Wanderlust
by Bernadette Marie
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB:
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.
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EXCERPT FOUR:
Dane wasn't sure why his coffee suddenly tasted so bitter. It
might have been the way his brother was looking at Gia when they walked through
the door, and she was laughing at what he'd said.
Perhaps it was because his attitude had been affected by it
and there had been no reason for it.
The way Russ had referred to her as a goddess still burned
his ears.
Dane's mother orchestrated everyone through the kitchen, and
they all managed to have full plates of food when they were done. She'd managed
to set enough chairs and tables, strung together, to house all the guests. He'd
seen her do that at Thanksgiving too. He could hardly find enough room on his
little table in his apartment to eat his microwave dinner.
"Eric and Susan, you sit there," his mother
pointed to chairs.
"Russ, you
there. Gia you there. Dane you there," she said pointing to three chairs
near the end of the table which flowed into the living room.
"Let me take that for you," Russell smiled at Gia
and took her plate.
"Oh, thank you. You seem to come to my rescue for
everything."
"What can I say? I'm raised right."
Dane let out a grunt, which had both of them turning to look
at him. He simply forced a smile
and took his seat—after Russ pulled Gia's seat out for her.
At least the food was excellent. Dane t listened to Pearl
and Tyson tell stories about their wedding on the beach at sunset and their
honeymoon filled with snorkeling and hiking near the waterfalls.
It wasn't that he didn't like hearing the stories or the
awws that came from every female in the room, but watching his brother lean
into Gia, and her laughing at everything he said, seemed to be raking on his
last nerve.
He took his plate into the kitchen for another helping of
ham. He was a sucker for ham and tiny bagels. It was something he couldn't
explain.
"Does your family do this often?" Gia slid up next
to him as he tried to delicately pull two pieces of ham apart.
Dane looked at her then at the table of family members who
laughed and talked over one another. He shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Mom's
always putting together a brunch or a dinner." Gia eased her hip against the counter.
"You seem uncomfortable around them all."
"Nah, just all the gushy wedding stuff I guess."
She pursed her lips. "You are not a romantic?" Was that a loaded
question? "Sure. I mean I can be romantic. I just…"
She laughed and rested her hand on his arm. "I am sure
you are the kind of man who could sweep any woman off her feet."
Dane cleared his throat, only because he'd choked on the air
he sucked in when she'd said that. "I'm not too sure I'm very smooth with
the ladies. My mind has been elsewhere for the past few months."
She nodded and picked up the serving spoon to ladle more
fruit on to her plate. "I
understand. I still have some friends back home who will not speak to me
because I moved away. I will admit before I left, I might have pushed them
away."
"Why?"
She shrugged. "So I would not be hurt by leaving."
Maybe she did understand. "I get that. I think…"
"Did Susan make those little bacon wraps with
dates?" Russ pushed in between them. "I didn't see them, but dad has
one on his plate."
"Steal his then," Dane said through gritted teeth.
"Lighten up." Russ gave him a jab as he reached in
front of Gia and grabbed the bacon on a toothpick. "Looks like I just
missed them the first time." Russ ate the first one and then reached for
another.
"Did you try these?" he asked Gia, holding it up
to her mouth.
"Not yet," she said as he clamped the bacon
wrapped date in her teeth and pulled it from the toothpick.
Dane was sure he heard both himself and his brother sigh.
She gave them a collective wink and carried her plate to the
table, now occupying a seat left vacant by Pearl's father who seemed to have
disappeared.
"Could you be any more of a pig?" Dane finally
took both pieces of ham and dropped them on his plate.
"Are you talking to me or the meat?"
"You," he whispered gruffly. "You're throwing
yourself at her. It's annoying." "And
you're not, so I don't see the problem," Russ argued as he returned to the
table.
Dane stood there a moment trying to collect his thoughts.
How had it happened that he'd moved away, and the world went on without him? He
was finding out, very quickly, he didn't like it.
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AUTHOR BIO & LINK:
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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CONNECT WITH BERNADETTE MARIE:
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GIVEAWAY INFO:
Bernadette will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a
randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
ENTER BELOW & GOOD LUCK!!!
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