*WINNER of the XOXO Connects flash-fiction contest for a publishing contract with Pocket Books.* What's your deepest, darkest desire? Shelby Weeks is a six out of ten on a good day, but her brains and ambition make up for her woeful lack of allure. Nick Farmer, on the other hand, is a handsome, charismatic man who happens to be her boss. They're also both happily married . . . to other people. Shelby can't help to daydream about her undeniable attraction, but she'll never make a public confession about her feelings. There's really no need. She knows that to keep her idyllic life, all she can do is look, but don't touch. This flash-fiction piece is under 2,000 words and was written for the XOXO Connects contest for the theme "confessions". A huge thank you to everyone who voted between October 19 and 21, 2015 to get this story into the top 5. After the editors read the finalists, this story ended up winning the contest! (c) 2015 All Rights Reserved - R.S. Kovach

When Marla Jacobs discovers that the shop next to her Little White Wedding Chapel is to become a funeral parlour, she declares all-out war. Marla’s chapel in the sleepy Shropshire countryside has become a nationwide sensation, but the arrival of Funeral Director Gabriel Ryan threatens everything Marla has worked for. She can picture the scene: wedding limos fighting for space in the street with hearses; brides bumping into widows; bouquets being swapped for wreaths. Marla’s not going down without a fight. She enlists a motley crew of weird and wonderful local supporters, and battle lines are drawn. But, as soon as Marla meets her nemesis, she realises just how much trouble she’s in. His rugged good looks and Irish lilt make her stomach fizz – how is she supposed to concentrate on destroying him, when half the time she’s struggling not to rip the shirt off his back?

What do you think would happen if you started seeing glimpses through your soulmate's eyes, knowing you're due to meet them in a week? [Book #1 of The Soulmate Series] © felicitate | 2015