Bernadette Marie has been an avid writer since the early age of 13, when she’d fill notebook after notebook with stories that she’d share with her friends. Her journey into novel writing started the summer before eighth grade when her father gave her an old typewriter. At all times of the day and night you would find her on the back porch penning her first work, which she would continue to write for the next 22 years.
In 2007 – after marriage, filling her chronic entrepreneurial needs, and having five children – Bernadette began to write seriously with the goal of being published. That year she wrote 12 books. In 2009 she was contracted for her first trilogy and the published author was born. In 2011 she (being the entrepreneur that she is) opened her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, and has released contemporary titles and has begun the process of taking on other authors in other genres.
Bernadette spends most of her free time driving her kids to their many events. She is also an accomplished martial artist, working her way to her second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. An avid reader she loves to meet readers who enjoy reading contemporary romances and she always promises Happily Ever After.
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Gia Gallow has traveled the world. Her wanderlust landed her in Georgia where she has created a life for herself away from the petty differences of relatives and domineering ex-lovers. Having settled in America, she has a successful business and dear friends—and the attention of both Dane and Russell Walker. Due to her own family's dramas over dueling hearts, she might have to forget about her feelings for Dane to keep peace within the Walker family, but sometimes even running thousands of miles away can't keep a heart from going after what the heart wants. And Gia's heart wants Dane. 
Gia walked around the counter and stood
next to him. He was much taller, but she liked that feeling of having
a protector, though she certainly didn’t need one. She rested her
hands on his shoulders and lifted up on her toes to press a gentle
kiss to his cheek. “You are more than forgiven.” His eyes were
wide, and she liked that she surprised him. As she lowered, his hands
came to her waist. “That was nice.” “It was nice.” His eyes
were searching hers, and she wondered if she were conveying exactly
what she needed. She liked him. She really liked him. Friends were
fine, but deep in her gut she wondered if there might be something
more. Dane took a breath as though he were going to say something,
but instead he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. At first, she
expected that he was simply taking the peck she’d given him on the
cheek, just a little deeper, but she was wrong. A moment later his
hands moved from her waist, and his arms pulled her in closer as he
wrapped them around her—his lips still pressed firmly to hers. She
inched back up on her toes and draped her arms around his neck,
leaning into him. His kiss softened and soon his mouth opened to her
and he took possession. Her heart began to beat in the same rhythm as
his—she could feel it from his chest to hers. The protective grasp
he had on her loosened as one of his hands moved up her back to the
nape of her neck.
Dear God, he knew how to hold a woman,
she thought as she sank into the kiss that was squeezing her insides
tight. Only the sound of the bell above the door had them pulling
apart and the slight gasp from the man that walked in. Dane winced.
“Are you freaking following me?” he asked as he eased his hands
from her and she stood back trying to ease her head from spinning.
They both looked at Russell standing in the doorway, a bouquet of
flowers in his hand, and a devastated look on his face. “Guess I
should have called,” he said gruffly. “It is nice to see you,
Russell. What can I do for you?” “Nothing. I was just in the area
and saw these,” he said holding out the flowers. “I thought you
might like them. They’d go nice in your store.” Gia moved to him
and took the gift. “Thank you. They are lovely.” “I’ll leave
you two at it then,” his voice shook as he turned to walk out the
door. Gia turned to Dane, who let out a breath. “I’ll get him.”
Dane went after him leaving her alone with a heart that hadn’t
quite stopped racing and a bouquet of beautiful flowers in her hand.
~*~ Dane nearly had to run after his brother he was walking so fast.
“Hey!” he yelled, but Russ kept going. Finally, he caught up to
him and with his hand on his shoulder, turned him around. “What’s
up with you?” Russ shrugged off his hand. “Don’t let me bother
you. You were busy. Go back and finish what you were doing.” “What
the hell are you so mad about?” “Nothing,” he said and hurried
toward his truck. But Dane was right on his heels. “Don’t be an
ass. What’s wrong with you?” “Remember that you don’t live
here, right? So waltzing in and taking the most eligible, most
beautiful woman off the market is a crappy thing to do.” “I beg
your pardon?” “You heard me. I live here. She lives here. We were
getting along just fine before you came along.” “Getting along?
Are you telling me you’re seeing Gia? Is that what you’re
saying?” His brother looked away for a moment then back at him.
“No.” “Oh, so you’re just pissed I got to her first.” Russ
stepped in until they were nearly chest to chest with each other.
Dane didn’t remember the two inches Russ grew more than him, but
now he saw them. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll pick up the pieces
when you break her heart and go back to your little job.” He
couldn’t help it Dane shoved him against the truck. “I don’t
think she’s a piece of property that can be claimed with finder’s
keepers.” Russ shoved back and even raised his fist to him before
they both realized that Gia was standing there watching with a hand
over her mouth and the bag of gifts for their mother. Russ lowered
his hand, opened the door to the truck, and a moment later he sped
away. Dane scrubbed his hand over his face. “Damn it.” “You
forgot these,” she said holding the bag out to him. He took the bag
from her. “I’m sorry about that.”
“You have to go after him. You have
to fix this.” “Fix this? He will be fine. He’s a grown man and
he doesn’t need…” She held up both her hands. “Fix it, Dane.
You cannot let him go on like this. Especially when there is nothing
to be upset about. The kiss…well…the kiss was only…” He
stepped in. “Don’t tell me you’re going to discredit that.”
“I will not come between brothers.” “So you and him…” “No.
We are just friends.” “You said that to me too.” “Do not turn
this on me.” Out of frustration, he pulled his keys from his
pocket. “I’ll go after him and talk to him. Can I see you
tonight.” “Bachelorette party. You worry about Russell.” “This
sucks,” he groaned as he drug his fingers through his hair. “Good
bye, Dane,” she said as she turned around and marched back to her
store. He watched her walk away and that amazing feeling that had
been stirring inside of him when he’d kissed her felt like lead now
in his gut. The Lord giving and his damn brother taketh away. Maybe
it had been a mistake he thought as he walked to his mother’s car
and opened the door. A few more days and he’d leave, returning to
his miserable life, but with out such distractions.
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