If Christian was the man he used to be, he’d be up from that table and have pulled his brother out of that side of the booth by his shirt collar. But as if to remind him that he wasn’t an athlete any more, his knee throbbed and the pain shot up through his body.
“She didn’t need me around when she was trying to get things taken care of.”
“You’re right. Six surgeries on your leg and two toddlers at home is a piece of cake. Why have the man you love getting in the way?”
Christian swallowed hard. He didn’t need his brother poking at him. It had been a year and he felt bad enough.
Luckily the food arrived just in time for his brother to shove some in his mouth and shut up. Christian, on the other hand had lost his appetite.
He had become a pathetic loser and he’d lost the only thing that he’d ever cared about—Victoria.
He took another long, scalding sip of his tea. Maybe Ed’s wedding would be the perfect place to apologize for being an ass.
It wasn’t in him to be a father right now, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t be a friend. She looked as though she certainly could use one. And they’d been friends too—hadn’t they?
Christian tore open his chop sticks and broke them apart. As he picked up a pot sticker he thought about his parents.
They’d been divorced when his mother was diagnosed with cancer and her husband had walked out on her to marry another woman and have a baby. She was alone with three kids.
He tugged at his collar because it was getting hot.
His own father, who was at the time engaged to Kathy, still stepped up and took care of his mother. Damn, he’d even shaved his head for her.
That was love. That was commitment.
It was right too. His father’s marriage to Kathy lasted less than a day and he was back with Christian’s mom and had been married, again, ever since.
What had Christian done when the woman he loved needed him? He backed away.
He put down the pot sticker. Again, he wasn’t hungry.
They’d both lost a lot that night when that drunk driver hit that car. Lives changed in a flash—a bright white flash.
Ed was right. He was pathetic.
But he was done being pathetic. It was time Christian Keller took his life back—and the woman.
Meet the Author
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 her own contemporary titles. She also quickly began the process of taking on other authors in other genres.
In 2012 Bernadette Marie began to find herself on the bestsellers lists of iTunes, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble to name a few. Her office wall is lined with colorful PostIt notes with the titles of books she will be releasing in the very near future, with hope that they too will grace the bestsellers lists.
Bernadette spends most of her free time driving her kids to their many events—usually hockey. She is also an accomplished martial artist with a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. An avid reader, she enjoys contemporary romances with humor and happily ever afters.
Meet Randy Sayner
The Arizona native, current Nashville resident has been playing music publically since the age of 9 when he played “Dueling Banjos” on Phoenix’s KNIX.
The singer/songwriter of such songs as “Legendary Ladies of Tennessee,” “Taboo Rendezvous,” and “Girly Parts” is making his presence known in Nashville on the same stages where other great talents got their start.
With his Southern Rock country, acoustic guitar, and amazing banjo playing you will soon be hearing Randy Sayner on internet radio and no doubt on every country station in the nation soon.
To find out more about this up and coming country sensation find him at www.randysayner.com or follow him on Twitter @RandySayner or Facebook: http://facebook.com/rsayner
Other titles published by
www.5princebooks.com
Finding Hope Bernadette Marie
Lost and Found Bernadette Marie
On Thin Ice Bernadette Marie
Through the Glass Lisa J. Hobman
The End Denise Moncrief
Indiscretion Tonya Lampley
The Elvis Presley I Knew Robert C. Cantwell
Over the Edge Susan Lohrer
Encore Bernadette Marie
Split Decisions Carmen DeSousa
Matchmakers Bernadette Marie
Rocky Road Susan Lohrer
Stutter Creek Ann Swann
The Perfect Crime P. Hindley, S. Goodsell
A Heart at Home Sara Barnard
Soul Connection Doug Simpson
Bridge Over the Atlantic Lisa Hobman
Jaded M.J. Kane
An Unexpected Admirer Bernadette Marie
The Italian Job Phyllis Humphrey
Shades of Darkness Melynda Price
Heart Like an Ocean Christine Steendam
The Depot Carmen DeSousa
Crisis of Identity Denise Moncrief
Fatal Jealousy Christina OW
A Heart Broken Sara Barnard
Soul Mind Doug Simpson
When Noonday Ends Carmen DeSousa
Secrets Revealed Erika M. Szabo
Center Stage Bernadette Marie
Soul Rescue Doug Simpson
Soul Awakening Doug Simpson
Birthright Bestowed Erika M. Szabo
The Pit Stop Carmen DeSousa
First Kiss Bernadette Marie
A Heart Not Easily Broken M.J. Kane
Entangled Dreams Carmen DeSousa
All for Love Ann Swann
Opposite Attraction Bernadette Marie
A Heart on Hold Sara Barnard
Shades of Spring 1964 M.O. Kenyan
Petals Rebekah Roberts
Land of the Nooday Sun Carmen DeSousa
A Second Chance Bernadette Marie
Until Darkness Comes Melynda Price
Star Bright Christina Ow
Candy Kisses Bernadette Marie
She Belongs to Me Carmen DeSousa
Cart Before the Horse Bernadette Marie
The Executive’s Decision Bernadette Marie
Love Songs Page 21
