Page 32 of Bourbon Girl, part 1 of 6

"Gotta love a guy who works for the biggest liquor distributor in town."

The man walked over and handed the bartender a credit card. "Thanks, Sam. These are on me. And pour one for yourself."

"Appreciate it, Keith."

While the bartender ran his card, the man looked in my direction and gave me a passing smile. He was handsome, probably mid-fifties. Then his gaze landed on my necklace and he squinted.

My pulse rocketed up. "Do you recognize her?"

He angled his head. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Ginger Waters. She used to work here."

Keith's expression shifted from polite interest to genuine surprise, his eyes widening as he looked at me more carefully. "Ginger Waters? Jesus, I haven't heard that name in... it's got to be thirty years."

"You knew her?" I asked, my pulse hammering so hard I was sure he could hear it.

"Yeah, I knew Ginger." Keith's face broke into a grin that transformed his features completely. "In fact, we might've dated a few times."

The world seemed to tilt around me. My hands gripped the edge of the bar so tightly my knuckles went white, and I felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. This man—this well-dressed handsome stranger who sold liquor and schmoozed with customers—had dated my mother. He could be the mysterious Bourbon Man that Suzy remembered.

This man could be my father.

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