Lipstick Kisses : A Sexy, Standalone Contemporary Romance (7 page)

This morning at work, I’m sitting in my office, flipping through the latest issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine. They’ve featured an article I’ve written on shades of lipstick. Chandler and Bella grace the pages in my article. I scrutinize the pictures closely and notice the intimated sexuality. Sex sells, I know that. But when it involves the man you’re sleeping with, it causes possessiveness and jealousy to bubble to the surface. It eats at me the longer I look at it, and I have to quickly turn the page. I still can’t believe I get to sleep with this hunk of male hotness almost every single night of the week. How is that even possible, that I, Nikki Russo, the scrappy girl from the quiet working class neighborhood in the suburbs, is with the latest hot male model?

As I continue to flip through the pages of Cosmo, an article catches my eye.
How To Keep It Sizzling Between the Sheets
. I love reading the sexy articles they have in this magazine. They don’t hold back on sharing! I always take the lover surveys. It’s a fun and naughty indulgence of mine that I can’t resist—just like chocolate, another addiction of mine.

Kelsey walks in and catches me. “Whatcha reading?” she asks, eyeing the magazine I have open on my desk.

“The latest Cosmo issue. It has my article
Fifty Shades of Red
and the latest Lipstick Kisses cherry campaign ad feature of Chandler and Bella,” I scowl.

“Oh yeah, I saw that. I love the title of your article. Have you ever thought of writing a book? You know, like an autobiography?” Kelsey asks.

“Nah, I don’t have the time.”

“I think you should. Your success story would be such an interesting read.”

“Maybe someday, but not now. Look at this picture of Chandler and Bella. Do you think they’ve slept together?” I can’t stop myself from asking Kelsey. I know anything we talk about won’t go past her lips.

She takes the magazine and stares at the ad. “It’s hard to tell. You know the photographer makes them pose like that.”

“I know, I’m just being the possessive and jealous girlfriend. I hate when I get like this,” I admit, taking the magazine and slamming it shut.

“Every ad I see him in with some gorgeous model, I can’t help but wonder if he’s slept with each and every one of them.”

“Even now that you’re together?”

“Yeah, my insecurities never fail to bring my jealousy to the surface.”

“Nikki, you have so much going for you and so much to offer any man. There is zero reason you should be jealous.”

“Thanks, Kelsey, for always being in my corner. You’re a sweetheart to say that.”

“How do you like your new home in Malibu? Are you all settled in now?”

“Yes. For the most part, all unpacked. Everything’s in its place, and now all I need to do is decorate. All the renovations were done before I moved in—new hardwood flooring throughout the entire house, and the kitchen has been renovated.”

“Sounds like your dream home now.”

“I guess it is. It’s such a sprawling place. Sometimes it feels too big. When I’m home alone, sometimes it feels a little spooky.”

“Doesn’t Chandler practically stay over twenty-four seven?”

“Yes, almost, but he’s in New York City for a big photo shoot with Anne V. for Vogue Magazine.”

“You’re kidding?”

“No, I wish I was. See what I mean?”

“Yeah, I guess it must be hard to have your boyfriend surrounded by beautiful women all of the time.”

“It eats at me, to be perfectly honest. I just need to bury myself in work and forget about it.”

*****

When I walk through my front door at the end of my long day, something doesn’t feel right. Kahlua comes up to me, and I pet my loveable guy.

He starts barking at the sliding glass door leading out to the balcony.

“What’s wrong, Kahlua?” I’m spooked for some reason. A dog can sense danger or a trespasser quickly, but I try to ignore it.

I walk into the kitchen and throw my things down on the center island. Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement out on the terrace. When I look out the glass doors, I see that the handle has been jimmied with. Someone tried to get in here. I take Kahlua, grab my keys and my purse, dash out to my car and lock myself in it. I’m shaking.

“Kelsey, I think someone tried to break into my house tonight!”

“No, where are you now?” she gasps.

“Sitting out front, locked in my car.”

“Get out of there and come over to my place!” Kelsey screams.

I start my car a head towards Kelsey’s place in Brentwood.

Next, I dial Jonathan from my car.

“You need to get those surveillance cameras and that security system installed tomorrow. I told you to have that done, didn’t I? I will call the security company tomorrow and come and babysit them while you’re at work tomorrow.”

“That would be perfect. I’ve got a big meeting all day tomorrow and I won’t feel comfortable sleeping here alone until security is installed.”

“First things first. Get an alarm system installed as soon as possible,” Jonathan commands.

“You’re right, thanks Jonathan. You’re the best.”

Kelsey lets me crash at her place tonight. I arrive trembling, and she soothes and comforts me before I go straight to bed with Kahlua resting at the foot of my bed.

I get to work early the next morning to get ready for my meeting with some new investors. I need to shake out my fears and get down to business. Jonathan has been updating me hourly with text messages informing me of the security system installation’s progress.

I haven’t dared to tell Chandler yet. He’s still in New York, and there’s nothing he can do. All he would do is worry unnecessarily about me. Besides, what can he do right now while he’s 5,000 miles away?

When I return home this evening, Jonathan is here to greet me.

“Come and check out the latest state of the art security system you now have,” he says as he makes a sweeping gesture to a control panel by the door coming in from my attached garage.

“I decided on a code. I hope you don’t mind. You can always change it,” he says.

“Not at all. At least two of us, and Chandler, will know it in case I forget.

Jonathan cringes every time I mention Chandler’s name, and it’s irritating. I feel like telling him to get used to it, but I manage to bite my tongue. After all, he was nice enough to help make my house more secure. He came running to help me in my time of need. I can still depend on him as a friend. I shouldn’t be so hard on poor Jonathan.

He proceeds to demonstrate arming and disarming the alarm for when I leave the house and when I come home.

“That seems pretty easy,” I reply.

“Okay, now you try it.”

I manage to arm and disarm the alarm.

“Perfect. Where is pretty boy, anyway? Why wasn’t he here to come to your rescue?” Jonathan asks in a snarky tone.

“He’s in New York right now. Remember? I told you.”

“Oh, that’s right. Modeling with the sizzling hot Anne V. He’s one lucky guy. I saw the latest image on the internet. The paparazzi found them dining together,” he says.

He rubs it in. “Yes, she’s beautiful,” I bite out.

“Doesn’t it bother you that he’s surrounded by beautiful women every single day?” he asks.

Asshole.

“Of course it does,” I reply, turning and walking into the kitchen. I think we’re done here. “Jonathan, thank you for babysitting the installers,” I say, trying to give him the hint that it’s time for him and his hurtful comments to find the door.

“Hey, I’m just making an observation. You don’t have to get mad about it.”

“You should know it’s a touchy subject for me. I’m a woman, aren’t I?” I turn, facing him.

“Yes, you most definitely are a woman. I know firsthand, remember? I honestly can’t believe you two are still dating.” He continues with the assault of words.

What a first-class ass Jonathan is being.

“You know what? I don’t need to hear every reason you’re so surprised Chandler and I are together. You don’t think I wonder myself, that I don’t have doubts of my own? So please just drop it, all right? Look, I really appreciated your coming to my rescue. You’ve been a great friend.”

“There was a time when we were more than friends, and I miss those days,” he says.

Oh brother, please don’t bring this up.

“Jonathan, I’m sorry we didn’t work out as a couple. You’re a great guy, and any girl would be lucky to have you. I mean it.”

“Yeah, well . . .”

“Are you dating anyone new?” I ask, trying to change the subject away from me.

“No one special at the moment.”

I know him. He’s too picky and finds fault with every woman he takes out. “You’ll meet someone. Aren’t there loads of cute women in real estate?”

“There are, but they’re all so cutthroat in this business.”

I laugh. “Well then, maybe not someone in the business.”

“I’m going to get going. Will you be all right?”

“Yes, I can arm it when I’m home, right?”

“Yes, the motion sensors are off when you arm it this way. Let me show you.”

He shows me and then gives me a tight embrace before he leaves.

I’m relieved to have the added assurance of an alarm system along with Kahlua to protect me from intruders. I’ll feel better once Chandler returns home tomorrow afternoon. God, how I’ve missed him.

*****

I pick up Chandler from the airport, and is it possible that he got even more irresistible while he was away? He has a five o’clock shadow thing going on, and I think I like it.

“Hi, handsome.” I get out of my car and greet him, stroking his short beard. “I think I like this,” I say, pressing a kiss to his lips.

“Oh yeah? They wanted me to grow it for the shoot in New York. I’m not sure about it.” He shrugs, tossing his bags in the trunk of my car.

Once we get his bags in the trunk, I turn the driving over to him.

“I have something to tell you,” I preface my news.

“Oh-oh, what is it? It sounds serious,” he says, briefly taking his eyes off the road to look at my face.

“It’s probably nothing, but someone tried to break in the other night. When I came home from work, it looked like someone tried to jimmy open the sliding glass door in the back.”

“What! Why didn’t you tell me right when it happened?” he exclaims.

“You were 5,000 miles away in New York. I didn’t want you to worry. Jonathan and I had it taken care of. I now have a state of the art alarm system to protect us from intruders.”

“How was Jonathan involved?” Chandler asks through clenched teeth.

“I called him right after it happened, and he insisted I get a security system. So he came the next day and had one installed for me while I was at work. It’s great. I feel so much better now with the added sense of security.”

Chandler doesn’t say a word for the longest time.

Finally, he asks, “Who do you think it could be?”

“I have no idea.”

“You don’t think it’s someone you know?”

“No. Well, I never thought of that. Why do you ask? Now you’re freaking me out even more,” I reply. I pause and wonder, could it be my ex, Blake? He wouldn’t know my new address, would he? I’ve never shared it with him. We haven’t spoken in months, and I want to keep it that way.

“What are you thinking, Nikki? Who do you think it might be? Your ex?”

“It just crossed my mind now.”

We pull up to my house, and I show Chandler the new alarm system as I disarm it now that we’re home together.

“This is good. Now we can feel safe again,” he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

Chandler heads into the bedroom to unpack and then starts some laundry. I’m glad he’s busy and distracted. I don’t want to talk about it right now. All those feelings with ending it with my ex come rushing back. It was a bad time in my life, a time I choose to forget. But with Chandler asking if it could be him trying to break into my house, it leaves me unsettled, to say the least.

***

I get to work bright and early this morning. Kelsey follows me into my office and I tell her what’s been weighing heavily on my mind since Chandler mentioned it last night.

“Chandler came home yesterday and asked me if I think it could be my ex who tried to break in. The thought freaks me out a bit. What do you think?” I ask.

“Gosh, I never thought about that. I just assumed it was some random person looking to steal stuff, you know?” Kelsey says.

“Yeah, that’s what I assumed as well. I need to push that thought out of my head. It creeps me out, to say the least.”

“You haven’t had any contact with Blake lately?”

“No. Why would I? He was just using me. He never loved me.”