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

might look or act like. It was really hard to swallow the romantic aspect of her job each day while she was still smarting from such a devastating break up. Once she had delivered their drinks she returned to her thoughts while wiping down the bar.
    "Leo, what's this about?" Marilyn asked as she walked out from the small office behind the bar. She had a piece of paper in her hand that she was studying very closely. Leo left his post at the door to look over the paper she held.
    "We needed some extra cases of wine," he shrugged and glanced away.
    "So you forged my signature?" Marilyn asked crossly as she tried to meet his eyes.
    "And?" he asked with a mild shrug. "You don't trust me?"
    Marilyn sighed as she rolled her eyes. "It isn't about trust Leo, this is a business, and I expect you to respect the fact that I am the owner-"
    "Oh, I have all kind of respect for you," he purred, his light brown eyes flashing with mischief. "But you don't own me," he reminded her as his lips curled into a slow smirk.
    While Leo was occupied with his increasingly flirtatious conversation with Marilyn, the door to the bar swung open. Normally no one was let in without being evaluated by Leo, and their membership confirmed, but Leo was caught up in the sharp response that Marilyn was delivering.
    "I am not joking around," she insisted as she poked a fingertip against the solid surface of his chest which his black t-shirt struggled to stretch across. "If you can't be professional about things then-"
    "Oh right," Leo nodded dismissively as he turned away from her. "We must keep everything professional."
    Keri glanced over at Marilyn and Leo as she caught a wisp of their conversation. She had noticed that they were not on the best of terms lately, which wasn't unusual for them. Even though Marilyn and Leo were so close, they were always at each others throats because they shared such similar personalities. Where Leo was always a little brash, Marilyn was more subtle about her attitude, but they were both into being in control, and their fiery tempers had clashed more than once.
    "Mom, Dad, stop fighting," Keri chided as she shook her head and glanced up at the man who was walking up to the bar. She had never seen him before, and she was certain that if she had, she would remember. He was dressed more casually than most of the people that came into the bar, with loose blue jeans and a baggy t-shirt. His jet black hair was tousled and tumbled around his forehead, drawing her attention to the brilliant green eyes that his long dark lashes struggled to hide.
    "Can I get a beer?" he asked as he sat down on one of the bar stools. Keri could only stare for a moment. The men that usually came into the bar were older, maybe in their forties, and though plenty were attractive enough, few were as gorgeous as this mysterious fellow.
    "A beer?" he asked again, arching an eyebrow at Keri's awkward stare.
    "Uh sure," Keri said and grabbed a bottle from the cooler. She handed it over to him and watched as he took a long swallow. It looked like he had not had the most pleasant day.
    Just as Leo was muttering an apology under his breath to Marilyn he realized that the man had walked into the bar, while he was not paying attention.
    "Excuse me sir," he said as he walked up to the man. "Are you a member?"
    The man sat back slightly and took in the sight of Leo's large size.
    "A member of what?" he asked with a touch of annoyance.
    "This is a closed bar," Leo said sternly, already aggravated by the argument he had with Marilyn.
    "Look buddy, I just want to have a drink, alright? One beer, and I'm out of here," he insisted and started to turn back toward the bar.
    Keri watched Leo closely, she could tell from the heat in the curve of his cheeks that his temper was already short.
    "You should go," she said quickly to the man and reached for his bottle of beer. "Don't worry, no charge," she said when she closed her hand around the neck of the bottle.
    The man looked up at