Lipstick Kisses : A Sexy, Standalone Contemporary Romance (17 page)

I managed to catch Nikki off guard and woo her just like her father suggested, and my wish came true. Nikki agreed wholeheartedly to become Mrs. Chandler Winslow. What she didn’t realize was how soon it would be happening.

It’s happening today, the very day after I proposed. I planned our big event for today, unbeknownst to her.

We’re going to the courthouse at two this afternoon.

Both of our families are in on it. Kelsey too. I pulled off the proposal, and now, I’ve got to get her to the courthouse on time.

I’ve even made dinner reservations at our favorite restaurant in Beverly Hills to celebrate our pending nuptials.

The only thing I’m afraid she may balk at is the old,
I have nothing to wear
.

I get it. A girl wants to look perfect on her wedding day. Should I have given her a few days’ notice? Probably. But I can’t chance her dragging her feet. Plus, I want to be married before the baby arrives. Call me old-fashioned, but it’s important to me, and it should be to Nikki, too. Deep down inside, I know she feels the same way.

Kelsey texts me.

Kelsey: Have you told her yet?

Chandler: Not yet. I’m nervous.

Kelsey: Just do it. Everything is ready.

This is the last push I need.

“Nikki, we’re getting married today.”

“What are you talking about?” She eyes me curiously over her morning cup of coffee.

“We’re meeting both of our families, Kelsey, Morgan, and Caroline at the courthouse at two pm.”

“We’re getting married at the courthouse today?” she asks incredulously.

“Yes, so go and get ready.”

“Surely, you’re joking?”

“Nope, Kelsey will be arriving shortly to help you get ready.”

“Chandler, I don’t have a thing to wear,” she pleads like I knew she would.

“Of course you do. Plus, Kelsey will be arriving with a few things for you to choose from if you can’t find something in your closet that’s suitable. I want to make you my wife today, with our family and friends with us.”

“Chandler, I don’t know about this,” she cries.

“Nikki, I promise, after the baby is born, we can plan an over the top wedding. Everything your little heart desires.”

For the longest time, she just stares at me without a word. She’s thinking. I can practically see the wheels turning in her head. She’s trying to think of an excuse, a way out of this. Although secretly, I saw the corners of her mouth turn up. She likes my idea.

The doorbell rings, and she can no longer protest.

Nikki’s best friend and assistant arrives at the hour we agreed upon ahead of time with a huge garment bag draped over her arm.

“Kelsey, I can’t believe you are in on this ambush and that you were able to keep a secret from me,” Nikki says with a playful grin on her face. She’s taking it well, better than I expected. She can be very stubborn, part of what’s made her so successful, but she is taking my surprise well.

“Go and get her ready. I want to leave here by one,” I tell Kelsey.

“Yes, sir.” She giggles, and they both march off to the master bedroom and close the door, but not before Nikki comes and gives me a kiss.

“I love you, Chandler Winslow,” Nikki says, walking into her bedroom to get ready to marry me.

I rub my hands together. I feel giddy with excitement, knowing we will become man and wife today. In the end, I was the one who had to trap her.

“Kelsey Taylor, I can’t believe you deceived me,” I say mockingly as I cross my arms over my chest in feigned anger.

“Get over yourself, Nikki. Come here and tell me which dress you like best. I spent hours on my feet shopping for just the right dress to wear for your special day. It wasn’t easy finding dressy maternity clothes.”

I walk over to the bed as Kelsey lays out my three choices. One is an all-lace, sleeveless, floor-length sheath. It’s very classy and tasteful. Another has a strapless, simple, white chiffon fitted bodice that flares out right under the bust. A beaded empire waistband adds a bit of shimmery glitz to the floor-length dress. The last one is a long-sleeve lace baby doll dress, which falls just above my knee.

“I think I’d like to wear something floor-length. Let me try on the sleeveless lace one. I can’t believe Chandler planned all of this.”

“You know, Chandler has been scheming this little plan for a couple of months now. I personally find it extremely romantic. You are one lucky girl, Nikki. I wish I could be so lucky.”

“As much as I hate surprises, I actually agree with you. It’s very romantic and sweet of him. My Chandler is an amazing man. I love him like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Chandler’s been crazy about you since the moment he laid eyes on you. I could sense it the first time he met you. Surprising you is the only way he could get you down the aisle . . . or in this case, to the courthouse!”

“Well hey, missy, you could be next. You and Morgan.” I wink at Kelsey.

“Please, I’m surprised I’ve lasted this long with him. I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop, and his attention will start to wane. Although, I’m using the power of the pussy to keep him in check.” Kelsey giggles.

Kelsey helps me get into the dress. It fits me and my baby bump just right, and the length is perfect. She helps me with a quick updo, with tendrils framing my face. I put on my Lipstick Kisses cosmetics, with a little extra drama for my big event.

“Thank you, Kelsey. This dress is perfect.”

“You look amazing, Nikki,” she says, and we hug.

I walk out of the bedroom and find Chandler in the kitchen. He looks dashing in a dark suit, the one suit he owns that we bought for the gala months ago.

“Nikki, you look beautiful. Absolutely stunning, sweetheart,” he says, drawing me into his arms and laying a tender kiss on my lips.

“We’d better get going, you two lovebirds,” Kelsey says, looking at her watch.

*****

We make it to the courthouse on time, and my family and Chandler’s family are waiting for us. Morgan and Caroline, Chandler’s agent, are here too, along with Stewart and his wife.

My mom comes up and hands me a beautiful bouquet of red and pink roses.

“Nikki, you look lovely,” my mother says.

“So, you are in on it too?”

“Yes, can you believe Chandler planned all of this himself?”

“I know. I can’t believe he and Kelsey managed all of this behind my back.”

Morgan comes up to me. “You are breathtaking,” he says, giving me a warm embrace and a soft kiss on my cheek.

“Why, thank you. You must have been in on this too,” I tease.

“Yes, Kelsey swore me to secrecy.” He smiles, reaching for Kelsey’s hand.

Morgan and Kelsey have become quite the pair. I watch them together, and they can’t keep their eyes off each other. It’s as if there’s a secret little language going on between them. You can tell by the way they look at each other. Do I dare say the British player has met his match?

Kelsey gushes about him every single day of the week. It’s almost nauseating. I’m shocked that it’s lasted this long with Morgan’s reputation as a ladies’ man. But Kelsey is special, and the player must recognize what a sweetheart she is beneath her all-business exterior. I know she was skittish in the beginning, after the way her last boyfriend treated her. She just needed to step up her game, become a challenge for Morgan. In the end, that’s what men want. Maybe that relationship book she’s been reading is helping her reel him in.

After the simple civil ceremony, Chandler’s father and Kelsey sign the marriage license as our witnesses.

We arrive at
The Loft
in Santa Monica, the latest restaurant to see and be seen. Somehow, Chandler was able to pull some strings and reserve half the restaurant tonight. Our tables are near the live music playing tonight. A small dance floor is set up in the corner near the band.

Dinner is superb. The champagne is flowing, although I have Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Cider in my champagne flute.

Chandler stands, champagne flute in hand. “I want to thank everyone for being here today to join us in celebrating the marriage vows Nikki and I exchanged today. Nikki has made me the happiest man walking this earth. I am so proud to call her my lovely wife, and soon, she’ll be the mother of our baby. I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to that day,” Chandler says, beaming down at me, his eyes brimming with tears of joy. My sensitive, loving and thoughtful husband’s words bring happy tears to us all. He bends down to kiss me before we all raise our glasses in a toast.

“Do you know how much I love you? I can’t wait to for you to have our baby,” my charming husband says to me once he sits back down. He leans over and presses his lips to mine.

“I love you,” I sniffle, dabbing my tears of joy away.

As if on cue, the band starts playing
Let’s Get It On
by Marvin Gaye.

Chandler stands, offering me his hand, “Shall we? They’re playing our song,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Indeed, they are,” I reply, taking his hand in mine.

We sway to the music, our baby between our bodies.

“I am still in shock. This all happened so fast. How on earth did you plan all of this without my finding out?” I ask my groom.

“Caroline helped me with the ring. And then she also helped me plan this dinner celebration. Kelsey helped me with your wedding attire, amongst numerous other details, which I had no clue about. But she knew what you would and wouldn’t like. Are you happy?” Chandler asks.

“I never thought I could be this happy. I love you with all of my heart. You are an amazing man and I know you will be an even more amazing father,” I reply, smiling upon my adoring husband.

Epilogue

Two months after their wedding, Nikki gives birth to a beautiful baby girl. She is a spitting image of Nikki. Just look at her baby pictures. The happy couple has named her Chelsea. Chelsea Winslow.

Thank you for taking the time to read Lipstick Kisses. I hope you enjoyed reading Nikki and Chandler’s love story as much as I enjoyed writing it! If you enjoyed it, please take a moment to leave a review and tell your friends!

Want more Nikki and Chandler or would you like to read more on the developments of Kelsey and her sexy brit Morgan? Email me at
[email protected]
and let me know. I love to hear from my readers

~BONUS NOVEL~

By

C.C. CARTWRIGHT

Copyright © 2016 by C. C. Cartwright

Justin

I’m God’s gift to women. What can I say?

When I’m out and about, I catch the ladies checking out the goods.

I’m at the beach today, and my sister has her posse of friends with her.

One, in particular, is beyond beautiful, with a killer body to match.

"Justin, don’t you remember me?” she asks in the most sensual voice

I’ve heard in a long, long time.

"Sloane Hart, is that you?” I utter in disbelief. It’s my little sister’s best friend,

all grown up and filled out in all the right places.

Needless to say, I don’t waste a minute getting her alone.

After I take her out to dinner, I get her back to my place for a little slap and tickle session.

Things get hot and heavy and we’re just about to do the dirty deed

when I sense something isn’t right. She’s tense.

“Can you go slow and easy?” she asks timidly.

She’s a virgin?

I don’t mess with virgins anymore, not since high school.

Next. I’m moving on. I don’t want Sloane, dear Sloane, getting stuck on me.

After a couple of months, I’m usually done and over it. I tell her I’m doing her a favor.

The problem is that I can’t stop thinking about her.

When I see other guys hitting on her, it makes my blood boil.

This can’t continue. Sloane Hart is getting under my skin.

Sloane

I was invisible to him.

Justin Harlow is my best friend's brother,

and I’ve been in love with him for as long as I can remember.

Fast forward ten years later, and I’m at the Harlow family's beach party.

Justin has one killer set of abs and is devilishly handsome.

Mr. God’s gift to women notices me today.

The way his eyes rake over my body from head to toe tells me he wants me.

He says I’ve grown up and filled out in all the right places.

He’s dangerous for my heart and my body.

I know I’m in trouble.

Just Love Me 1, a captivating best friend's older brother novel you won't be able to put down!