Free One Simple Step (Journey Series) by C.A. Williams

lips, and my words caught in my throat at the contact. My head was swimming from that one simple touch, causing me to forget whatever I was saying in the first place.
    “Both of our heads are spinning right now. We both just came out of messed up relationships, and our worlds still haven’t settled down yet. Who knows if they ever really will?” He moved an inch closer, his lips just lightly brushing my ear. “So, for now, let’s just be friends… and maybe someday, more.” His hands landed on my waist, grazing lightly up my sides until they reached my hair.
    His eyes closed just as his mouth crushed against mine, and I whimpered when he fisted his hands into my hair, pulling our bodies together. I rocked towards him when his tongue brushed against mine, and I tasted him again.
    When I met Nick, my first impression of him was that he was a laid-back, easygoing guy. I never expected him to own me, but that’s exactly what he did with just his simple kisses.
    He pulled back slightly, nipping at the corner of my mouth, before burying his nose in the crook of my neck, and inhaling deeply. “So perfect,” he murmured against my skin.
    I dropped my hands down that had somehow become tangled in his hair, and leaned back against the car for support. “Is that really something ‘friends and maybe someday more’ do? Not that I minded,” I added when his head snapped back, and he gave me a questioning look.
    “Ally, that’s our thing. We can make whatever the hell rules we want, and that one is definitely at the top of the list.”
     

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
    Nick
     
    I blew out a sigh of relief as I shut my computer down for the night, and flipped off the light in my office. “Heading home, kiddo?” Leo patted me on the back when I walked out to the front desk where he was just finishing with a guest.
    “Yeah, I think I’ll head out early while I still can. You think you’re good?”
    “Of course, the missus hasn’t been bothering me as much since she knows I only have two days left. Are you meeting up with the lovely Miss Ally?” Leo gave me a wide smile, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
    It had been almost a month since Ally came to work for me at the resort, and I had been right all along. The guests loved her, and she loved what she did. She might have been a little bit down when I first met her, but I could see the light trying to shine through. Her bubbly personality was exactly the type that was needed for this line of work.
    And the resort wasn’t the only place I got to spend time with Ally.
    I had been telling the truth when I told her we should just be friends, and maybe someday, more. I just needed to seal the deal with that kiss that I now thought about day and night. Yeah, totally what I had to do.
    I somehow managed to keep my hands, and my lips, to myself for the most part, even though we spent almost all of our free time together.
    After a little while, I realized that Ally had never been treated the way she deserved. She wasn’t used to being taken on dates, or even being asked the simple question of how her day was.
    She was everything Kara wasn’t, though I really didn’t even like to compare the two. She was carefree, outgoing, and willing to do really anything.
    She even showed up early one day to drag me out of bed, and we then proceeded to rip up the nasty carpet that had been in the house for as long as I could remember. Afterwards, we ate pizza on the floor, admiring our hard work, before racing into the ocean to cool ourselves off.
    “Earth to Nicky boy.” Leo snapped his fingers twice, pulling me out of my thoughts about Ally. “Ah, I know that look all too well. Just be careful, son. Ally seems like a wonderful girl, but getting involved with someone that works for you could lead to a sticky situation if things go south. Tread lightly,” he added with a wink, before patting my back and greeting a guest that had just arrived.
    “See ya, Leo,” I called over my shoulder,