I look back on the nightmare that happened last year and wonder if it was all a dream. There are days when I still can’t believe that on that beautiful summer day, my wonderful, happy life with the man I loved—was turned upside down. Continue reading
Category Archives: News
Real Beauty Sketches
Imagine a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. Continue reading
We Have A Winner!
Congratulations J.C. Sullivan of New York City! You are the FIRST PLACE WINNER in our Bad Boyfriend Writing Contest. Judith Vance of Olympia, WA is our SECOND PLACE WINNER.
J.C.’s bad boy story, Wife Beater Takes On A Whole New Meaning, scored her some much deserved cash–$350. Close to 1400 people voted for their favorite Bad Boyfriend Story. Your votes help us narrow the finalists down to three. Then our judges selected first and second place winners. Continue reading
Bogart & Bacall: An Everlasting Love
Humphrey Bogart was born on December 25, 1899 in New York City. By passing up a career in medicine, Bogart followed his love for the sea and enlisted in the United States Navy in the spring of 1918. He recalled later, “At eighteen, war was great stuff. Paris! French girls! Hot damn!” Continue reading
Vote For Your Favorite ‘Bad’ Boyfriend Story
All the entries are in for our ‘Bad’ Boyfriend contest which officially ended on March 18. And boy, did we get some juicy stories!
Now it’s your turn to vote for your FAVORITE STORY (just once per person and just only for one story) Continue reading
Gable and Lombard: Birds of a Feather
When Clark Gable dropped out of high school at 16 and went to work at a tire factory in Akron,Ohio, he figured he was probably just going to follow in his father’s path of long hours of manual labor. His dad was an oil driller and farmer, and his mother had died during his infancy. Continue reading
Gatsby Girls Press Release
BROADLIT IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE
PUBLICATION OF
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S GATSBY GIRLS, A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES BY ONE OF AMERICA’S GREATEST AUTHORS
This anthology features Fitzgerald’s short stories with gorgeous original art taken directly from the pages of The Saturday Evening Post
Los Angeles, CA – May 7, 2013 – BroadLit, a romance Transmedia company, in partnership with SD Entertainment, an intellectual property studio, is delighted to re-publish works written by one of America’s most legendary fiction writers for the Saturday Evening Post. F. Scott Fitzgerald, using his wife Zelda as his model and inspiration, created the Flapper Girl and nearly single-handedly made the Roaring ‘20s come alive through his short stories and novels, which continue to be read and studied today around the world today.
As film audiences worldwide anticipate the release of the fourth film version of Fitzgerald’s masterpiece The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Baz Luhrmann, interest in Fitzgerald’s early work is at an all-time high. Gatsby Girls—a collection of his first eight short stories originally published in The Saturday Evening Post, Includes the Post’s original illustrations, cover art, reproductions of the actual pages from the Post of each story, plus a fascinating introduction by the Post’s historian, Jeff Nilsson, as well as an introduction to these stories written by Fitzgerald himself for the Post. No other writer of his time wrote so romantically, so skillfully, and so fascinatingly about the women of the Flapper era.
“In story after story, the heroines of Fitzgerald’s stories were reckless and frivolous and happy. None of them spent their days being useful around the house, or assuming the quiet modesty that mother expected,” said Nilsson. “They drove cars. They drank liquor. They kissed boys—many of them—and never worried what others might think of it.”
Fitzgerald’s modern tales of yearning and ambition shaped today’s fiction, but his short stories, and his Gatsby, helped create today’s society and the expectations ofAmerica’s women.
“We are thrilled to be able to introduce new audiences to the talent of Fitzgerald and the remarkable characters in Fitzgerald’s Gatsby Girls,” said Michele Martell, COO, SD Entertainment. “It is especially meaningful to show these stories in their original context, which illuminates both the writer and his time.”
“Even though I have always been a fan of Fitzgerald’s work, I was surprised to discover that these eight stories inspired the birth of the ‘flapper.’ These heroines were the precursors to one of the most romantic women in fiction—Daisy from The Great Gatsby.” said Nancy Cushing-Jones, Chief Publishing & Transmedia Officer, BroadLit.
“By the time he published The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald was already one of the best known authors in America thanks to The Saturday Evening Post,” said Jeff Nilsson, Post Historian. “Through a span of 17 years the magazine published 68 of his short stories, and with 2.5 million subscribers, the Post brought Fitzgerald into the living rooms of Americans who might never have encountered his novels.”
SD Entertainment recently aligned with Curtis Licensing, the licensing division of The Saturday Evening Post Society, Inc., to license its beloved portfolio of magazine brands, including The Saturday Evening Post andsecured the rights to develop stories and artwork from The Saturday Evening Post’s portfolio of images and content into dynamic collections of digital coffee table publications, enhanced e-Publications, and other live action or animated entertainment.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Gatsby Girls is available on May 7 both in print and on all eReader platforms including Apple, Amazon and Barnes & Noble (at $8.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback). All BroadLit books are distributed by Perseus Books’ Constellation Services. For more information about “Gatsby Girls, please also visit TruLoveStories.com.
SATURDAY EVENING POST CELEBRATES ONE OF AMERICA’S GREATEST AUTHORS WITH RELEASE OF
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S GATSBY GIRLS
The book features Fitzgerald’s short stories brought to life with gorgeous original art from the pages of The Saturday Evening Post
Los Angeles, CA – March 20, 2013 – He made the Roaring ‘20s come alive in numerous novels and created the Flapper Girl. As fans anticipate the release of the fourth film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece The Great Gatsby, there is renewed interest in the legendary writer’s work. Fans will delight in knowing that The Saturday Evening Post is working with intellectual property studio SD Entertainment and romance transmedia and company BroadLit to publish F.Scott Fitzgerald’s Gatsby Girls—a collection of his first eight short stories originally published in The Saturday Evening Post. Included are the original illustrations, cover art, reproductions of the actual pages of the Post, plus a fascinating introduction by the Post’s historian. No other writer of his time wrote so skillfully, so sympathetically and so fascinatingly about women.
“We are thrilled to be able to introduce new audiences to the talent of Fitzgerald and the remarkable characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Gatsby Girls,” said Michele Martell, COO, SD Entertainment. “It is especially meaningful to show these stories in their original context, which illuminates both the writer and his time.”
“Even though I have always been a fan of Fitzgerald’s work, I was surprised to discover that these eight stories inspired the birth of the ‘flapper.’ These heroines were the precursors to one of the most romantic women in fiction—Daisy from The Great Gatsby.” said Nancy Cushing-Jones, Chief Publishing & Transmedia Officer, BroadLit.
“By the time he published The Great Gatsby, F.Scott Fitzgerald was already one of the best known authors in America thanks to The Saturday Evening Post,” said Jeff Nilsson, Post Historian, who is available for interviews. “Through a span of 17 years the magazine published 68 of his short stories, and with 2.5 million subscribers, the Post brought Fitzgerald into the living rooms of Americans who might never have encountered his novels.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Gatsby Girls fans will have a chance to win one of 25 prize packages containing both the print and digital versions of the book as well as a limited edition canvas artwork. Consumers can visit www.gatsbygirls.com between now and May 7, 2013 to enter into the give-away and to vote for their favorite piece of Gatsby Girls artwork. The art with the most votes will become the canvas portrait in the prize pack.
SD Entertainment recently aligned with Curtis Licensing, the licensing division of The Saturday Evening Post Society, Inc., to license its beloved portfolio of magazine brands, including The Saturday Evening Post andsecured the rights to develop stories and artwork from The Saturday Evening Post’s portfolio of images and content into dynamic collections of digital coffee table publications, enhanced e-Publications, and other live action or animated entertainment.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Gatsby Girls will be available on May 7 both in print and on all eReader platforms including Apple, Amazon and Barnes & Noble (at $8.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback). All BroadLit books are distributed by Perseus Books’ Constellation Services. For more information about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Gatsby Girls, please also visit www.trulovestories.com.
About The Saturday Evening Post: For nearly 300 years, The Saturday Evening Post has chronicled American history in the making—reflecting the distinctive characteristics and values that define the American way. Tracing its roots to Benjamin Franklin, The Saturday Evening Post mirrors cherished American ideals and values, most memorably illustrated by its iconic cover artist Norman Rockwell. The Post is also known for publishing such literary greats as Ray Bradbury, Agatha Christie, William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edgar Allan Poe, J.D. Salinger, and Kurt Vonnegut, and continues to seek out and discover emerging writers of the 21st century. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the Post is a publication of the nonprofit Saturday Evening Post Society, which also publishes the award-winning youth magazines Turtle, Humpty Dumpty, and Jack and Jill.
“As the nation changed, the Post changed, but it looks to its past as a fertile ground for its future”
—Starkey Flythe, Jr., Former Post Executive Editor
About SD Entertainment: Founded in 1999 by entertainment industry veterans Paul Sabella and Jonathan Dern, SD Entertainment specializes in managing a portfolio of brands, producing and distributing franchise properties that connect with audiences and consumers on every screen, from movies to eBooks. SD Entertainment has re-invented, produced and distributed amazing entertainment for beloved brands such as Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, My Little Pony, Tonka, Care Bears, Transformers, Bratz, and Noddy, and created The Bigger Picture, the world’s first digital theatrical distribution company, and its family matinee program, Kidtoon Films. SD Entertainment is a leading independent studio in stereoscopic 3D, with a turnkey 3D production facility at the Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater venue, and recently helped create the UT3D program at theUniversity ofTexas,Austin.
Web: www.sdentertainment.com/books
Like: www.facebook.com/sdebooks
Follow: www.twitter.com/SDEbooks
About BroadLit
BroadLit is unique in that it brings to the market a combination of classic and new romance material through its many multi-media channels. BroadLit’s website hub, TruLOVEstories.com, is specifically designed for women looking for a little romance seasoned with humor. The site offers novels, stories, games, merchandise, contests, videos and other opportunities for building a strong community.
In addition to bringing back to life the assets of True Romance and True Love Magazines in the TruLOVE Collection series, BroadLit is also publishing original contemporary romance novels and mobile games for women. BroadLit is aLos Angeles based company launched by the owners of Broadthink, a boutique branding and new business development media company.
Media Contacts:
Ida Yenney
GennComm for SD Entertainment
T: 818-839-1410 E: ida@genncomm.com
Stacia Kirby
For more information and review copies
T:206-363-1492
To schedule an interview with The Saturday Evening Post historian Jeff Nilsson, please contact: Shawna Seldon
Rosen Group for The Saturday Evening Post
T: 917 971 7852
Title:
Gatsby Girls
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published by: BroadLit
Published: May 7, 2013
Fiction: Literary, Short Stories
Price: $14.99 USD
Print: $17.50 CAN
PRINT ISBN# 978-0-9890200-4-6
Digital: $8.99 USD
Digital: $9.99 CAN
DIGITAL ISBN# 978-0-9890200-3-9
F. Scott Fitzgerald and His Independent, Impetuous, and Amazing American Girl(s)
By Jeff Nilsson, Saturday Evening Post Historian
By the time he published The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald was already one of the best-known authors in America. His fame had begun years earlier with the bestselling novel, This Side of Paradise, which sold out in 24 hours and went through 12 reprintings.
But his reputation rested on more than just his novels. By the time Gatsby hit the bookstores, Americans had been reading Fitzgerald’s stories in the Saturday Evening Post for five years. The magazine had first printed one of his stories, “Head and Shoulders,” in its February 21, 1920 issue, and followed it with five more stories before the end of the year.
In later years, Fitzgerald recalled the elation he felt when he learned the Post had bought one of his stories. “I’d like to get a thrill like that again but I suppose it’s only once in a lifetime.”
It was the beginning of a long association betweenAmerica’s most promising young writer and its most popular magazine. In 1920, the Post had over 2.5 million subscribers, and could bring Fitzgerald into the living rooms of Americans who might never have encountered his novels. Over 17 years, it published 68 of his short stories, more than twice the number that appeared in any other publication. Fitzgerald began to get the reputation of a “Post writer.”
This reputation troubled the critics. One of them was already seeing his talent fading in 1920. Fitzgerald’s fiction in the Post, he said, was “clever enough but that’s all. Trouble is that he is likely to begin with the money rolling to think that this is literature.” Even Fitzgerald’s friends were concerned, as Hemingway tried to talk him out of submitting any more stories to the Post. Another friend warned that the magazine would use up Fitzgerald’s talent and then discard him, and that it would be known as “The Graveyard of the Genius of F. Scott Fitzgerald.” Fitzgerald wasn’t worried. The Post was putting his writing in front of more Americans than any other magazine could. It published stories that were too long for any other periodical. It paid him quicker and it paid him more. He earned $400 for the first stories—a competitive price—but the Post increased their payments over time until, in 1929, he was earning $4,000 per story.
Making good money with short fiction was important to Fitzgerald. Throughout his career, he earned far more with short stories than he ever did from his novels. Frequent and fat checks from the Post enabled him to pursue the more creative work. They also helped him live in the style to which he felt he should be accustomed.
Like Gatsby, Fitzgerald was determined to live a life of success and affluence. Like Gatsby, he was determined to succeed so he could win the girl of his dreams.
In 1918, he met and fell in love with a judge’s daughter, Zelda Sayre, and she accepted his proposal of marriage. Five months later, though, she broke off the engagement when she realized he didn’t earn enough money for her comfort. As Daisy Buchanan tells Gatsby, “Rich girls don’t marry poor boys.” So Fitzgerald set out to make as much money as he could as quickly as he could, to win back his love. The stories came easily to him in 1920; Fitzgerald claimed to have written one of them, “The Camel’s Back,” in just 24 hours. But he never found revising to be light work. Every story he finished had to be rewritten several times over. His bright, energetic prose was, in fact, the product of days of dreary revision. But in 1920, he was fueled by imagination, ambition, and youth. The ideas came easier then, before he had exhausted himself, doubted his talent, and seen the collapse of his marriage and his wife.
Fitzgerald’s first Post stories appeared as the country was entering a promising new decade.
Americans were hoping to leave behind the bitterness of 1919, with its strikes, race riots, and arrests and the mass deportations of political dissidents. They looked forward to a new decade of prosperity and convenience made possible by affordable automobiles and electrical power.
Many homes were still being wired for electricity in 1920, and the Post issues that year were filled with ads for electric stoves, washing machines, and light fixtures. Readers also saw ads for glamour cars rarely seen in the muddy streets of small towns—the Auburn Beauty Six, the Cole Aero-Eight, the Haynes Speedster, the Jordan Silhouette, and the Paige (“The Most Beautiful Car In America”).
Adding to that year’s optimism was the belief in prohibition, which had begun in January. At this early stage, most Americans believed the country would be happier, more prosperous, and more productive now that alcohol was illegal.
The U.S. reached another turning point in 1920. Census figures revealed that, for the first time, more Americans lived in cities than in the country. People were leaving farms and small town; there was little future left in the country.
Many young Americans already sensed this, but Fitzgerald’s stories confirmed what they suspected. If they lived in the city, they would have more interesting lives, spending their days at parties, dances, and Ivy League schools. There the young people were smart and witty. The men drank freely and the women flirted shamelessly.
To many young women in America, these stories must have been a revelation. Modern girls, they learned, were cutting their hair short instead of keeping it long and pinned up. Modern girls were abandoning the corset. They wore make up. They smoked cigarettes. They danced to jazz bands. Most girls didn’t even know what jazz was; their parent’s phonographs only played foxtrots and two-steps, and radio was years in the future. Still, it seemed all very wicked and fun.
In story after story, the heroines of Fitzgerald’s stories were reckless and frivolous and happy. None of them spent their days being useful around the house, or assuming the quiet modesty that mother expected. They drove cars. They drank liquor. They kissed boys—many of them—and never worried what others might think of it.
How the eyes of a nice, country girl—and Fitzgerald assumed all country girls were nice—must have widened as she read of women saying and doing things she had barely admitted to herself she wanted. Yet there it was, in the pages of Daddy’s Saturday Evening Post, between articles like “New Fashions In Investments” and “The Petroleum Problem In The World.”
If American girls hadn’t seen any of these modern women on the streets of their own provincial towns, they could be glimpsed in the stories’ illustrations: elegant, slender figures lounging around a bar or coupé, wearing loose, sleeveless dresses, cloche hats, and dark lipstick that emphasized their carefree smiles.
This modern woman—who, in time, would be called the “flapper”—was no mere creation of fiction. There was a living example, and her wild escapades were often reported in the newspaper. Her name was Zelda Fitzgerald and her impetuous self-indulgence and irresistible charms were captured repeatedly in the stories of her husband. “I married the heroine of my stories,” Fitzgerald said. Nobody better represented the impulsive, fashionable, carefree American woman of the 1920s.
If the flapper seems outdated today, it’s important to remember how much of an impact she had when she was new. Her defiance of convention may seem tame today, but only because generations of women have followed in her footsteps.
Fitzgerald’s modern tales of yearning and ambition shaped today’s fiction, but his short stories, and his Gatsby, helped create today’s society and the expectations of America’s women.
Justin Timberlake’s New Single Is Vintage Hot!
Finally, Justin Timberlake is back! Unveiling his newest single, “Suit & Tie” — the first since 2007, the star pays homage to vintage eras of music in a song that is completely new today. Continue reading
Kiss me, I’m Irish!
From the Pages of True Love Stories March 2007
I shoved open the door of O’Malley’s Pub and Grille and took a moment to study the interior. Although I’d never been inside before, the dark wood paneling and rustic atmosphere immediately appealed to me. The pub has a homey kind of feel to it, and obviously, it’s a popular place. Groups of people laughing and having a good time were seated at several round tables. They all seemed happy and content. Why can’t I be one of them?
I pushed a streamer of shamrocks away from my face as I strolled to the bar and sat down. At that moment, the last thing I wanted was to be around boisterous people celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, but I didn’t feel like going home to an empty apartment, either. The fact that I was alone and had nobody to talk to made me feel even worse.
“What kin I get ya, lass?”
I looked up at the sound of the Irish accent. The deep rumble of the bartender’s voice sent a ripple of excitement down my spine. I felt myself involuntarily start to relax as I gazed into his light-brown eyes.
The bartender brushed back a lock of blond hair and looked me up and down.
“’Ave ya got a preference, or shall I bring ya a pitcher of green beer? ‘Tis our special today.”
I stared at him a moment, slightly overwhelmed by his manner of speaking. Is he for real or just putting on a show for me?
“A glass of red wine would be fine,” I answered.
“Very well, then!” He winked. “I’ll be right back.”
I watched him walk off and smiled in spite of myself. His overly cheerful disposition started to crack my bad mood. And on that day, of all days, I desperately needed a diversion to take my mind off my troubles.
I pulled a white envelope from my purse and stared at it for a minute. There was no need to read the contents again. I had opened the innocent-looking envelope at my desk—correction, my former desk—an hour ago. The world seemed to spin as I read the short and to-the-point memo. The company was downsizing and several “non-vital” employees were being let go, effective immediately.
I glanced around the bar and shook my head. Mr. Wallace had some nerve, laying me off after five years. Now what am I going to do?
A glass of wine appeared in front of me, snapping me from my thoughts.
“’Ere ya go, lass. Are ya hungry? Ya picked a good day to stop in. We’ve got a special—”
“You can drop the accent. I’m not buying it,” I grumbled.
To my chagrin, the bartender leaned forward and rested his elbows on the bar in front of me. “I’m afraid I canna do that. I was born with it.” He pointed to the “Kiss me, I’m Irish” button pinned to his green shirt. “You’re talkin’ to a man born and raised in Kilarney.”
I felt my face flush with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean it like it sounded. It’s St. Patrick’s Day, and—”
“And everyone talks with a ridiculous accent.” He smiled, displaying a set of dimples. “Don’t fret, lass. There’s no harm done. I’m used to it. Just last week, I was at the grocery store and someone asked me if I was English or Australian.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I’m Conor O’Brien.” He arched an eyebrow. “And you are?”
“Evelyn Byrne.”
He grinned. “Irish. I should’ve known,” he teased.
I laughed. Maybe it was his charming good looks, his odd sense of humor, or his lilting brogue, but Conor’s presence had a calming effect on me. With him around, I couldn’t help but feel at ease, and I wanted to keep him talking. “Irelandis so beautiful. What made you leave and come over here?”
“You’ve been there?” he asked, cocking his head to one side.
“Aye,” I replied with a slight smile. “I love to travel. A few years ago, I spent a week there with my ex-boyfriend. The countryside was lovely—it was too bad he wasn’t. He complained the entire time. He saidIreland was too cold and rainy,” I explained.
“He wasn’t Irish from the sound of it, now was he?”
“Brad? Not at all.” I leaned closer to Conor as Irish flute music started playing from the jukebox in the corner. To my pleasant surprise, Conor smelled like sandalwood. The exotic scent made my skin tingle.
“To answer your question, I followed my wild, Irish sense of adventure and it led me right here,” he said. “That was three years ago. One day, I quit my boring, office job and decided to explore the world. I came over for a visit to see if I’d like it,” he explained as he unpinned his button and fastened it to my jacket lapel.
I glanced down at the “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” button and realized how much my luck had changed since entering the pub. I was enjoying every moment of Conor’s company, and my miserable mood almost entirely faded away. “And do you?” I asked.
Conor’s gaze locked onto mine. “I’m certainly liking it right now.” He bent a little closer and glanced at the button on my jacket. For a second, I felt as though I could read his mind. I knew he wanted to kiss me, and part of me wondered what it would feel like to have his warm lips pressing against mine.
“They say there’s forty shades of green inIreland, but lookin’ into your eyes, I think there’s forty-one,” he whispered.
A gentle warmth spread through my entire body, and I knew I was hooked. Conor was utterly enchanting. Something about the way he spoke made me feel special. I sipped my wine, relishing in the compliment. “That’s the most beautiful thing anyone’s ever said to me,” I replied, leaning over the bar. I glanced up as Conor licked his lips. He’s so close and kissable. . . .
“Hey, Conor, I need two more pitchers of the green stuff for table six,” a loud voice interrupted.
I sat back on the barstool and glanced over my shoulder. A waiter was standing at the bar next to me.
Conor pulled away and nodded. “Comin’ right up.” He gave me a wistful look, and then turned away and went back to work.
I sipped my wine and thought about Conor as he poured two pitchers of green beer. He’s cute, and he was saying all the right things. But is he sincere or just playing around?
I don’t have a good track record when it comes to choosing my boyfriends, and I usually end up getting my heart broken. I certainly never suspected that Brad would turn out to be a lying, cheating creep. But can I be lucky in love when it comes to Conor?
A few minutes later, Conor returned to the space in front of me.
“Sorry about that, Evelyn.” He smiled. “But a fella’s gotta work.” He gestured toward the rowdy crowd. “Today’s our busiest day of the year. I wish I had more time to devote to ya like ya deserve. Now, what were we going on about?” he asked, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
My pulse soared, and a tingle raced through my lower body. More than anything, I ached to have Conor kiss me. It was rare that I fell for a guy so fast, but something deep down inside told me that I shouldn’t let Conor slip away. “My trip toIreland. I wish I could have stayed there for another week or two. There’s so much more I wanted to see. I never got to the Cliffs of Moher.”
He scowled. “Ya didn’t? Then you’ve gotta go back. I am.”
My heart leapt to my throat. “You are? But I thought you liked it here,” I blurted out, the apprehension obvious in my voice.
Conor patted my hand. “Don’t worry, lass, I’m not fixin’ to stay permanent. And trust me, I do like it here—especially tonight,” he said, stroking the back of my hand with his thumb. “I’m goin’ back to visit my family this summer. I’m thinkin’ of spending a few weeks here and there. If you’ll be traveling over there at the same time, I’d be more than happy to give ya the grand tour. And trust me, I won’t be complainin’ about the weather,” he teased.
I grinned. “I really would love to go back, but I can’t. I won’t be going anywhere for a while,” I muttered. For some reason, I found myself eager to confide my troubles in Conor. “I got laid off today.”
To my surprise, he chuckled. “Well, then, ya won’t have to take time off from work, now will ya?”
I laughed. Conor’s optimistic attitude made me feel better about myself—and my current situation. “That’s true. But I really should start looking for another job and—” I stopped and looked at him.
He was shaking his head. “If I’d have thought that way, I’d still be crammed into a tiny cube answering phones for a mail order company and spending my days looking out the window, wishin’ something better would come along.” He shrugged. “But here I am, having an adventure.”
I sipped my wine and thought for a moment. Conor was right. I wasn’t tied down to a job anymore, and I had been given a generous severance package. . . .
I bit my bottom lip. Part of me wanted to jump at the chance to leave the rat race behind and go wherever my heart led, but that was so unlike me. I hesitated, longing to be impulsive and carefree, yet I was so unsure. I weighed my options. A vacation would be nice. It would give me a fresh start, and I could always look for a new job when I came home. What difference would a few weeks make, anyway?
“It’s impractical, but—”
“There’s no need to decide right now. You’ve got plenty of time. The important thing is that ya do whatever makes ya happy inside.” Conor tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear and gently caressed the side of my neck. “My shift’s over in half an hour. Why don’t ya let me buy ya dinner?” His sparkling eyes searched mine. “If that’s something that’ll make ya happy,” he added.
My heart skipped a beat. There was no doubt about it. Being around Conor made me happier than I’d felt in years. “Absolutely,” I answered breathlessly. “I think today is turning out to be my lucky day, after all.”
That night, Conor took me out to a Greek restaurant. Over dinner, we got better acquainted and I realized that I was head over heels infatuated with him. At the end of the evening, we took a stroll through the park and sat down on a bench to gaze at the stars. Conor draped his arm around my shoulders and I melted inside. I cuddled against him and took a deep breath, inhaling his sexy, sandalwood scent.
“Now, there is one more thing I’d like to do that would make tonight perfect,” he said, gesturing at the “Kiss me, I’m Irish” button still pinned to my jacket. “Ya see, that button expires at midnight. . . .” He glanced at his watch. “And it’s fifteen minutes to twelve.” He smiled shyly. “We wouldn’t want to waste a good button, now would we?”
Every nerve in my body tingled with anticipation. Right then, all I wanted was to feel Conor’s mouth pressing against mine. “Not at all,” I whispered.
I draped my arms around his neck and pulled him close. Conor kissed me long and deep, and all my worries and cares faded away. We stayed on the bench, kissing and holding each other until long after midnight.
Just when things really started to heat up between us, Conor broke the embrace and offered to walk me to my car. At first, I was disappointed and a little confused. Did I do something wrong?
As we reached my car, he pulled me close and whispered, “I’m the luckiest man in the world tonight. I want everything to be special for us. Will ya come toIrelandwith me, Evelyn? I promise ya won’t regret it.”
I wrapped my arms around his ribs and rested my head against his chest. “Of course, I will,” I said, my heart thundering wildly. “I’d go anywhere with you, Conor.”
A month later, we were holding hands as our plane landed at Shannon airport. Conor and I spent two weeks traveling all over Ireland. It was the most wonderful time I’ve ever spent with anyone. On our first night, Conor and I stayed in a refurbished castle and celebrated our new found love with a “very special” romantic evening. It was a perfect night that I’ll cherish forever.
The next morning, Conor and I walked along the tops of the Cliffs of Moher. The view was exhilarating, and as I looked out over the sea, I realized how much my life changed for the better since meeting Conor. In a way, he’s my very own special lucky charm.
Conor wrapped his arms around me and kissed the side of my neck. Before I knew what was happening, he whispered, “Will ya do me the honor and marry me, Evelyn?” I gazed into his brown eyes and nodded. I knew right then and there that I’d be his—for life.
Conor and I have been together for almost a year now, and we’re still as enamored with each other as we were the first time we met. I came back fromIrelandcompletely refreshed and satisfied in a way I’d never known before. I was happier than ever, and with my new outlook on life, I quickly found a fantastic job with an advertising agency. Conor still loves working at the pub, and we’ve set a wedding date for—when else?—Our lucky day, St. Patrick’s Day.
