The Stranger - Unexpected Love: Keri's Story #1 (Short Story) by Maci Grant, Jade Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

of singles that wanted the security that Marilyn worked so hard to offer.
    As grateful as Keri was to have the opportunity to work in the bar, she was not terribly thrilled about it. She had hoped that by this time her life would be in a different place. Keri was going to finally finish her business degree after working in retail for several years and taking the occasional class at the local community college. Then she met Daryl.
    Daryl with his deep brown bedroom eyes, and his full sweet lips that knew exactly what to say. He had charmed her into believing that he would marry her, that he would take care of her for the rest of her life. So when she became overwhelmed with working a full time job, as well as going to school, Daryl had insisted she move in with him to save on rent. So she did. But she did not save a dime.
    Daryl conveniently lost his job as soon as she moved in. So Keri continued to work full time and go to school full time. Then Daryl complained about never getting to spend any time with her, pointing out how tired she always was. He talked her into believing that the business he was starting was going to skyrocket, and money would never be a concern, if only she would help him out with it. So Keri decided to give up on school, which she could no longer afford the tuition for, and did her best to help him with his business.
    Keri was the type of girl that could accomplish anything that she put her mind to. She put her mind to Daryl being successful, she put every dime into his business, and the business took off! Soon money was not an issue- but it was all flowing into Daryl's bank account. He was spending it as fast as he made it, and Keri couldn't cover her car payment.
    One day Keri showed up when she was supposed to be working, and found Daryl curled around another woman in their bed. Keri's hazel eyes had jeweled with tears at the sight, but she had not let a single tear fall- not in front of them.
    She walked away, only to find herself with nothing. She had given up everything, believing that Daryl was the love of her life, that they would be married and spend the rest of their lives together, that one day she would be able to go back to school. She had broken every rule Marilyn had ever taught her, and it had left her in a sobbing mess on her cousin's couch.
    “Just say it,” she mumbled through the tears that were streaming down her cheeks. “You told me so.”
    Marilyn gathered Keri's wavy red hair back away from her cheeks and her shoulders, she waited until her tear-filled eyes were turned in her direction, and shook her head slowly.
    “Love is not about smarts Keri, love takes you over, and makes the silliest ideas seem brilliant. You've learned your lesson now, and it's time to move on.”
    Keri drew her knees up to her chest, pushing the soles of her feet against the plush cushion of the couch. “Never,” she muttered as she rested her chin against the tops of her knees. “I will never put myself through this again.”
    “Never say never,” Marilyn warned as she tucked her pin-straight blonde hair back behind her ears. At thirty-seven she had been through a dozen serious relationships, and each one had its own set of thorns. “You know what they always say, love has a way of finding you when you least expect it.”
     

 

    Chapter 2
     
    "Keri, you awake?" Leo barked from in front of the bar. He narrowed his eyes when Keri still did not answer him. She had been staring off into the distance for a few minutes while there were three women waiting at the bar for their drinks.
    "Keri!" Leo said more sharply, in a tone that Keri was all too familiar with. Being the kid in their strange friendship meant she was the one that was always getting bossed around.
    "Oh, sorry," she mumbled and turned toward the three women that were leaning against the bar. As she took their order she tried not to scowl at the hopeful gleam in their eyes, or the annoying giggling over what their potential dates