Lipstick Kisses : A Sexy, Standalone Contemporary Romance by C.C. Cartwright

she holds my face in her hands.
    “I love you,” rolls off her lips.
    “I love you too,” I whisper, feeling every single word of it in my heart.
    I make tender love to her, sprawled on the bearskin rug in front of the roaring fire. It’s unbelievably sensual and romantic. All of my senses are heightened. I make love to this woman, whom I’m lucky to call, the love of my life.

Chapter Nineteen
Nikki
    After the most romantic night in front of the roaring fire of Chandler’s luxurious log cabin, Cassie offers to take me into town to do some shopping and have lunch together the next morning.
    She comes by to pick me up and we head into Bozeman. We roam into a few shops filled with darling western-inspired clothing, and I find a pretty sundress and even sport a cowboy hat. I admire myself in the full-length mirror. I notice how relaxed I look. Taking all of my purchases to the cash register, the sales girl rings me up.
    “I’m glad to see Chandler happy again,” Cassie says sweetly.
    “Why do you say again ?” I ask.
    “He was down when he left home bound for anywhere else but here. We were worried about him settling in LA, the big city and all. But seeing the two of you together, I can tell it’s true love by the way you look at each other.”
    “Yes, it’s true. I’ve fallen head over heels for your brother. How could any girl resist his gorgeousness and his down-home charm?”
    “I agree, my brother is a sweetheart underneath his cowboy exterior.”
    “Is Carrie the reason he fled Big Sky?”
    “How did you know?” Cassie asks with a bewildered expression.
    “When Chandler and I first started dating, she showed up on his doorstep.”
    “You’re kidding me. The nerve of that hussy. She and his best friend, Duke, tore out Chandler’s heart. But Duke had always been jealous of Chandler, ever since they were kids. I could see it,” his little sister says vehemently.
    “Does Duke still live in Big Sky?” I wonder.
    “Yes, I still see the loser around from time to time. He works odd jobs here and there. The loser is still living at home.”
    “Whatever happened between him and Carrie?”
    “No sooner did Duke get her into bed then he dumped her. Chandler left town before their brief affair was over. No wonder she came running to LA. Trying to get him back, no doubt,” she says heatedly.
    “She showed up one night at Chandler’s bungalow, and I left. Figured I’d let them enjoy their reunion. I suspected he had left a girl back home, and my prediction was correct. So I stormed out of his place, mad at myself for falling for him. But no sooner had I gotten home then he was knocking at my door.”
    “And you let him in, right?” she asks, hopeful.
    “Yes, he professed his love for me and told me Carrie had betrayed him. I knew he would never take her back.”
    “Damn right. I can’t even stand to look at her when I see her in town. Oh my God, speak of the devil herself. She just walked in,” Cassie says.
    I turn slightly in the direction of Cassie’s steely stare.
    “She’s coming this way. She has her nerve.”
    “Hi, Cassie.”
    “Hello, Carrie.”
    “Who’s your friend?” Carrie asks. She must not recognize me with my cowboy hat on.
    “This is Nikki Russo, Chandler’s girlfriend,” Cassie replies, emphasizing the girlfriend.
    “Oh, hi,” Carrie says, obviously taken aback.
    “Hello. We’ve met before,” I remind her coolly.
    “When did you get into town?”
    “A few days ago.”
    “Well, enjoy Big Sky,” Carrie says, turning on her heel and strolling out of the dining establishment.
    “God, she burns me!” Cassie exclaims a little to loudly.
    After lunch, we head back to the Winslow Ranch. Cassie brings me to her parents’ house, where Chandler is spending the day out on the ranch with his dad.
    “How was lunch? Did you find anything shopping?” Mrs. Winslow asks, eyeing my bags.
    “Lunch was good until Carrie showed up,” Cassie complains in distaste.
    At the mere