the guys lift their heads, wondering why I would ask her that. Even she scowls before answering, "Why?"

"Research."

"Research for what?"

"I don't know yet."

Brock leans over the seat in front of him. "That's actually kind of smooth."

I wink at him. "Thank you."

"It really wasn't," Isla says, only an aisle behind me now. She licks her lips and looks me over before she answers, “And M&Ms are my favorite candy.”

“Good to know. Thank you.”

Once we're at cruising altitude, she and Padrick work their way down the aisle with the drink cart. I watch her from my row, the way she moves through the cabin like she owns it, unhurried, a little untouchable. When she finally reaches me, I give her my best smile.

"I'll take a Coke, please."

"One Coke coming up." She doesn't look at me when she says it.

"And your favorite movie."

She stops and blinks at me slowly, like a cat deciding whether something is worth its time. "Nope. Coke or movie. Pick one."

"What? Why not both?"

"Because I'm offering you one or the other."

I sigh. "Alright. Coke, please."

"Excellent choice." She hands me the drink and her fingertips graze mine as the can changes hands, brief and probably accidental, but I notice it.

"Now, what's your favorite movie?"

She laughs, low and a little exasperated, shaking her head. "Why are you like this?"

"Call it natural talent."

"That's your natural talent?" She tsks, clicking her tongue once. "That is most unfortunate."

Bishop starts laughing behind me. Across the aisle, Layton lowers his phone an inch.

"Come on, everyone has a favorite movie."

She shifts her weight to one hip and tilts her head, studying me. "Then what's yours?"

I scoff. “Field of Dreams, duh.”