Lipstick Kisses : A Sexy, Standalone Contemporary Romance Read Online Free

should think about taking Kelsey’s advice.
    Live a little, Nikki .
     

Chapter Four
Chandler
    I pick her up for dinner, and she has on a tight, sexy red dress with a neckline down to there, and the soft pillows of her breasts are begging to be set free. Damn. I rise to the occasion just seeing her in this dress.
    She’s dressed to kill—kill me, that is.
    “So, how did you start building your empire at such a young age? When I first laid eyes on Nikki Russo, owner of Lipstick Kisses, I was shocked by how young you were,” I ask, once we’re sitting at an intimate table for two by the window of the nicest restaurant in Beverly Hills. I called and asked my agent Caroline for a recommendation. I wanted to impress Nikki and take her someplace nice.
    She laughs softly. She looks beautiful by candlelight. I haven’t looked at a girl like this in ages. Nikki is real, not like some of these models I’ve been out with lately.
    “Well, I’ve always been into makeup since I was a young girl. You know, the typical little girl playing dress up. Prancing around in high heels, putting on makeup, wanting to be as glamorous and grown up as soon as possible. Typical girl, right?” She laughs, with the sweetest smile.
    “Nikki, you are far from the typical girl, I can assure you,” I reply.
    “Then, when I was in my teens, I started selling cosmetics at the swap meet, of all places. That’s where it all began for me. Then I went on to establish an online presence and made a brand name for myself. From there, it grew. I approached some department stores, and they were willing to carry my makeup line, and here I sit today.”
    I can hear the pride in her voice, and she should be proud. She has accomplished so much at a young age. And yet, she can still be so humble, so sweet, so real.
    “Wow, what an amazing story. I love how driven yet down to earth you are. You haven’t let success turn you into a stuck-up princess,” I reply.
    “Really, you don’t think so? I’ve been accused of such, and much worse.”
    “I haven’t seen it. Not when you’re with me, not even that first time we met. You came across as business, yet warm and real at the same time. I knew I wanted to get to know you better. You fascinate me.” I tell her the truth. She actually blushes.
    “How about you? What brought you to LA?” she asks.
    “I wanted to see what the California beaches looked like. I came, fell in love with the beaches, and decided to stay for a while,” I reply, not offering any more.
    “Must be nice to be so carefree,” she says.
    “It is. You ought to try it sometime. It’s quite liberating.”
    “I’ve been living in LA for too long. I’m tightly wound from years of living in this big city. I don’t know anything else.”
    “Do you ever take a vacation?” I ask.
    “Vacation? What’s that?” She laughs, rolling her eyes.
    “When was the last time you went on a vacation?” I ask, this girl needs one badly.
    “Honestly, I can’t even remember. Oh no, wait. It was to Hawaii two summers ago,” she says as a wistful expression passes across her beautiful face.
    “Who did you go with?” I ask. Maybe I can find out some history here.
    “My fiancé at the time,” she freely volunteers.
    “Oh, so you’ve been engaged before?” Interesting, but not surprising.
    “Yes, I’m sorry to say I have been. Once.”
    “What happened, if you don’t mind my asking?” I hope she’ll share with me.
    “I realized something wasn’t right about us together, and I broke it off,” she replies, leaving it vague.
    “Oh, I see,” I say, not wanting to pry any further. I take her answer at face value.
    “And what about you? You didn’t leave a girl back home pining for you? No, wait. With your looks, you probably left several girls back home,” she teases.
    “No, I can’t say that I did,” I reply.
    “Hmm, okay, I guess I’ll take your word for it,” she says, like she really isn’t buying it, but she will let it